PREVIEW: Manzi looks for a return to his best at Donington as Oncu begins to close the gap in WorldSSP
Manzi still holds a sizeable points lead, however shaky recent form leaves the door open for the rest of the field
Six rounds in the books, six to go, as the FIM Supersport World Championship grid prepare to take on the Prosecco DOC UK Round. Championship leader Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) has seen his lead diminished to 47 points ahead of Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team). It’s still a formidable cushion, but across the last two rounds at Most and Misano, Manzi has been outscored by Oncu by 51 points. Matters are further complicated for the #62 by the fact the chasing pack is not just one or two riders, but often four or five, with Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) all looking strong at times.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD: can Manzi bounce back at Donington?
After taking Race 1 victory at Misano, Manzi battled with Oncu in Race 2, but a Turn 16 fall handed Oncu the victory and another big chunk of points was taken out of his lead. A return to the consistency he showed at the start of the year is now vital for Manzi as he looks to stop the momentum his rivals have built over the last two rounds. Oncu has been on a better run of form than how he started the season, his worst result in the last two rounds is just P4, and in that time, taking a couple of wins. If he can continue this consistency, he will continue to lead the charge against Manzi who sits atop the field. Bendsneyder has struggled since Assen, failing to land a podium since then. Despite his best result in the last six races of just P5, due to his strong performances early in the season and Manzi’s recent struggles, he’s only seven points behind Oncu in P3.
MASIA’S RISE: The Spanish rookie has found another gear in the last two rounds
While he ended the weekend with a Race 2 crash, Masia earned his first WorldSSP Race win in Race 1 in Czechia. To follow that up, in his Ducati bike’s home round at Misano, he landed back-to-back P2s for a total points haul since Cremona of 65 points, second only to Oncu across that period. Masia finds himself in P4, 64 points back from Manzi, yet the rookie comes into Donington in red-hot form. Booth-Amos in fifth place sits just four points behind Masia with 142 points so far in 2025. Similar to Bendsneyder, he started the season on fire, however, has struggled with his form since his pair of P2s at Cremona. Could he be back to his race-winning best on home soil? Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) in P6 has had a frustrating season as, while he sits 92 points back from Manzi, he has been far closer to the Championship leader and the podium positions than the points tallies make it seem. Still looking for his first 2025 race win, the Frenchman earned P3, then P2 at Most, but needs to find another step to land on the podium more frequently as opposed to being the odd man out.
DEBISE GETTING CLOSER: the Frenchman closing in on a first win
Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) is another whose points tally perhaps doesn’t reflect their pace, with the Frenchman often challenging for podiums and occasionally in the lead fight; but the first win remains elusive. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) has been making gains on his Panigale V2 and will hope for a first rostrum of the season; although Donington is a circuit he’s not finished in the top five at. The sole Kawasaki rider on the grid, Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team), sits ninth in the Championship and has been a consistent contender in the top ten. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) has found some strong form in recent rounds and has climbed to tenth in the standings. He’s 20 points behind Alcoba but he’s not raced in WorldSSP at Donington before.
RIDER LINE-UP NEWS: two wildcards set for Donington duel
British rider Harry Truelove (MMB Racing) makes a return to the WorldSSP grid as a wildcard rider on a Panigale V2, joined by Irish teammate Eugene McManus (MMB Racing). Piotr Biesiekirski continues to stand in at the Team Flembbo – Pilote Moto Production outfit for Loic Arbel.
Catch your favourite WorldSSP, WorldSBK and WorldWCR riders this weekend at Donington July 11-13th Watch live or OnDemand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 50% off!
