PIRELLI EXTENDS CANADIAN DEAL TORONTO, Ont. Pirelli Tires has extended its agreement to act as the spec tire supplier to the Parts Canada Superbike Championship for an additional three years, taking its commitment to the national road racing series to the end of the 2011 season. The Italian company became spec tire supplier to the Canadian tour at the start of the 2006 season after taking on a similar role with the World Superbike Championship in 2004. Since then it has also become spec tire provider to the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series in the U.S. and the British Superbike Championship. “Pirelli has become the major spec tire player on the international racing scene,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, which administers the Parts Canada Superbike Championship and SunTrust MOTO-ST Series. “We have come in on the front end of their involvement and we are very proud of that. It is exciting to be part of the development for the Pirelli tire program.” Pirelli currently supplies slick tires for the Parts Canada Superbike feature class, as well as DOT street-approved options for the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike, International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike, Canadian Thunder and Suzuki SV650 National Cup classes. Starting this season it will also develop tires for the Honda CBR125R Challenge entry-level class. “We are very excited to extend this agreement with the Parts Canada Superbike Championship,” said Scott Griffin, Vice President of Pirelli’s motorcycle tire division. “This program has exceeded our expectations and the series has played a key role in the development of our tires and our place in the market.” Pirelli’s involvement in Canada is overseen by Orion Motorsports, which is run by former Canadian Superbike star Kevin Graham. Pirelli’s work in the Canadian series in 2006 led to the creation of the Diablo Rosso DOT tire that was introduced in 2007. Additionally, Australian Ducati factory rider Troy Bayliss used a rear slick developed in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship for one of his World Superbike race wins at Brands Hatch, England in August, 2006. “Any bit of information we learn in our work with the Canadian series is always beneficial to us,” Griffin said. “The Parts Canada Superbike Championship has been very helpful for us and in our eyes it has been a leading series for us. The overall feedback we’ve had from the teams and riders has been excellent, which is not a surprise to us. The Canadian riders are very good and this is what we expected.” Pirelli is also increasing its profile in the Canadian series this year with its sponsorship of the Pirelli Superpole for the Inside Motorcycles Pole Position Award. The competition, which will be similar to the World Superbike qualifying format, will see the top 10 positions on the Superbike race grid decided by single bike, single lap qualifying runs. “We look forward to the Pirelli Superpole adding drama to the race weekends,” Griffin said. The 2008 Parts Canada Superbike Championship kicks off its seven-race season at Calabogie Motorsports Park in Calabogie, Ont. May 23-25 and wraps up with its traditional Labour Day finale at Shannonville Motorsport Park near Belleville, Ont. Aug. 29-31.