We passed: Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21

It is a tire developed with the latest technology and a test center in Japan that simulates and analyzes real-world conditions on a track or road. Exclusively made and developed for modern sports bikes of 200 "horsepower", with electronic anti-slip rear control and sports ABS system. Thus, the rear tire has a wider profile or cross-section if we look at its crown. This gave them a large supporting surface, which was divided into five belts of different hardness and rubber compounds that run around the circumference of the tread. In the middle, this compound is more resistant to wear and tear and the transmission of exceptional force, acceleration and deceleration under braking. Thus, it provides 30 percent less slip on asphalt contact surfaces. As such, it also lasts 36 percent longer than the previous S20 Evo, which otherwise proved to be a great tire for the road in wet conditions. More miles does not mean less traction, however. The slope in the middle zone, which is heavily loaded and susceptible to overheating, is one of the keys to fast track completion or safe movement to the finish line when driving on serpentines. Where? Today's motorcycles with all the electronics make sure the tire doesn't slip, of course, but if it's good it will provide good traction and the safety system will be activated later, which means faster cornering and above all more control and so way safety. Thus, at the very edge of the tire is the last, slightly narrower belt that provides traction and good feedback on what happens to the bike on extreme slopes. So, in the rear tire, they combined three different formulas of a rubber compound that is also rich in silica thanks to modern manufacturing processes, which ensures good grip. The front tire has a narrower profile or crown section. At first glance, this sounds pointless, but as you drove across the race track, it quickly became clear that Bridgeston had thought through and tested this change well. The narrower cross-section provides better handling, the tire sinks into turns faster and frankly impresses with its incredible hill grip and precise directional stability. The front tire, in contrast to the rear, is covered with two types of compound, in the middle the tire is harder for several kilometers, and on the left and right sides it is softer for maximum grip in all conditions. Even braking at the end of a turn, that is, on a deep slope, did not cause any problems. I also dared to try it all thanks to the excellent sports ABS systems on the Kawasaki ZX 10R, Yamahai R1M, Ducati 959 Panigale and BMW S 1000 R roadster. Not once did the front end slip or begin to slip, only the boundaries in my head did not allow me to brake even more sharply on the slope. I only noticed slight slippage in the rear tire during heavy acceleration in second gear, where the electronics always intervened immediately and prevented further slippage. A very good sense of control both in the front and in the back! With 200 horses under your ass on the Yamaha R1M and Kawasaki ZX 10R, accelerating as you try to get the bike out of the corner as fast as possible is pure adrenaline fun.

text: Petr Kavčić, photo: factory