Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Considerations of Motorcycling Australia (MA) introducing a control tyre to the 2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) have been quashed, as Pirelli, Dunlop, Michelin and Bridgestone all continue their involvement.

A topical ‘tyre war’ broke out between Pirelli and Dunlop during last year’s championship, eventually won by Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss in a result which team principal Paul Free largely attributed to Pirelli development.

MA officials assessed the option of reverting to a control tyre for this season, which would have been the first time since 2014 when Pirelli was the series’ spec brand. The ASBK is one of the few major series not to feature control tyre regulations.

Instead, the four high-profile tyre brands have again homologated options for the 2017 season, with one substitute allowed during the year and strict controlling procedures remaining in place to ensure one-off ‘specials’ don’t appear on the grid. Speculation that such things were taking place last year were ultimately unfounded.

“More choice of tyre means more opportunity for up and coming riders to race to their full potential,” MA CEO Peter Doyle said. “They choose the tyre that suits their riding style, rather than adapting to one single type. We are absolutely wrapt that Pirelli, Dunlop, Bridgestone and Michelin have all chosen to support the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship for another great year of cutting-edge racing.”

The complete listing of ASBK Homologated Tyres for 2017 and tyre supply contact details are available to view via this link.