Race 2 for the FIM Supersport World Championship was spectacular and the perfect way to cap off a brilliant weekend at the Autodrom Most, with Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) taking victory and securing his fourth consecutive win after completing the double at the Czech Round.
After taking the lead early on, Huertas took the spoils in the final race of the weekend for the WorldSSP class. The Spaniard had a 2.821s advantage at the line from Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), who was consistent throughout Race 2, securing a stunning 30th podium. However, behind the Italian was Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) after some late drama to decide the final spot on the podium on the final lap which allowed Montella to take his 13th podium.
RACING BEGINS: Montella leads on Lap 1
Montella claimed the holeshot on Lap 1, building a gap instantly from Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) behind. It was a dramatic Turn 1 as MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s Bahattin Sofuoglu and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) crashed on the opening lap. Navarro would quickly fall down the order, dropping to fifth on Lap 3 as Huertas entered second – closing Montella’s advantage. The #99 took the lead for the first time on Lap 4, with Manzi now taking second. Montella dropped to third before Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) found pace, demoting the #55 to P4.
Further back, Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was defending in ninth position and was in an intense battle for the final spots inside the top 10. Oncu battled with PTR Triumph’s Ondrej Vostatek and later Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). Meanwhile, at the front, Huertas continued to stretch the field as all eyes began to turn to the brilliant battle for third in the closing stages.
DEBISE VS MONTELLA: The P3 battle goes down to the wire
Montella launched his attack on the last lap at Turn 1, with both riders running wide and Debise holding onto third position. The #55 looked for another opportunity, touching the back of Debise and going onto the grass. Montella would stay on his Ducati, crossing the line in fourth but was later promoted to third as Debise was dropped one position due to a shortcut at Turn 1 & 2 on the final lap.
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR DEBISE: #53 demoted to fourth
After being so close to a podium, Debise finished in fourth in the results, ending Race 2 ahead of Navarro, who rounded out the top five – finishing a further six seconds behind. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) was sixth, grabbing a strong result to end his weekend ahead of Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) in seventh. EAB Racing Team’s Niki Tuuli took eight and would finish ahead of Schroetter, who finished in ninth at the line – beating Oncu. The #61 would finish inside the top 10, ending Race 2 as the top Kawasaki.
BEST OF THE REST: Corsi narrowly misses out on top 10
Simone Corsi (Renzi Corse) bounced back after a DNF on Saturday, crossing the line in 11th position. Vostatek finished in 12th after he made a late mistake at Turn 1 while battling with Oncu. Lorenzo Baldassarri (WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph) was 13th as the final points went the way of WRP Racing’s Steven Odendaal and Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team) in 15th. While it was a solid result for Bayliss, D34G Racing WorldSSP Team’s Tom Edwards had a disappointing end to the weekend after he crashed out at the final corner. Later on, Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) would suffer an issue, retiring to the pitlane.
The top six from WorldSSP Race 2, full results here:
1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +2.821s
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +7.721s
4. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +8.000s
5. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +13.766s
6. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +16.924s
Fastest Lap: Stefano Manzi, Yamaha – 1’35.083s
WorldSSP heads to Portugal next and you can watch all of the action using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 30% off!
Source: WorldSBK.com