Dunlop v Pirelli in BSB rubber shootout.

By Mike Nicks

Dunlop and Pirelli will slug it out in a two-manufacturer contest to win the valuable contract to supply the entire British Superbike and British Supersport grids in 2008, it emerged at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Both companies bring huge credibility in their attempt to clinch a deal that is aimed at levelling competition and reducing costs in one of the world's premier motorcycle racing series.

Pirelli have already proved that they can supply 30,000 tyres a year in their role as the sole provider for the World Superbike and World Supersport series. And Dunlop can point to an involvement with British Superbikes since 1972 - and the fact that their racing tyres are made in Britain.

"We will be putting everything behind this bid," Dunlop UK Motorsport manager Phil Plater said. "I've been involved with this championship for 16 years, I know every circuit inside out, and product availability will not be a problem for us. Everything is in place, and we could do this tomorrow."

Dunlop already supply a majority of the 30-plus starters in the Superbike championship, while Pirelli cater for slightly more than half of the Supersport teams with their Italian-built tyres.

"We will be tendering," Pirelli's UK racing manager Jason Griffiths confirmed at Brands. "We have the experience of supplying the World Superbike series. We already have five or six riders in British Superbikes, and we have proved in WSB that supply will not be a problem."

Reigning BSB champions Michelin will not tender for the deal, the company's tyre chief Daniel Croispine confirmed at Brands. The French company had already decided to quit the British Superbike scene now that Honda is withdrawing its official HRC Fireblades from the 2008 series, which will have simplified technical rules.

He said that Michelin prefers to contest free-tyre championships, and suggested that the gap between the fastest and slowest riders in World Superbikes had remained about the same, despite the use of a single-tyre rule.

"It still doesn't give the same chance to everyone," he added.

BSB race director Stuart Higgs has received no indication that MotoGP champions Bridgestone are interested in entering a Superbike contest.