Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) held off a posse of hungry riders for P1 as he won the Yamaha R9’s inaugural FIM Supersport World Championship. A sunny day in Phillip Island saw a dogfight for the podium positions as five riders brawled at the head of the pack. The mandatory pit stops played an important role for several riders, penalties incurred for leaving early affected riders like Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), pushing him down the results sheet to P6.

ONCU QUICK START: Can Oncu claimed the holeshot, finishes P6

Starting from P4, Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) jumped into P1 from the second row for the season’s first holeshot. Behind him, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) held onto his P2 pole position exiting the first corner, and Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) began the race for the second and third positions.

PODIUM FIGHT: Manzi starts 2025 as he ended 2024’s finale in Jerez

Following the pit stops, the front five bikes developed a gap separating them from the rest of the pack. Manzi, who entered the pits on Lap 9, a lap later than Masia and Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) who he would spend the rest of the race battling with for the top of the podium. Manzi took the top position from Masia who doggedly battled for P1, however he had been assessed a 3.510s penalty for a Pit Intervention Time Infraction. Masia for the infraction was knocked down the standings to P6, despite crossing the finish line second. On the final lap, at Turn 10, Manzi made a move, pushing Masia wide, although the Spaniard kept P2 on track. Just behind the pair, Schroetter and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) battled for track position, with Booth-Amos holding Schroetter off to claim P2 once penalties had been applied.

PENALTIES HAMPER BENDSNEYDER AND MASIA: Finished P4 and P6 respectively

Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished P4 despite a 0.855s penalty being applied for a Pit Intervention Time Infraction, The Dutch rider having climbed up the grid from his P9 position to start the race. Can Oncu finished P5 despite a very strong jump out in front to start the race, and a protracted battle for P1 before the Pit Lane Intervention with Stefano Manzi. Jaume Masia showed strong pace and composure beyond his years, maintaining a competitive pace near the front both before and after the pit stop, however a costly early exit to the pit lane penalized his time, which after being applied, landed him in P6.

BAYLISS P8: Bayliss, Mahias, Debise, Alcoba round out the top 10

Home hero Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) secured a credible P7 finish on his Triumph debut, gaining through the pit stop phase after pitting a lap earlier than Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) just behind. The #32 changed his tyres on Lap 8, compared to Lap 9 for the two Frenchman, although he was made to work hard for his seventh place; he was just 0.001s clear of Debise in P8. Mahias was ninth in the classification and receiving a 0.050s penalty for a Pit Intervention Time infraction. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) rounded out the top ten on his debut.

DEMOLITION DERBY IN AUSTRALIA: 4 DNF’s from crashes, 6 in total

Taccini and Mahendra crashed early in Turn 10 in their first lap, resulting in a trip to the medical centre for Mahendra. The incident will be reviewed after the race to determine if any penalty will be awarded. Harrison Voight crashed in Lap 5 with a crash in Turn 6. Loric Veneman was the next casualty of the race, taking a spill in Turn 11 in Lap 15. Xavi Cardelus and Michael Rinaldi (GMT94-YAMAHA) both saw their races end as a result of technical issues, with Rinaldi’s bike shooting flames out of the exhaust as he entered the straight and diverted into the pits

The top six from the WorldSSP Race 1: full results here!

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.322s
3. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +0.480s
4. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.447s
5. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +2.513s
6. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) +3.527s

Catch tomorrow’s conclusion of this season’s Australian action in Race 2 via the WorldSBK VideoPass!