Pirelli Tire North America is set to compete in its first-ever MotoAmerica event as racers prepare for the 2022 Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. Pirelli returns to the 80th running of America’s most historic motorcycle race as two-time defending champions, and for 2022, MotoAmerica, who is home of the AMA Superbike Championship, has partnered with Daytona to host the iconic race. Pirelli will once again bring its complete DIABLO™ Superbike range to the grid as the brand looks to make it a three-peat.
“The Daytona 200 is an iconic event where Pirelli has experienced great success, and it’s one that our brand looks forward to each year,” said Oscar Solis, senior racing manager, Pirelli. “Having won the Daytona 200 in both 2019 and 2021, the goal is to keep the momentum rolling and try to put a Pirelli rider on each step of the podium. We’re excited to have Brandon Paasch back to defend his title as well as bring in some new faces such as the current AMA Superbike Champion Jake Gagne, who is able to choose the tire of his choice thanks to the open-spec rule.”
Pirelli’s long history of success in Daytona includes winning the 2019 Daytona 200 with Kyle Wyman (no race held in 2020) and the 2021 Daytona 200 with Brandon Paasch. Leading Pirelli’s stacked lineup of riders and teams will be the defending champion Paasch competing for TOBC Racing and joined by teammate Danny Eslick. MotoAmerica’s defending AMA Superbike Champion Jake Gagne will also be competing with DIABLO Superbike slicks aboard his Attack Performance Yamaha and joined by South African newcomer Cameron Peterson.
“I’m super excited to return to Daytona as the defending champion,” said Paasch. “I have a great opportunity in front of me, and I am looking forward to another great result. I can’t thank Pirelli enough for the support and keeping me onboard for another year, which is really going to benefit my riding after spending so much time on the DIABLO Superbike slicks all last season in the British Championship. I look forward to seeing everyone soon at the speedway!”
Additional riders and teams include Vision Wheel M4 Ecstar Suzuki’s Geoff May, Syntainics/Penz13’s Sheridan Morais, TSE with British Superbike Championship brothers Matt Truelove and Harry Truelove, and several additional racers.
Despite winning the 2019 and 2021 Daytona 200, Pirelli continues to research and develop tires designed to tackle the one-of-a-kind racetrack. In 2021, Paasch’s Yamaha YZF-R6 relied on Pirelli’s DIABLO Superbike SC1 front in a 120/70R17 and DIABLO Superbike Daytona rear in 190/60R17 to handle the challenges of the high-banked 3.51-mile course. Pirelli racers will once again use a standard 120/70R17 DIABLO Superbike front and 190/60R17 Daytona-specific compound rear as a starting point.
Pirelli’s local trackside racing vendor, Mark Tenn Motorsports, will once again be offering a first place contingency prize to any rider who wins on Pirelli tires. For complete details and eligibility, contact Mark Tenn Motorsports.
Click here to learn more about the 2022 Daytona 200.
For more information about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, visit Pirelli.com
