It’s curtains for the FIM Supersport World Championship’s French Round as the field returns to the garages after their thrilling Race 2. The Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours saw Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) win the round’s final race, finishing ahead of Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) who earn their 28th and ninth career WorldSSP podiums respectively. With their riders’ pair of podiums, Yamaha are crowned Manufacturers’ Champions after very strong seasons from riders like Manzi, Oncu, and Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA).


PUTTING THE HAMMER DOWN: Oncu looked to have his sixth win in the bag, until Manzi opened the gas to leave France on a four race win streak


Oncu led Manzi into T1 ahead of fellow Yamahas Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) and Alberto Surra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team). By Lap 4, Oncu had put more than three seconds between himself and Manzi behind him. Manzi gave chase at the head of Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse), Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) behind him. Oncu continued to cruise ahead of the pack, looking like he was on his way to his first race win since Donington. Stefano Manzi had other plans, however. He was having a solitary ride in P2 until he decided to hit the afterburners, and lap after lap, he made up time on the Turk. By the final lap, he was within a bike length’s distance of the #61, and in the final sector of the final lap, overtook his title rival for his ninth win of the season. Jeremy Alcoba showed impressive pace as he ran in the podium places early on, appearing as though he would earn Kawasaki their first WorldSSP podium since Race 2 at Jerez 2023. Unfortunately for the rider in green and his team, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) made a move near the race’s midpoint after starting from the fourth row and shuffled the Spaniard into P4.


With their P1 and P2 finishes, Yamaha has locked down the 2025 Manufacturer’s title. The Japanese manufacturer now stands alone atop the WorldSSP leaderboards as they have earned more poles, podiums, wins, fastest laps, and now, titles than any other manufacturer. Honda was tied with 10 this season; however, now earning their 11th title, Yamaha can now call themselves the kings of WorldSSP.


SIX DIFFERENT NATIONS IN TOP SIX: Turkey, Italy. Britain, Spain, France, and Denmark were all represented among the fastest riders


Honda rider and home hero Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) placed P5 again on French soil. The home track advantage suited him, as he earned his best result of the season, his best result in the last 29 races. Denmark’s Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) made a return to his Balaton top six form after an unfortunate P25 after crashing in Race 1 here. Having started from the second row, Jespersen placed P6. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was the fastest of the MV Agusta bikes, placing P7.


OETTL FINDING CONSISTENCY: The #65 is increasingly finding top ten pace


Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) will close his French weekend in P8, the German rider now having earned top tens in all but one of the last ten races. Jaume Masia’s (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) P9 is an improvement from his Race 1 DNF; however, he will look to get back to his podium form seen earlier this season in the remaining three rounds. Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) outpaced Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) by 0.147s to write his name in with the top 10 finishers.


MAHIAS AND CARICASULO COME TO GRIEF: Mahias recovers to earn P13


Contact in Turn 5 between Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) and Federico Caricasulo (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) on the first lap culminated in Mahias falling to the back of the order. Caricasulo dropped down to P21 and was later assessed a Long Lap Penalty by FIM WorldSBK Stewards for the collision. Despite the incident, Mahias was able to recover to score points in P13. Italian replacement rider Alberto Surra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) looked strong, riding in P3 until he crashed out in Turn 3 of Lap 3. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) saw a premature end to what a very strong race was otherwise. A Turn 3 slide into the gravel on Lap 9 saw his podium hopes come crashing down.


The top six from the WorldSSP Race 2: Full results here!


1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)

 2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.554s

 3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +9.393s

 4. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +9.665s

 5. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) +9.985s

 6. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) +10.817s

 Fastest lap: Can Oncu (Yamaha) – 1’40.584s


Championship standings

 1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 344 points

 2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) 275

 3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 214

 4. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 191

 5. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 178

 6. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) 163


Be sure to catch the next instalment of WorldSSP action next round: in the Tissot Aragon Round! Watch live or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 50% off!