MANZI TAKES CONVINCING WORLD SUPERSPORT VICTORY AT HOME ROUND IN CREMONA

Stefano Manzi has won the second World Supersport race at the Cremona Circuit on Sunday afternoon. The Italian took over the lead in the second half of the race and then managed to build a comfortable lead. This gave him his second win of the year and he therefore decreased his deficit to the leader in the championship. Glenn van Straalen scored one point by finishing fifteenth.

After finishing second in the Superpole session and second in Race 1, Stefano Manzi and Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing wanted more in Race 2 at the Cremona Circuit. After a good start, the Italian was immediately able to keep up with his title rivals and managed to put the pressure on. It resulted in a mistake from his compatriot after which Manzi took over the lead in the race. Slowly but surely, he managed to create a gap to world championship leader Adrián Huertas after which he eventually crossed the finish line as the dominant winner.

It is the second victory of the season for Manzi and his sixth World Supersport win in the colours of Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing. The Italian has now achieved thirteen podium finishes in eighteen races and a total of 284 points behind his name. This puts him 50 points behind the world championship leader with three rounds to go, in which there is still a maximum of 150 points to be earned.

Glenn van Straalen had a difficult second race and immediately lost several positions in the opening phase. As the race progressed, the Dutchman managed to make up some more places, eventually scoring one point in fifteenth place. With 127 points, Van Straalen is currently eighth in the championship.

Stefano Manzi – P1: 

“It’s a fantastic feeling to finally take a victory again. It was a different race compared to yesterday because I was closer to the front in the beginning, but I was struggling with rear grip. After some laps I was still close, riding my own pace and feeling confident with the bike. I saw that Yari was pushing very hard but he made a little mistake and crashed. After that point I still had Adrián behind me so I tried to escape. I was able to ride my own pace and managed to slowly but surely build a gap. Finally I managed to take a comfortable win and
it feels amazing. Yesterday I was a bit frustrated to not be in the fight for the victory but now we did it, I am very happy about it. The championship isn’t impossible but the last three rounds need to be perfect from our side.”

Glenn van Straalen – P15: 

“In the end, it was a very difficult weekend. We did have the speed but at the beginning of the race I was hit by another rider, which caused my arm to hurt and as a result I dropped way back. I couldn’t ride my own pace because of that and that made it very difficult. I think we can be better again next week in Aragon.”

Kervin Bos – Ten Kate Racing Team Manager: 

“We end the weekend in Cremona with a great win by Stefano in Race 2. This was a perfect race from him with a good start and then a very strong pace. He had a flawless weekend and managed to get the most out of the package. Of course we are extremely happy and proud of that, also the team worked hard to make this possible. Unfortunately, on the other side of the pit box it was a weekend to forget, but those happen sometimes as well. We will recover and try again at Motorland Aragón, a circuit where both riders are fast.”

The World Superbike paddock travels straight from Cremona to Spain where next weekend, from 27 to 29 September, the tenth round of the 2024 championship will be held at Motorland Aragón.