FIM Supersport World Championship title leader Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) further insulated himself at the top of the Riders’ Championship standings after a clinical weekend of WorldSSP racing action at the first Hungarian Round in 35 years. Heading into the summer break, and with four rounds remaining, Manzi’s lead is up to 59 points, making a comeback from his title rivals a tall order at this late stage of the season.

LYING IN WAIT:” I was seeing what was happening in the first few laps, because I chose the hard tyre on the rear”

Starting from pole position, Manzi has had to battle for race wins all season, as the stacked 2025 WorldSSP grid makes no contest a foregone conclusion. On Sunday afternoon, however, Manzi faced a new challenger, the latest of a string of riders behind him in the Championship standings who looked to dethrone him from his regal 2025 form. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) had by far the best race of his WorldSSP career so far, and while Manzi pulled away from His main title rival, Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team), the Danish rider hung with the Italian, forcing him to push until the chequered flag.

Speaking with press before he was confirmed as a GRT Yamaha rider for 2026, on his Balaton his race 2 Manzi said: “It was a great race, I had a strong start from pole position, but Oncu and Jespersen dropped me in the first lap. From P3, I was seeing what was happening in the first few laps, because I chose the hard tyre on the rear. I saw that I was close, and the pace was not super strong in the beginning, so I decided I wanted to be in P,1 and I took the lead. I tried to do my own pace, and it was strong; I was able to set a new lap record. In Turn 2, I made a mistake and gave a couple of tenths of an advantage to Jespersen, and he got closer. It was impossible to drop him; it was a super ride from him. I’m super happy I was able to win today, it’s a good way to go on holiday.”

MANZI COMMITTED TO KEEPING IRONS HOT: “We will work hard because now is not the time to sit”

When the grid reconvenes in September, there are four rounds; eight races to decide who will be named the 2025 WorldSSP Riders’ Champion. Manzi’s lead is a daunting hill for any rider to climb, yet this season there have been blips of inconsistency from Manzi who is usually metronomic in his podium pace. At Most, the Italian fell to a Race 1 P26, and a much-improved yet still off-pace P6 in the second race. It would take a cataclysmic collapse from the #62 to lose his lead, yet in a category so laden with talent, 2025’s title race is anything but decided.

Manzi spoke on how he feels for the proximal Round 9 in France: “Now we have some time off, around a month. I think the team need to work, me as well at home. We will work hard because now is not the time to sit. It is a good time to work and try to improve as always. My approach will not change, we have to do our best race by race like we are doing now, and we will see at the end where we finish.”

Manzi and the rest of the WorldSSP grid return for Round 9 at Magny-Cours! Tune in with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 50% off!