Chris Clark became the first North American rider to win a race in the FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup with victory in the opening race at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve today. 

The American, who started on the front row of the grid in third, was in the mix from the off in a frenetic first race of the year in which the entire field remained close throughout. 

It was Japan’s Teppai Kugawa who took the lead into Turn 1, but in typical R3 World Cup-style the lead changed multiple times throughout, with Clark, Alessandro Di Persio (Italy), Mario Selles (Brazil), Arai Agaska (Indonesia), Aymon Bocanegra (Brazil), Dawid Nowak (Poland) and Emanuele Pastore (Italy) all leading points throughout the race. 

2024 SuperFinale winner Emanuele Pastore (Italy) had looked to make a charge but a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start made things all the more difficult before a crash ruled him out of the race with Dawid Novak down in the same incident ruling out his hopes of a podium return. 

Kugawa led over the line as the final lap began, but Di Persio took the lead at turn four. Clark meanwhile was in the hunt, looking for opportunities to get into the lead. He made his move at turn ten and had the confidence to lead the race into the final turn, holding off his rivals to take his first victory in the series. 

Di Persio finished second with Indonesia’s Arai Agaska crossing the line third. Kugawa missed out on a podium in fourth with Bocanegra completing the top five. Polesitter Mario Salles was sixth ahead of Marco Truoiolo (Italy) and Jean Turner (Japan). Daniel Krabacher (Austria) and Indi Schunselaar (Netherlands) completed the top ten. 

A shake up to the grid for Race 2 (which is set by fastest lap times from Race 1) sees Truoiolo start on pole from Schunselaar and Angelo Mottola (Italy). Race winner Clark starts 11^th.

Clark said: "It feels amazing. It is my first race here, so it is incredible. I am just so grateful to everyone who has helped me get here - all my supporters for making this possible. I love seeing the smile on my team's faces after the win, it's awesome!"

Race 2 gets underway at 10:05 local time on Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on the Yamaha Racing YouTube here.