CIV. Mugello: decisive choice of Dunlop tires under the Mugello downpour
15 maggio 2023
Mugello – The weekend just ended was characterized by more English than Tuscan weather, given the strong weather rains which fell during all three days of competitions.
Situation that has put riders, teams and insiders to the test in the choice of best setting to face an asphalt that presented itself continuously changegoing from completely flooded to almost dry.
The SBK premier class races have seen how leader the undisputed driver from Puglia Michele Pirro (Barni Spark Racing Team), who crossed the finish line with great results detachment to the detriment of his main opponents, Alessandro Del Bianco on Saturday and Lorenzo Zanetti on Sunday.
During Sunday’s race, we saw a real race development unique: start with completely wet asphalt and last laps with almost dry surface. Dunlop tires have been fundamentalespecially for the size chosen by the various teams and riders.
Dunlop Nail CIV SBK
CIV – The SBK class sees in Dunlop the supplier single tire for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The British brand has declared that it uses this theatre ambito for the development and study of best racing tires on the market, also for amateurs and motorcycle enthusiasts.
Dunlop, already present as a supplier monogomma within the CIV championship, in the Moto3 and Pre-Moto3 categories, with this choice consolidates the presence in one of the most competitions important in Europe and the world, providing riders with the latest slick product solutions, continuously developmentwhich ensure high performance.
The specifics techniques made available in 2022 were the following: Front tire model KR109, with size 125/80R17, MS1 (intermediate) MS3 (hard) compounds. For the rear, they proposed the KR108 model with size 200/70R17, in the MS0 (soft), MS1 (intermediate) and MS3 (hard) compounds.
For the current season, they presented themselves with an important novelty: after collecting a lot of data, Dunlop has always brought the KR model to the track, but this time with a different logo: 109+ (plus) at the front and 108+ (plus) at the rear (respectively in the MS1 and MS3 compounds at the front and MS0, MS1 and MS2 at the rear).
These new models, with the final plus (+), have collected opinions favorable by the riders at their debut in the championship and following the pre-season tests. Compared to last year, the real novelty is represented by the fact that the MS1 compound on the front can technically count on a stiffer central part, able to support the riders in the delicate phase of braking.
But… because we saw measures at Mugello differenton the rain tires mounted by some riders?
We have intercepted Roberto Finetti, Dunlop Motorcycle Manager and we asked him to clarify to most the situation in the CIV, confirming that the choice of some drivers was of fundamental importance for the final results.
Roberto, how fundamental was the choice of tires today for the result in SBK?
The conditions in which the SBK riders started were really uncertain: it had rained but it was stopping and we were convinced that the track would dry out. In our opinion, the difference would have been made by the time within which the track would have dried. The first three riders made different choices: Pirro stayed on the 190/55 (standard size) while Zanetti and Bernardi chose the 195/65, the bigger one. Over the course of the race, this choice led to the best lap on the penultimate lap of the race, but Michele had already gained so much advantage and the pursuers were unable to catch him
Did all the riders use Rain tyres?
Yes, I confirm that all the riders on the grid used rain tyres
What were the compounds made available by Dunlop this race weekend?
In general, for dry conditions, SBK uses the slick type, with the KR109+ (plus) model at the front, measuring 125/80 R17 in the MS1 and MS3 compounds. For the rear, however, the model is the KR108+ (plus) in sizes 200/70R17, and riders can choose between the MS0, MS1 and MS2 compounds.
To clarify for a moment, the abbreviations of the Dunlop compounds represent the order of hardness: the MS0 compound is the softest one, used in very hot conditions; the MS1 is slightly more flexible and helps to correct the trajectory while driving; the MS2 is used only in very cold conditions (perhaps it will be used in the month of October for the Imola weekend, in case of cold weather); the MS3 compound is stiffer and allows more support especially in the braking phase. However, I can confirm that 90% of the riders always use the MS0 compound.
For wet conditions, such as those we found at Mugello, the available sizes are still different: for the front KR191 model with size 125/80R17, while for the rear there is an important difference, i.e. we give the choice between a more “standard” size such as 190/55R17 (pneumatic model KR393) or the slightly “larger” one with size 195/65R17 (model KR393).
Is this type of racing tire available for purchase by the amateur public?
Certainly: these models, the KR109+ (plus) and KR108+ (plus), are available to everyone and can be purchased directly from the official service Dunlop (find below the link to the S97racing website).
Small choices lead to big results
Thanks to Roberto Finetti we understood that this weekend, one difference important has made the choice of measure of the rear tyre. Even choose a size “standard“, and not exaggeratedly racing, was one of the main differences that determined Michele Pirro’s great result.
Choice dictated by experience, from intuition of the team and the rider, also because, during the first round of Misano, Michele’s statements they confirmed that he didn’t quite understand the reactions of the tyres, since he never had them try before that weekend. See the results overwhelming of this second round, we can confirm that the Barni Spark Racing Team standard bearer has found the right wet setting and it really will be difficile beat him in these conditions in the future, even if this championship (one of the most prestigious in the world), in the last two years, has really given the 9 times a hard time sample Italian.
Next appointment of the CIV in Vallelunga, over the weekend from 16 to 18 June 2023, hoping to be able to see a nice weekend with the hot sun and packed stands.
