The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship delivered further drama and battles at the Pirelli Portuguese Round, with Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) completing the double after the Italian took victory by 0.214s. It was Gennai’s sixth victory, adding to an impressive record at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.
STRONG PODIUM: MTM Kawasaki one-two
Race 2 was full of twists as Gennai took victory from his teammate Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki), who had a phenomenal last lap, pulling off incredibly brave moves to secure 20 points in the Championship as the Dutchman crossed the line to also claim his sixth podium and the Championship lead. Meanwhile, Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) took the final spot on the podium, claiming his third podium and the 100th podium for Spain.
DRAMA: Iglesias retires to the pitlane
Once the lights went out it was a dream start for Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team), who led a packed 33 bike field through the opening lap. There was early Championship drama with Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki) dropping outside of the points before entering the pitlane to retire from Race 2 ending the weekend with zero points. Meanwhile, the battle for the lead continued with MTM Kawasaki’s Gennai and Veneman both having their shot at the front.
At the front, it was turning out to be a great race for Marc Garcia and Julio Garcia, who were in a brief Kove one-two. It was a five-rider lead group, duelling for position at every opportunity as Elia Bartolini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) began to battle for a podium finish in Portugal. It was clean racing at the front as the race entered its closing stages and tension began to build.
LAST CHANCE: Gennai holds onto victory
Heading onto the final lap, Gennai hit the front with the lead changing at every corner and the two Kove’s battling behind. The podium was not decided as Veneman began to make moves, sliding into P2 in the final sector. Gennai had the perfect gap heading towards the line for the final time, completing a brilliant weekend. The #26 was joined on the podium by Veneman and Julio Garcia.
BEST OF THE REST: Marc Garcia claims P4
Missing out on a podium finish in Race 2 was Marc Garcia, securing fourth position after missing out by a mere 0.084s in the drag to the line. It was a strong weekend for the #22 after beating Bartolini, who claimed the final spot inside the top five. The #31 was the last rider in the front group with Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffc Kawasaki) finishing a further 6.946s behind in sixth, ahead of Jeffery Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) and a huge second group of riders. Meanwhile, Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) was eighth as Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) and Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) took the final spots inside the top 10.
POINTS: Fontainha completes the top 15
Pepe Osuna (DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) was 11th ahead of Bruno Ieraci (Team ProDina Kawasaki) and Carter Thompson (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki), with the Aussie crossed the line in 13th position. The #50 continued to look strong in WorldSSP300, as Matteo Vannucci (Pata Yamaha AG Motorsport Italia) and Kevin Fontainha (Yamaha AD78 FIM LA by MS Racing) took the final points this weekend.
The top six from WorldSSP300 Race 2, full results here:
1. Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki)
2. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.214s
3. Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) +0.216s
4. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) +0.300s
5. Elia Bartolini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) +0.388s
6. Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) +7.334s
Fastest lap: Loris Veneman (Kawasaki) – 1’54.988s
Championship standings
1. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) 139 points
2. Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) 129
3. Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) 128
4. Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) 99
5. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) 89
6. Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) 76
Make sure you follow the remainder of the WorldSSP300 season using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!
Source: WorldSBK.com