Riding into their final pair of rounds, Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) will have their showdown to decide who will emerge victorious first at Estoril, then, if necessary, at Jerez until an FIM Supersport World Champion is crowned. While Manzi holds a substantial Riders’ Championship lead over his younger Turkish title rival, in a sport such as this one, truly nothing is certain until the chequered flag waves.

ON THE DEFENSIVE: “Normally I’d be frustrated by it, after this weekend I’m happy with my results”

Despite Manzi not topping either of the weekend’s races, the Italian Championship leader was unbothered by the points he left on the table at Aragon. His P3 and P2 in Race 2 saw him drop a total of just nine points, his Riders’ Championship lead diminishing to a still defensible 60 points. With just four races left, Manzi only needs to prevent a catastrophe, and the title is his, but in a sport as action-packed and a group as talented as this year’s WorldSSP field, nothing is yet assured.

On his Race 2 clash with Oncu and his perspective on the looming title battle, Manzi said: “Sometimes there are positives in second place, normally I’d be frustrated by it, after this weekend I’m happy with my results. I tried to stay in P1 for the entire last lap, but with the slipstream, he was able to pass me in the last corner. I finished twice on the podium, once in third place and once in second, so I'm quite solid here. To be honest, I don’t like this track very much. I’ve never overperformed here, so the results have been quite okay for me. In the Championship we are doing quite well, and looking ahead to the next round, it’s a track that I won at last year. Hopefully, our level will improve there, but every year is different. Until the Championship is decided, I’m going to work at the moment. I’m focusing on getting back on the podium”

A CLEAN SLATE: “This will be like my first time in Estoril; I’m trying to delete all memories I have from there and come into the round fresh”

Aragon was the first round since Donington where the young Turkish star outscored Manzi, and in total across those two rounds, Oncu has only gained 11 points on the #62.  To catch the current WorldSSP leader, he will need not just to outpace him, but he will also need a spell of bad fortune to befall the Italian rider. Ultimately, #61 will need to simply control what he can control, which is finishing above Manzi on the timesheet; the rest he will have to hope for.

On his Race 2 win and the Championship battle to come, Oncu said: “In Race 2 with two laps to go, Manzi attacked, he retook P1, but then I decided I would give it my all in the final straight into the final corner. I used the slipstream and was able to keep him behind me through the final corner, which is always tricky to navigate, so I’m happy that in the end I was able to do it. This will be like my first time in Estoril; I’m trying to delete all memories I have from there and come into the round fresh. It’s the first season that I’m applying that mindset, so I will try to do my best and enjoy my riding!”

Catch the next instalment of their head-to-head battle for the crown, this time, at Estoril! Tune in on October 10^th with the  WorldSBK VideoPass! Now just €9.99!