Race 2 for the FIM Supersport World Championship was another crowd pleaser as Italian Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) took his first win since March in Barcelona, taking him closer in the Championship points to rival Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) who crashed out of the lead in Race 2 with 11 laps remaining.
MONTELLA LOOKING FOR THE WIN: Crashes out of first
It was Italian star Montella who appeared strongest to take home the win in the WorldSSP Race 2 in Cremona, whilst the battle for second place was fierce between current Championship leader Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) in the early stages at the Italian Circuit. But it wasn’t to be for #55 as he crashed out of first place, despite setting the race lap record of 1’32.117s, leaving Manzi and Huertas aiming for glory.
BRITISH WORLDSUPERSPORT PODIUM: Booth-Amos rides to an impressive third
An exciting fourth place battle between German rider Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Frenchman Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) provided plenty of close racing action, with the MV Augusta rider coming out on top to secure fourth over the lone. Huertas rode to a confident second position, maintaining his Title lead from Montella, whilst #69 Thomas Booth-Amos impressed the paddock with his maiden podium result, coming in third position and completing the rostrum, the first British rider to do so on a British bike since Chaz Davies in 2010.
CHAMPIONSHIP TENSION: 7 points separate Montella and Manzi
Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) led Spaniard Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) and Can Oncu (Kawasaki ZX-6R Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) across the chequered flag in sixth, seventh and eighth at the Acerbis Italian Round, whilst #50 Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph) and Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) rounded off the top 10 for Race 2.
With only three rounds of the 2024 season remaining, Huertas maintains a strong lead of 43 points ahead of the Italians, but only seven points between second place Montella and third Manzi means the Championship is heating up.
The top six following WorldSSP Race 1, full results here:
1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +2.697s
3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) +7.561s
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +9.412s
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +10.243s
6. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +10.935s
Fastest lap: Yari Montella, Ducati – 1’32.117s
Championship standings:
1. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 334 points
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 291
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 284
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 174
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) 173
6. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) 148
Source: WorldSBK.com