【Pirelli】The Woman Engineer Supporting WorldSBK! Gea Prioglio Talks About the Forefront of Tire Development

Pirelli, a long-standing and vital tire supplier for the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Gea Prioglio, R&D Material Specialist in the company's two-wheel racing compound development department, spoke about how she entered the world of motorsport and her passion for tire development.

From the Lab to the Circuit: The On-Site Development Process

Pirelli has been an indispensable presence in the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), where Nicolò Bulega was crowned champion in 2026, for many years. Gea Prioglio, R&D Material Specialist in the company's two-wheel racing compound development department, had a strong interest in making things since childhood, such as crafting with paper. When considering university, she explored various options including communication engineering and chemical engineering, ultimately majoring in materials engineering and nanotechnology engineering. She was fascinated by the chemical aspects of how material properties are determined by atomic bonds and structures, and became engrossed in the study of rubber compounds.

Learning that tires are not just black, round objects but complex structures involving intricate molecular and material interactions, she worked on her master's thesis under a professor collaborating with Pirelli. Through research focused on rubber compounds, graphene, and nanographene, she gained practical experience in Pirelli's laboratories and continued joint research during her doctoral studies. Afterward, she joined Pirelli's raw materials group and learned methods for scaling up processes from laboratory research to industrial production.

A turning point came when she attended the 2025 WorldSBK Misano round as a spectator, having obtained a ticket herself. Captivated by the speed and excitement of her first race viewing, she became interested in how the materials she developed would perform on the track. Subsequently, when an opening arose for a trackside position, she directly appealed to her superior and officially took on her current role in March 2026. She had already accompanied the team to the opening round at Phillip Island in February of the same year, prior to her official appointment. This season, while undertaking approximately 80 days of business trips annually, she collaborates with the product team based on feedback from various racing teams to drive speedy development.

With Curiosity and Determination: A Message to the Younger Generation

Prioglio emphasizes the importance of a learning attitude in new environments. Upon graduating from university and entering the professional world, she recognized herself as a newcomer and, while maintaining confidence, made an effort to listen to the opinions of those around her. Her continuous questioning and willingness to ask questions without fear of making mistakes are the driving forces behind her growth. She explains that finding what you enjoy doing is the quickest path to achieving goals, and that strength is needed to never give up, even when projects don't go well.

She also states that the materials department at Pirelli has a nearly equal gender ratio, indicating a balanced environment. She has never felt limited because of her gender and stresses the importance of approaching goals with determination. To young women, she urges them to believe they can achieve their aspirations once they discover what they love.

As advice to her past self, she says she should have had more confidence, believing that "things will surely work out." While young people tend to harbor anxieties about the future, she asserts that a path will always open up with determination and effort. Flexibility is required to start from nearby and gradually approach one's ideal, even if the goal isn't reached immediately. In the world of motorsport, where technical challenges are constant, she aims for further growth. Her future goal is to have her own team and take on more responsibility, and her challenges will continue.

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