Closing out the opening day of racing action at Balaton Park Circuit’s Hungarian Round, the FIM Supersport World Championship grid took to the lakeside circuit for their first race of the weekend. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) beat out Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) as the pair featured in P1 or P2 for the sixth race in a row. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished on the rostrum in P3 for his sixth podium of the year as he looks to be enjoying a return to form at Balaton.

MANZI LANDS FIRST BLOW AT BALATON: The Italian increased his Championship lead to 50 points

Can Oncu was quick as usual at lights out, claiming the holeshot to start the race. Early on, he led the encounter ahead of Bo Bendsneyder, Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Stefano Manzi, who started back in P5. Manzi slowly reeled in the Turkish rider, until striking on Lap 10 to push Oncu down from P1, quickly carving out a margin of more than a second between him and the #61. The Championship leader would go on to lock down the race win from there. Oncu finished in P2, complicating his comeback hopes in the Championship picture. Fellow Yamaha and WorldSSP rookie Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) looked like he would earn his first WorldSSP podium for most of the encounter, battling well with factory MV Agusta teammates Bo Bendsneyder and Filippo Farioli. However, nearing the end of the race, Bendsneyder got out in front and didn’t let go of the podium position to finish P3.

JESPERSEN CAREER-HIGH: The Danish rider, in his second full season, finished P6

Garcia was relegated off the podium for P4 by Bendsneyder and was later further demoted to P5 after being applied an Irresponsible Riding penalty by FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Farioli finished in P5; however, after Garcia’s penalty, he was bumped up to P4. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) in P6 earned the best result of his 39-race WorldSSP career. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) had already made up 18 positions by Lap 3, going on to make up a total of 24 positions to finish P7 after his back-of-grid start due to being applied a technical infraction after the Tissot Superpole session.

TOP TEN SPOTS: Bayliss P8, Oettl P9, Cardelus P10

Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) slipped down five positions after his front-row P3 start, finishing P8, 0.302s behind Masia. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) finished in P9 for his ninth top ten finish of his third WorldSSP season. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) finished in P10, rounding out the top 10 spots.

MAHIAS AND BOOTH-AMOS TASTE GRAVEL: Current Championship P6 and P3 DNF

Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) went down in the first lap of the race, followed by Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) a few turns later in the early running. Booth-Amos returned, however, crashed again with four laps to go on Turn 9. Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing) was the next to tumble as he and Masia went bar to bar, later resulting in Masia’s Irresponsible Riding Penalty. Niccolo Antonelli (VFT Racing) went down next on the Turn 11 chicane on lap 6. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) crashed out on Lap 8 from P15 to miss out on scoring in Race 1. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) retired early with three laps to go. Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) was the next to fall, spilling over on Turn 11.

The top six from the WorldSSP Race 1: Full results here!

1 Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)

2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +3.834s

3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +5.775s

4. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 8.680s

5. Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) 9.000s

6. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) 10.545s

Fastest lap: Stefano Manzi – 1’43.358s

Tune in tomorrow for WorldSSP’s Race 2 at 12:20 local time (UTC +2)! Tune in live or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 65% off!