Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) made FIM Sportbike World Championship history in Race 1 at the Pirelli Dutch Round as he claimed victory with his Suzuki GSX-8R machine at his home round. The #6, who did the double in WorldSSP300 last year at the TT Circuit Assen, claimed a hard-fought victory ahead of Kawasaki duo Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) and David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI).

SUZUKI’S FIRST WIN IN THE PADDOCK SINCE 2015: Buis puts the Japanese manufacturer on top

Home hero Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) hoped to convert his pole position into a race win, but his hopes ended at the end of Lap 1 when he crashed at Turn 16 with Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) when fighting in the podium places. The Dutch hopes at the head of the field rested on Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing), who was running at the front of the field in the early stages of the 12-lap race, leading a Suzuki 1-2 at times with teammate Ferre Fleerackers. On Lap 4, Fleerackers demoted the #6 into P2 on the run into the Geert Timmer Chicane, although Buis got ahead a lap later. The order continually changed throughout the race, but Buis was able to hold on to claim victory for Suzuki; their first in the paddock since Eugene Laverty in 2014 in Race 1 at Phillip Island in WorldSBK. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) came through to take second with David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) completing the podium.

VANNUCCI MISSES OUT: Close to a podium

Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) had been in the fight for the podium in the closing stages of the race but fell to fourth on the final lap, while Fleerackers finished off the rostrum despite running in first and second at various times with the Belgian eventually coming home in fifth. Bruno Ieraci (CM Triumph Factory Racing) ensured Triumph representation in the top six as he finished in P6, beating teammate Elia Bartolini by just 0.155s.

BEEKMANS IN P8: Strong result for the Dutch rider, Fernandez scores points for Kove

Dutch rider Kas Beekmans (VLR Racing Team Suzuki) came home in eighth place after a strong start to the race, ahead of 2025 WorldSSP300 Champion Benat Fernandez (Kove Racing Team 109) who took Kove’s first points of the season; the seven manufacturers who have competed in WorldSPB this season have now got points on the board. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) headed into Race 1 as the Championship leader but could only manage P10 in Race 1.

HOUSEKEEPING: To note from Race 1

On Lap 1 at Turn 10, Mattia Sorrenti (Revo-M2), Harrison Dessoy (PHR Performance Triumph) and Alvaro Fuertes (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) were caught in a crash which forced Sorrenti and Dessoy out of the race, while Fuertes was able to continue. On Lap 8, Tomas Alonso (Miguel Oliveira Team) crashed at Turn 5. Troy Sovicka (Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing) fell out of contention when he had a technical problem on Lap 9.

The top six from WorldSPB Race 1, full results here:

1. Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing)
2. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) +0.065s
3. David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) +0.473s
4. Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) +0.521s
5. Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) +0.526s
6. Bruno Ieraci (CM Triumph Factory Racing) +0.717s
Fastest lap: Ferre Fleerackers (Suzuki) – 1’42.575s

Don’t miss the action on Sunday with WorldSPB Race 2 at 13:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!