Dunlop will be the exclusive tire provider to the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) Superstock, following a three-year extension to the agreement between the tire maker and championship promoter Discovery Sports Events. The announcement confirms Dunlop’s status as official partner to EWC, and extends a partnership that began in 2016.
The new agreement with the promoter and the International Motorcycling Federation also confirms Dunlop as the exclusive supplier to the Superstock class for near-standard superbikes. This means that every team in this category will use Dunlop’s race tires – the tire maker is already supplier to 85% of the Superstock teams this season. The EWC Dunlop Independent Trophy will be replaced by the Dunlop Superstock Trophy. During the season, 345 sets of tires will be provided to teams as prizes.
“For five seasons we have promoted independent riders with the Dunlop Independent Trophy initiative,” said Wim Van Achter, Dunlop motorsport manager. “With almost all of the championship’s independent teams racing in the Superstock class, it makes sense to replace the Trophy with a program to support all teams in the class equally. This will encourage close competition, reduce testing costs and ensure every team can benefit from championship-winning level tires and support.”
While the Superstock class will be exclusively Dunlop, the top Formula EWC class will remain an open competition between tire manufacturers.
“The open competition in the top class allows Dunlop to test and develop new technologies in the heat of world championship level racing,” Van Achter adds. “This technology then cascades into our tires for one-brand categories, such as EWC Superstock, and also into our acclaimed range of track-day and hypersport tires such as GP Racer D212 and SportSmart TT.”
