PREVIEW: WorldSSP300’s 2025 campaign begins at Portimao as Gennai looks to hit his rivals for six
The last season of WorldSSP300 kicks off at Portimao this weekend with a stacked entry list competing for four manufacturers
After a long off-season, the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship bursts back into action at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve to kick off its ninth, and final, season. With a new entry-level class being introduced for 2026, this season is the last chance to join the likes of Aldi Mahendra, Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing), Alvaro Diaz, Adrian Huertas, Manuel Gonzalez, Ana Carrasco, and Marc Garcia in being crowned a World Supersport 300 Champion, and the Pirelli Portuguese Round is where riders will need to strike first but who will be in contention?
GENNAI UNBEATABLE AT PORTIMAO: five in a row for the Italian…
Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) has been simply unbeatable at Portimao in recent seasons, winning the last five WorldSSP300 races there for two different brands (Kawasaki and Yamaha). He’ll be looking to continue that run but faces stiff competition, some of which will come from teammate Carter Thompson as he makes a full-time move into WorldSSP300. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) is once again searching for the title, aiming to become a three-time World Champion, though he only has one rostrum at the rollercoaster. Kevin Sabatucci (Accolade Funds Smrz Racing BGR) is the most experienced rider on the grid, with 83 race starts, and he’ll be hoping he can use that to his advantage in the early stages of the season. Both Elia Bartolini (Team BrCorse) and teammate Marco Gaggi have shown glimpses of what they can do so expect them to be in the mix, as well as Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing). Tomas Alonso (Pons Motorsport Italika Racing) returns for a full-time campaign after several appearances on home soil, and he begins with a home round.
THE 2025 ROOKIES: new names and fresh faces
Several riders will begin their rookie season in 2025, with Marc Vich (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) and teammate Cameron Swain making their way up through the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup ranks. Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) is the sole Kove rider on the grid in 2025, while Antonio Torres (Team ProDina XCI) and Gonzalo Sanchez (ARCO Sash MotoR University Team) both made impacts in 2024 in sporadic appearances. Indonesia is represented on the grid with Felix Mulya (ProGP NitiRacing) and teammate Faerozi Toreqottullah. Also coming into the Championship are Juan Risueno (MS Racing), Uriel Hidalgo (ZAPPAS-DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team), Roberto Fernandez (Kawasaki Junior Team by MTM), and Emanuele Cazzaniga (Racestar Trasimeno); the latter has raced a few times in WorldSSP300 but is now set for a full-time campaign.
EXPERIENCED HEADS: will Vannucci’s luck turn in 2025, can Garcia quickly re-adapt to the Kawasaki?
Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) perhaps earned the title of unluckiest rider in 2024; when everything was going well, something always seemed to prevent him from getting a good result. He’ll be hoping 2025 is his year and the three-time race winner will feel Portimao – a circuit he’s had a podium at – is a good place to start. Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) is back on the Kawasaki Ninja 400, and he’ll want to add to his podium tally while Czech rider Petr Svoboda (Kawasaki Junior Team by MTM) is back on the grid after missing the majority of 2024 due to injury. Pepe Osuna (ZAPPAS-DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) improved his Championship position from 15th to 10th in 2024 and he’ll be aiming for a similar step. Unai Calatayud (ARCO Sash MotoR University Team) is a race winner in WorldSSP300 and will be hoping he can secure more victories after showing strong potential throughout his time in WorldSSP300; it’s a similar story for David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI), who ended 2024 with a win in Race 1 at Jerez.
AIMING FOR FIRST WINS OR PODIUMS: a stacked field in 2025…
Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing) has been fast throughout his time in WorldSSP300 with four podiums and a pole to his name. The Brazilian will be aiming to take a first win, while teammate Kevin Fontainha will be hoping to stand on the rostrum for the first time. Emiliano Ercolani (Kawasaki GP Project) debuted last year and improved his results as the season progressed but couldn’t crack the top ten; that’ll be his first goal in 2025. It’s similar for teammate Giacomo Zannini but his first target will be a top 15 finish for his first points, as it will be for Czech rider Filip Novotny (Accolade Funds Smrz Racing BGR).
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