Two new sizes, 100/70 R17 for the front and 125/70 R17 for the rear, for 2.5" and 3.5" rims respectively, have been designed for 125cc and 250cc race bikes, and are destined for the promising young riders of today who can become the champion racers of tomorrow.

Brisbane, 12 July 2012 - The road racing legends of tomorrow are fueled by their victories today, and because Pirelli wants to follow riders through every stage of their sporting career, they have broadened the Diablo Superbike range with new sizes 100/70 R17 for the front and 125/70 R17 for the rear, for mounting on 2.5" and 3.5" rims and use on 125cc and 250cc race bikes.

These bikes are characteristically lightweight with small rims and a short wheelbase, are very agile and offer fast change of direction. Compared to their bigger superbike siblings, they lack the necessary power coming out of tight turns, with the average power these engines put out varying between 24 and 44 HP. For this reason riders in this class of racing develop a cleaner and more precise riding style, with the bikes light weight allowing them to maintain precise lines and high corner speeds. The new Diablo Superbike "small sizes" have been designed specifically to cater to these particular characteristics, while still retaining all the qualities that have made the larger sizes of the Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres so popular among championship riders.

The profile of these new sizes is shaped to provide superior agility and fast change of direction to full lean, while the compounds used are capable of optimising grip even when the contact surface is reduced. For the rider this means good braking in turns, maintaining high speed through the corners, and the ability to follow an extremely precise line. Interestingly, the new

Diablo Superbike sizes provide SBK performance in a "Plug and Play" way, reducing the need for specific set-up. They can be easily used by a wide variety or riders, including younger and less experienced competitors.

These new tyres boast some key features:

- Reduced Warm Up Time

- Easy to maintain tyre temperature

- Massive grip for high speed cornering

- Extremely precise line holding through corners

- No need for sophisticated suspension set up

- Predictable tyre behavior for increased rider confidence and awareness of grip levels

Initial testing of these new sizes has recently been carried out in South East Queensland, Australia, with the following feedback from one of the test riders."The front offered so much feel and feedback, and I could not make the rear move out of line at all".

The rider's mechanics were also impressed. "We did not change any settings on the bike when we fitted the Pirelli tyres. The rider adapted immediately to the new tyres and felt confident to push from the first lap". Previous lap times were eclipsed for this rider after 3 laps on the new Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres.

The front 100/70 R17 size is available in the SC1 compound, while the rear 125/70 R17 size will have three versions for riders to choose from: SC0 and SC1 exclusively for racing, and SC2 which is more suited to practice with increased durability and reduced and more even wear, and can be used for more sessions. These new sizes will also be offered in a rain version with the SCR1 compound front and rear.

Both of these new Diablo Superbike sizes, in slick and rain versions, are available now from your local Pirelli Motorcycle Tyre Stockist.

Pirelli Motorcycle Tyres are Imported and Distributed Exclusively in Australia by Link International. To find your local stockist head to www.linkint.com.au/pirelli_dealers_page.html

For further information please contact:

Don Nicholas +61 7 33825000 don@linkint.com.au

Leo Cash +61 7 33825000 lcash@linkint.com.au