Pirelli has successfully completed its initial on-track test of prototype MotoGP tyres, marking a significant milestone in its preparations to become the championship’s exclusive supplier starting in 2027. The test took place at the Misano World Circuit, where conditions were predominantly sunny and dry, with track temperatures ranging from 25°C to 43°C. Development riders from all five competing manufacturers – Augusto Fernandez for Yamaha, Dani Pedrosa for KTM, Takaaki Nakagami for Honda, Lorenzo Savadori for Aprilia and Michele Pirro for Ducati – were present to provide initial performance feedback.

The primary objective of this session was to gather crucial data to guide the ongoing development and finalisation of both front and rear tyre characteristics. Pirelli coordinated the test’s run plan and parameters in close consultation with the manufacturers. Each test team was provided with seven sets of tyres, featuring two distinct front and three rear specifications, all conforming to the current MotoGP 17-inch rim sizes. To simulate the anticipated conditions of the 2027 season, which will introduce new 850 cc engines, the tests were conducted using modified current-season motorcycles. These bikes had their ride-height devices deactivated, were in some cases detuned and received specific aerodynamic adjustments to better align with the future machinery's expected performance profile.

All Pirelli MotoGP tyres will be manufactured at the company’s facility in Breuberg, Germany. This choice underscores a core philosophy of leveraging existing technologies and production processes to ensure project sustainability, uphold product quality and facilitate the transfer of racing-derived innovations to its road-going motorcycle tyres.

Furthermore, Pirelli’s new five-year agreement with Dorna extends beyond the premier class. The company will continue as the sole tyre supplier for the Moto2 and Moto3 World Championships through 2031 and will also remain the official supplier for the entire Road to MotoGP programme. This includes the FIM JuniorGP World Championship, the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, the Northern Talent Cup, the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the FIM MiniGP World Series. This comprehensive involvement solidifies Pirelli’s unprecedented position as the first tyre manufacturer to supply every class within the MotoGP World Championship and its most prestigious feeder series, highlighting a deep commitment to nurturing talent and promoting accessibility across the sport.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli's Motorcycle Racing Director, said, "The Misano test was the first step in our return to the World Championship, and we are very satisfied with both the excellent working relationship that has been struck up between our engineers and all the teams and riders of the Test Teams and the tyre performance. The test took place according to the run plan, which also included a Sprint race simulation, and the first feedback received is very encouraging – this test has generated a lot of data to be analysed in order to continue our development work of Pirelli MotoGP tyres. The most appreciated features are definitely grip, warm-up speed and confidence. We have decided to approach MotoGP with the same philosophy that has always distinguished us in motorcycle racing: the tyres will have to be dedicated exclusively to the premier class, because this is what the regulations require. We also want to exploit the technologies and processes consolidated over years of production with the triple objective of making our participation in this championship a virtuous example of sustainability in motorsport, offering a quality and homogeneous construction of the product and, last but not least, transferring more directly the technologies and know-how that we will develop in MotoGP to tyres intended for road use for the benefit of motorcyclists all around the world.”

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In a major motorsport achievement, a car equipped with Yokohama Rubber's flagship ADVAN tyres claimed an impressive overall victory at the eighth round of the 2025 Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) on 14 September 2025. The demanding endurance race served as a powerful demonstration of the ADVAN tyre line's exceptional grip and resilience under extreme conditions.

The winning car, the Number 6 Ford Mustang GT3 from Haupt Racing Team (HRT), competed in the premier SP9 Pro category with drivers Vincent Kolb and Frank Stippler. Overcoming a 10th-place qualifying position, the vehicle quickly advanced to third on the opening lap. It engaged in an intense battle among the leaders for much of the event before capitalising on a competitor's error to seize the lead with just three laps remaining. The Mustang then maintained a commanding pace, ultimately crossing the finish line over two minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. This triumph marks HRT's first win of the current NLS season and the first for a Ford vehicle in a decade.

Yokohama Rubber's ongoing partnership with HRT involves supplying ADVAN A005 dry-condition and A006 wet-condition tyres for the series. This latest victory builds on a previous SP9 PRO-AM class (4th place overall) win for an HRT ADVAN-equipped car at the renowned ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring in June. Success in these two exceptionally challenging endurance events offers strong validation of the ADVAN brand's superior performance capabilities and significantly strengthens its global reputation.

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Hankook Tire has announced the renewal of its partnership as the official sponsor of the Ballon d’Or for the 2025 ceremony. This continued alliance sees the premium tyre manufacturer once again supporting one of the most esteemed honours in world football, an award that recognises the finest individual talent in the sport over the previous season. The prestigious event is set to be held on 22 September 2025 at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Established in 1956 by the magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or has transformed from an award exclusively for European players into the definitive global benchmark for footballing excellence. Hankook’s involvement for a second consecutive year is a strategic component of its international marketing outreach. The sponsorship grants the company prominent brand placement at the ceremony, most notably along the renowned red carpet and within key press areas, facilitating a significant exchange of brand equity between the two entities.

Furthermore, the partnership will be amplified through a coordinated digital campaign across both UEFA’s and Hankook’s global communication channels. These initiatives are designed to foster a stronger emotional connection with football supporters around the world, enhancing brand loyalty and engagement. This commitment to the Ballon d’Or is a clear reflection of Hankook’s broader sponsoring philosophy, which prioritises high-impact, internationally recognised sports properties. This strategy is evident in the company’s diverse portfolio, which includes top-tier partnerships with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the FIA World Rally Championship, the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Conference League and the renowned German football club, Borussia Dortmund. Through these alliances, Hankook consistently positions its brand at the pinnacle of international sporting competition.

Jongho Park, President and COO, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “We are proud to continue our partnership as sponsors of the Ballon d’Or, one of the most prestigious awards in global sport. The Ballon d’Or has shaped football history and holds international appeal far beyond the sporting world. Our partnership underlines our shared commitment to innovation and peak performance – values that we have in common with international football.”

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In a keynote address at the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) annual conference in Warwickshire, environmental campaigner Georgia Elliott-Smith issued a compelling call for the UK government to collaborate with the industry to enact urgent regulatory reforms. The CEO of Fighting Dirty emphasised that such partnership is essential for realising a genuine circular economy and effectively addressing the climate crisis. She specifically endorsed TRA's five-step Road to Reform, published this summer, as a practical and necessary framework for action.

Elliott-Smith highlighted the critical juncture facing the tyre recycling industry and the unexpected but powerful alliance between her environmental group and the TRA. This partnership, she explained, is united by a shared objective: to overhaul the current regulations governing British end-of-life tyres (ELTs) and transform waste into valuable resources. She stressed that acknowledging the reality of the climate crisis and the limited window for reversal demands an immediate shift from discussion to tangible action, where robust regulation and its strict enforcement are the primary levers for change.

Looking forward, Elliott-Smith articulated a vision where regulatory reform must catalyse the creation of substantial new industries that represent permanent solutions, not merely transitional ones. She expressed deep concern over ‘false solutions’ that might emerge under the banner of a circular economy but ultimately perpetuate pollution. For a truly green industrial future, she argued, new systems must be designed to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, not create new forms of environmental harm.

Furthermore, Elliott-Smith reaffirmed her organisation's commitment to holding regulators accountable through legal means. “Fighting Dirty will continue to initiate legal challenges when we see inaction by regulators, that’s why we initiated court proceedings against the Environment Agency in February, proceedings that led to the EA admitting that there was a failure to understand their responsibilities and regulate. Enhanced verification procedures are a positive step in the right direction, but we wait to see that they deliver the promised change – our legal action is only paused. Policy leadership can create the industry design solution of the future – what is possible in the tyre industry to move it to that new vision, that moves through transitory solutions to genuine solutions for the industry of the future. We all have to be troublemakers, to be a nuisance for a cause,” she said.

Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General, TRA, said, “Today saw the largest gathering of TRA members and industry players in a year. There is a sense of possibility and optimism with a refocus on reform following the Waste Minister’s comments in Spring, but we still wait for that rhetoric to become a reality. Operational clarity for our members will come from the right decisions on regulatory reform being implemented. This must happen if we are to secure domestic capability and the long-term success of British used tyre processors. We all want to see reforms that stop malpractice and corner-cutting, which does so much damage to the environment and undermines legitimate operators.

“As Georgia set out today, there is currently a big gap between the stated objective of Britain having a circular economy and what is happening in practice. We welcome the Environment Agency’s contributions to discussions today – we again encourage them (and DEFRA) to invite industry through their door so we can speak to them and help bring meaningful reform about. Partnership and cooperation are the quickest and most effective route down the road to reform that the Minister initiated nearly six months ago.”

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In a strategic move to bolster its slurry handling capabilities, Metso has reached an agreement to acquire privately-owned Australian firm Q&R Industrial Hoses. The target company specialises in manufacturing critical rubber components, including pinch valve sleeves, industrial hoses and various rubber linings.

This acquisition represents a direct enhancement of Metso's comprehensive portfolio, following its earlier purchase of Jindex Pty Ltd. It underscores the company's commitment to delivering fully integrated, end-to-end solutions and services for its global mining customers. The transaction is anticipated to be finalised in the fourth quarter of 2025.

While the involved parties have chosen not to disclose the financial terms, the deal is not expected to have a significant impact on Metso's financial standing. This acquisition is a key component of Metso's broader initiative to localise its supply chain near essential mining regions, expanding its global network of manufacturing and service centres dedicated to providing complete slurry handling systems.

Christian Trulsson, Director, Valves and Hoses, Metso, said, “We have had a long relationship with Q&R, which has served Metso as a critical rubber parts manufacturing partner. Slurry hoses and pinch valve sleeves manufacturing are now being brought in-house, which will improve both our product range and customer service capability throughout the value chain. We can offer even more robust and reliable slurry handling solutions tailored to the needs of the mining and minerals sectors. We warmly welcome our new colleagues to Metso.”

Brett Robinson, General Manager and owner of Q&R Industrial Hoses, said, “Joining forces with Metso marks an exciting new chapter for Q&R Industrial Hoses. Our expertise in speciality swivel hoses will complement Metso’s slurry handling solutions. We are delighted to become part of the Metso family and look forward to working together to deliver innovative, customer-focused solutions to the mining and minerals sectors.”

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