STORY

The first Supermotard (SM) events were held in the 1980s, at the Carlsbad circuit in California, USA. This discipline then gradually spread to Europe, with the creation of national championships and then major classics such as the Mettet SM in Belgium or the Guidon d'Or face in Paris, which pitted champions from the worlds of GP speed biking and off-road racing against one another on the same track. Then, in the 1990s, the discipline received a considerable boost with the launch of a European championship backed by the manufacturers and importers. The new generation of less aggressive 4-stroke engines has enabled riders to increase their speed when sliding on corners. Brands have even set up their own promotional packages (HVA Challenge One , KTM Trophy, Honda SuperCup). 2002 saw the creation of a Supermoto world championship under the auspices of the F.I.M, bringing together the top riders in the discipline on works motorcycles prepared by the manufacturers. This championship highlights and promotes SM motorcycles. Since its creation, sales of this sort of bike have risen steadily.

Michelin has always backed this discipline, as shown by the fact that the leading enduro and speed riders in the 1980s and 1990s always raced on Michelin tIres. which helped them win a number of titles. The tIres used were competition catalogue products: slick, mixed and rain tires originating directly from Grand Prix racing. Since then, SM has been refined and has become more professional with the manufacturers' investments in the world championship. This meant that we had to develop a specific tIre, as the characteristics of the slicks no longer fully match the requirements for SM. Competition catalogue products are tIres derived from the development work for Grands Prix, so they are not always suitable for SM use, even when modified.

During the 2003 world and national championships, we therefore developed a specific Supermotard competition tIre with the riders from the Vertemati, Yamaha and KTM teams. This new Michelin SM tIre is the result of a long process of development work with the specialists in the discipline. It is a universal tIre adapted to all types of Supermotard circuits. It is a competition tIre which is not approved for road use. It is marked “Not For Highway use”, so it can only be used on race circuits. It is included in the Michelin motorcycle competition range catalogue.

SMR14A (rear)	SMF15A (front)

THE DISCIPLINE
SM is a hybrid discipline, a blend of motocross and speed racing.


INTEREST
The races are hotly contested, which delights spectators, and they are affordable for privateer riders.


THE CIRCUIT
The race takes place on a circuit divided into two parts, one with a dirt surface and the other asphalted.


THE MOTORCYCLES
The motorcycles used are usually modified enduro or motocross bikes: brakes boosted with a more powerful kit (disk 320 mm in diameter), a specific exhaust line, engine tuning, a suspension kit, etc.

Two types of motorcycles:

• Certain European manufacturers (Vertemati, Vor, Husqvarna, KTM) propose customer Supermotard competition models for circuit use in their catalogues which should be fitted with our products.
  
• A more road-friendly SM version is also proposed. These motorcycles are approved and fitted with hypersport tIres such as the Pilot Power, Pilot Sport or Pilot Road for road use.
  
  
  

THE TIRES
As well as this transformation of the bike, the original rims are replaced: the 21-inch front wheel and the 18- or 19-inch rear wheels are replaced by broader, 17-inch rims. In this way, knobby tires can be replaced by tires from the circuit competition catalogue: slicks, mixed tires, rain tires, etc.!

Supermotard competition is currently growing fast. After the various national championships, the European Championship, the brand-based cups, exceptional events like the Guidon d’or and a USA AMA championship, a world championship was set up in 2003 with backing from the manufacturers.

This meant that we had to develop a specific product, as the characteristics of the slicks no longer fully match the requirements for SM. Competition catalogue products are tires derived from the development work for Grands Prix, so they are a long way from SM use, even when modified.


Note:
Because of the specific characteristics of the part-dirt, part-asphalt circuits, regrooving of the tires is authorized. The riders create or modify the tire's tread pattern according to the proportions of dirt and asphalt, the weather forecast and the number of left- or right-hand bends.


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