Two new tyres in two races for WorldSBK as Pirelli switches focus

The Dutch WorldSBK will see the second new tyre from Pirelli in as many races, the Italian manufacturer has confirmed.

Pirelli brought a new front tyre to the Portuguese Round at the end of March. Many riders used it over the course of the weekend, including in races, but many riders also crashed while using it. Nicolo Bulega won all three races with the standard SC1 front tyre.

In Assen, Pirelli is switching its focus from front to rear, as the new F0298 makes its debut. The tyre is a variant of the SC0, but Pirelli does not confirm whether it is the compound or construction that is changed compared to the standard version.

In 2025, Pirelli’s development rear tyres all had “E0” designations and brought an updated construction to standard compounds. Much like last year’s developments, the F0298 is intended to “deliver improved stability and greater performance consistency over race distance,” Pirelli says.

The F0298 will be alongside the standard SC0, SCX, and SC1 in the rear allocation, meaning no SCQ tyre this weekend (17–19 April) in the Netherlands. At the front, there are the standard SC1 and SC2 choices.

“With the 2026 WorldSBK Pirelli Dutch Round, the championship arrives at the TT Circuit Assen, one of the most iconic tracks in world motorcycling,” said Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director, Giorgio Barbier.

“Both fast and technical, Assen features a mix of low-, medium- and high-speed corners, as well as often variable weather conditions, which over the years have played a decisive role in race outcomes.

“For the third round, confirming a continuous development effort aimed at improving both single-lap performance and further increasing consistency over race distance, Pirelli is providing teams and riders with a new development soft rear solution, the F0298. 

“This tyre could represent a valid alternative to the standard SC0, with the goal of improving stability while ensuring a high level of consistency in race conditions.

“Taking into account the characteristics of the circuit and potentially low temperatures, our choice for qualifying and the Superpole Race has fallen on the supersoft SCX, which until last season was known as the development tyre E0126 and has become part of the standard range this year. 

“For the same reason, as an alternative to the standard and development soft options, riders will also be able to rely on the medium SC1 rear in case of cold conditions.”

Pirelli’s confirmation of its Assen allocation comes after Davide Tardozzi suggested the development progress it has made in recent years had been down to its impending move to MotoGP, of which Pirelli will become the sole tyre supplier in 2027, leaving World Superbike after over 20 years as the official tyre supplier of the production derivative series.