MOTUL FIM Supersport World Championship rider Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) leaves his home round at Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” with a second WorldSSP win at Misano, holding off Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) for the Race 1 win. A late Race 2 crash however means the Italian rider drops points to current Riders’ Championship runner-up, Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team).

CHAMPIONSHIP DUEL: “Can started to try to fight with me. I didn’t want to lose the position, so every time he took the position, I took it back in the next corner”

The #62 responded well to the disappointment at Most, opening the weekend by topping the podium after his P26 finish in Most Race 2. His 25 points from Race 1 were important as he hopes to continue building his Championship lead over Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) and Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who have suffered a drop in form recently.

On his Race 1 win, Manzi said: “It was a bit crazy! luckily, I started the race very well, but in Turn 2 I already made contact with another rider. I was in fifth, so I said to myself: ‘ok, calm down and let’s see how I can recover to get back on top.’ I was able to get to third position after a lap or two, and then I started my fight to get in the lead because I thought my pace was good. I took the lead, and I was pacing, which was nice, but at some point, Can started to try to fight with me. I didn’t want to lose the position, so every time he took the position, I took it back in the next corner. This went on until the last two laps, and then from there in the last lap I was able to finish the race alone in first.”

RECENT SLIP UPS: I crashed three times in the last two rounds and it is the second time this weekend that I crashed in that corner… it is a bit strange

Looking to have momentum back in his favor, Manzi started Race 2 from P2, jumping off the line well and defending his position from Tom Booth-Amos and Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) and the pack of riders behind him as they squeezed into the first two corners. From there, he turned his focus to the battle for the race win, locking horns with Oncu, and overtaking him in Lap 4. He held P1 for the next four laps until in Lap 9, Manzi crashed out in the final left-handed Turn 16 before the home straight.

On his Race 2 crash, Manzi said “It’s a big shame to end this good weekend in this way, because I was feeling amazing. We had a tricky Friday but yesterday’s race was fantastic. Today we were there, trying to do the same as yesterday, but unfortunately I lost the front in the final corner and I crashed. We have to analyse this with the team, because I crashed three times in the last two rounds and it is the second time this weekend that I crashed in that corner. I want to know how to manage this, because it is a bit strange. Now we focus on the next round at Donington Park.”

Catch the next chapter of the Manzi-Oncu duel next time out in just over a month’s time at the Prosecco DOC UK Round July 11-13^th! Tune in live or watch on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 50% off!