Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) claimed the 2025 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship in dramatic fashion at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia, becoming the title in his rookie season. Victory in Race 2 of the Pirelli Spanish Round gave him the title although it wasn’t as simple as it sounds, after running fourth heading into the final corner on the final lap.

SECURING THE TITLE: A last-lap lunge gives him the Championship

Fernandez was one of four riders who had a mathematical chance of winning this year’s Championship, but realistically it was between the #7, Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) and David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) as just three points separated the trio heading into Race 2. It was effectively winner takes all between the three. Fernandez headed into the final corner on the last lap of the season in fourth, but he overtook Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing), Antonio Torres (Team ProDina XCI) and Thompson at Turn 13 to lead; holding the lead on the run to the like to claim victory and the title.

Discussing his first World Championship, which was also the first for his team and Chinese manufacturer Kove, Fernandez said: “I feel very happy because this is what I worked for. The team did an amazing job because Kove left the Championship at the beginning of the year. Then, we got the bike from Kove. It was chaotic! We did the first race and got a win on my debut, so it was super crazy. We couldn’t believe that I would do this. The goal was to do my best and try to be at the front all the time. It’s done. I need to thank the team and all the people around me. I just tried to do my best. I knew the bike worked and I knew the team was giving 100% for me, so I just believed. Here we are now, not just me but the team and the brand: we’re World Champions.”

THE DECIDING RACE: Fighting until the end

Fernandez was asked about the final lap, and Race 2 in general, to give his immediate thoughts on the final-ever race in WorldSSP300. It said everything about the action that three riders had a realistic chance of claiming the title, while Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) was had a mathematical opportunity to take the title after an incredible run to end the season.

On the last race of the season, Fernandez said: “The race was the same always. I tried to be at the front all the time and this was the goal. I tried to do my best and be smart, always try to attack to not get attacked up the inside. This is the result.”

Re-watch Fernandez’s title-winning campaign back using the WorldSBK VideoPass!