Race 2 for the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship was twice red-flagged at the Autodrom Most during the Prosecco DOC Czech Round as Dutch rider Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki) claimed victory despite starting from the sixth row of the grid. After taking the lead in the early stages of the nine-lap race, Steeman held on to claim the third victory of his WorldSSP300 career.

STEEMAN FIGHTS BACK: from row six to the top step

Steeman started from the sixth row of the grid but took just one lap to fight his way into the front of the field, making his move for the lead at Turn 1 at the start of Lap 2 and was then able to take advantage of the chasing group fighting to open up a gap of almost three seconds to take the win, ahead of Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) and Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) in second and third respectively. Diaz took the eighth podium of his career, putting him level with 2021 Champion Adrian Huertas, as well as Bahattin Sofuoglu and Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki).

The race was red flagged on the opening lap of the original race after a crash on the start-finish straight involving Indy Offer (Team BrCorse) and Ruben Bijman (MTM Kawasaki), while Fenton Seabright (Vinales Racing Team) and Yeray Saiz Marquez (Accolade Smrz Racing) were also involved. Offer was taken to the medical centre following a check up following the crash, where he was diagnosed with concussion. He will be transported to Most Hospital for further assessments.

The race distance was reduced from 14 laps to nine following the red flag, but a crash for Alessandro Zanca (Kawasaki GP Project) meant the red flags were deployed for a second time after the leaders had started Lap 7 of 9, meaning the two-thirds distance had been met and results were declared at the last completed timing point for each rider. Zanca was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash.

TWO TENTHS IN IT: a close fight for fourth place

French rider Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) claimed fourth place, only 0.001s behind Lehmann in the battle for the podium, but also only around 0.040s clear of Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing). Perez Gonzalez, returning for injury, twice got a good start to move into the lead of the race but dropping back to take a top five finish on his return. Dirk Geiger (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki) rounded out the top six with sixth place, although he had been battling for the lead in the opening couple of laps.

FINISHING IN THE TOP TEN: claiming strong results

Japan’s Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki) claimed seventh place, two tenths behind Geiger, and ahead of polesitter Kevin Sabatucci (Kawasaki GP Project) with Sabatucci dropping down the order. Marc Garcia (Yamaha MS Racing) got a good start and was able to move into the lead group but dropped down to ninth at the end of the six-lap contest, with Diaz’s podium meaning the gap between the pair is now 24 points in Diaz’s favour. Ton Kawakami (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing) rounded out the top ten, finishing four tenths down on Garcia.

SCORING POINTS: taking home a top 15 finish

Petr Svoboda (Accolade Smrz Racing) was able to overcome a double Long Lap Penalty in the six-lap race to finish in 11^th place, with the FIM WorldSBK Stewards giving him the penalty for irresponsible riding. Wildcard rider Svoboda finished less than 0.010s clear of Misano Race 1 winner Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) in 13^th place, with Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Kawasaki), Humberto Maier (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing) and Hugo de Cancellis (Prodina Racing WorldSSP300) rounding out the points-scoring positions.

TO NOTE: housekeeping from WorldSSP300 Race 2

Harry Khouri (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) had a crash at Turn 13 on the opening lap of the restarted race, with the Australian taking no further part in the race. He was taken to the medical centre for a check up following the crash. Alex Millan (SMW Racing) brought his bike to the pits after suffering a front tyre puncture, with the Spanish rider starting from the front row of the grid. Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) crashed at Turn 2 on Lap 3, with the Italian taken to the medical centre for a check up following the crash.

The top six following WorldSSP300 Race 2, full results here:

1. Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki)

2. Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) +2.962s

3. Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) +3.014s

4. Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) +3.015s

5. Jose Luis Perez Gonzales (Accolade Smrz Racing) +3.051s

6. Dirk Geiger (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) +3.227s

Fastest Lap: Dirk Geiger (Kawasaki) – 1’46.596s

Championship standings

1. Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) 161 points

2. Marc Garcia (Yamaha MS Racing) 137

3. Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki) 122

4. Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) 117

5. Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki) 101

6. Hugo De Cancellis (Prodina Racing WorldSSP300) 94

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