Italian tyre brand Pirelli has acquired the title rights to the Thai and Italian rounds of the 2019 World Superbike championship.
Under the deal with Dorna, the organiser of the production motorbike series, the tyre supplier will give its name to the races at the Chang International Circuit, Thailand, in March, and the Imola circuit, Italy, in May.
Giorgio Barbier, moto racing director at Pirelli, said: “We have decided to be event main sponsor in Thailand and Imola because in 2019 for Pirelli these will be two particularly important and significant events.
“The Asian market is definitely the one with the greatest growth and in the occasion of the Thai round, we will present to the local press a new tyre specifically designed to meet the needs of Asian motorcyclists.
“At Imola, which for us is a bit like the home race, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Pirelli victory in the World Superbike championship.”
Barbier said the deal confirms the tyre brand’s commitment to the series as a “development platform” for its tyres and as an “international showcase for the brand.”
With a relationship over 16 consecutive seasons, Pirelli is a long-term technical partner of WorldSBK.