PREVIEW: WorldSSP300 rolls into Estoril as Fernandez looks to tighten his grip on the title fight
The #7 heads to Estoril with a possibility of winning the title in his rookie season, but would need a lot to go his way to secure it…
The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship is preparing for its final two rounds and the race is on to see who will be crowned Champion in its final year. Circuito Estoril hosts the penultimate round of the season with Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) in pole position for the title, but faces stiff competition from several riders as they look to prevent the Basque star from wrapping up the title at the EICMA Estoril Round.
FERNANDEZ WITH A SHOT OF BEING CROWNED CHAMPION: What needs to happen?
The short answer to that question is: a lot. The simple answer is that Fernandez needs to leave Estoril 50 points clear of his nearest rival – currently David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI), 13 points back. Mathematically, nine riders can still win the title, although it’s likely to be between Fernandez, Salvador and Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki), with the Australian in third and 22 points back from the #7. However, WorldSSP300 is unpredictable, so don’t be too surprised if the Championship tightens up over the weekend – especially since this is WorldSSP300’s first visit to Estoril since 2022.
AIMING TO STAY IN THE HUNT: Garcia looks for a return to form
Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) is aiming to close the gap to the top three, currently 14 points back from Thompson and 36 from Fernandez; Estoril will be his second round back from injury and he scored only three points on his comeback at Aragon. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) is five points behind the Spaniard while Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) has hit form to move into the top six with three podiums, including a win, in his last four races. Buis and Vannucci are the two highest-placed riders to have raced at Estoril in WorldSSP300; Buis in 2020 and Vannucci on the Championship’s last visit.
IN MATHEMATICAL CONTENTION: Needing big results to close the gap
If Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing) ever needed a time for a first win in the Championship, this is it. The Brazilian sits seventh in the standings, 60 points off the lead, and knows it’s now or never for a late Championship charge – although he would need his rivals to not score big points too. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina XCI) is 19 points back from the Brazilian and Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) a further 20 behind, so will likely fall out of contention as soon as Race 1. Pepe Osuna (ZAPPAS-DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) completes the top ten; he’s 101 points back from P1 with 100 available, making him the first rider not to be in mathematical contention for the title.
WILDCARDS AND RIDER LINE-UP NEWS: Three additional names on the grid
There will be three wildcard riders competing at Estoril. Jakob Rosenthaler (Freudenberg KTM - Paligo Racing) continues his season on the KTM RC 390 R machine after a strong performance at Aragon. Martim Garcia is set for a WorldSSP300 debut with the Marcos Car Racing Team, on a Kawasaki Ninja 400, while there’s also a first Championship appearance for Shuncheng Zhang with the Arco MotoR University Team on their Yamaha R3. Elsewhere, Decksa Almer Alfarezel races for ProGP NitiRacing and Juan Risueno (MS Racing) will need to pass a pre-round medical check if he’s to race after suffering a dislocated shoulder at Aragon.
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