irelli ruled the day at Daytona International Speedway during the 66th running of the Daytona 200, taking first, second and third. Topping the podium was Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp, winning on a 2007 ZX-6R, in front of his teammate Ben Attard in second, with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes finishing third on a GSX-R600. This is the first time a “non-factory” rider has won the 200 since 1989. Other Pirelli riders in the top ten include Pascal Picotte and Joshua Day, finishing seventh and ninth, giving Pirelli five of the top-ten places.
     This marks Pirelli’s historic first win in the Daytona 200. This was a win of unmatched performance defined by a total podium sweep of privateers, against a field with four factory riders and two semi-factory riders. Adding to this podium sweep was a new race-time record for the three-year-old improved course, showing the depth of Pirelli’s preparation.
     Pirelli showed up for the Daytona 200 with all-new Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks and Diablo Supercorsa DOT tires, developed during testing at Daytona in late 2006. Attending the test with North American Racing Manager Christopher Knoche and Road Racing Manager Richard Moore were Pirelli’s World Superbike engineers Paolo Morandi and Alessandro Mozandi, there to evaluate Daytona’s distinct high banks and infield road course.
     The Pirelli riders competing in the Daytona 200 qualified on racing Diablo Superbike Slicks, not qualifying tires, possibly giving false hopes to the competition. Pirelli used tri-compound tires to meet the unique needs of the super speedway, with differing compounds for left cornering, the infield, and the banking, using the same compounding technology as the Diablo Corsa III multi-compound street tires.
     Pirelli’s Marketing Manager, Chris Wall, said, “We knew we could win, but sweeping the podium was a dream finish, capping off Pirelli’s and each team’s hard work. With about ten laps to go we were frantic in the Attack and M4 pits, knowing the race was ours and watching Ben Attard and Michael Barnes run a blistering pace to join the podium. At first, I just wanted the win. When it became clear that we could lock down the podium, it was too much to watch. When you believe in a brand as much as our group does, a victory like this for Pirelli was absolutely emotional.”
     Race winner Steve Rapp said, “I knew the race tires were good. The team knew but no one else knew because we qualified on the same tires we raced on. The competition might not have believed that but they probably do now.”
     Pirelli’s podium sweep in the Daytona 200 reaffirms its commitment to every motorcycle enthusiast in America. From the Diablo Superbike slicks that just won the Daytona 200, to the all-new Diablo Corsa III dual-compound street tires available at your local Parts Unlimited dealer: We race what we sell, we sell what we race.

Pirelli absolutely dominated the 2007 Daytona 200, with Steve Rapp taking home the win and Ben Attard and Michael Barnes finishing second and third, respectively. This total podium sweep also marked Pirelli's historic first victory in the 200.