With the FIM World Supersport Championship back in full swing, it was the turn of the middleweight class to take to the track for Race 1 action on Saturday. And it certainly did not disappoint. As has been the story of the season, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) and Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) decided to fight it out between themselves to determine the race win, as well as the lead of the Championship.
HUERTAS HUNTS MONTELLA DOWN: Spaniard pips Italian at the line to win Race 1
Adrian Huertas continued his incredible start to the WorldSSP season by engaging in yet another all-action battle with title rival Yari Montella. The Spaniard stalked Montella around the track for nearly the entirety of the race, before starting to close in on his rival towards the final sector of the track. By the time the final corner came, Huertas capitalised on a slight slide by Montella to level his bike alongside the Italian and just pip him to the line. A truly exciting championship battle, indeed. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) rounded out the podium with a solid P3 performance.
TOP SIX SECURED: Championship contenders continue to push
Many of the Championship contenders rounded out the top six to continue their title ambitions. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros WorldSSP Yamaha Team) quietly continued his impressive season to date as he claimed P4, whilst Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) claimed a very solid P5 placing. German Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) completed the top six.
BEST OF THE REST: Oli Bayliss makes the top ten
As has been the story of the weekend, it was an extremely competitive fight for the top ten. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) continued his impressive weekend by finishing P7, whilst long-touted prodigy Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team) picked up P8. Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) finished P9, and Glenn Van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) completed the top ten. Also worth noting is the performance of Tom Edwards (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team), who finished in P12. He was the highest finishing WorldSSP Challenge rider out of anyone on the grid.
Top six from Race 1, full results here:
1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.021s
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +4.667s
4. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +5.892s
5. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +14.686s
6. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 17.884s
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Source: WorldSBK.com