Manzi to start from the fourth row after unfortunate qualifying in Misano, Okamoto 27th

Stefano Manzi qualified tenth on Friday afternoon for the first World Supersport race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Under very sunny and warm conditions, the Italian was on his way to securing a top-five position, but yellow flags during his fastest lap meant that his lap time was cancelled. Yuki Okamoto rode at the Italian circuit for the first time in six years and qualified 27^th.

With plenty of sunshine and an air temperature above 30°C, the first day of the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round took place on Friday at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The day started well for Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing, with Stefano Manzi setting the fastest time in Free Practice. However, it was in the afternoon’s Superpole session that lap times truly mattered, as it determined the starting grid for Race 1.

With about 15 minutes remaining on the clock, things went wrong for Manzi in the final corner before the start/finish straight, and he crashed. Fortunately, the Italian was able to bring the Yamaha R9 back to the pit box himself, and the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team managed to quickly repair the bike so that Manzi could return to the track in the closing stages. He managed to set a lap time good enough for fifth place on the grid, but due to yellow flags, the time was cancelled. As a result, Manzi will have to start Race 1 from tenth position on Saturday afternoon.

Yuki Okamoto is back in Misano this weekend for the first time since 2019, and therefore needed time to re-familiarise himself with the circuit. In the end, the Japanese rider set the 27^th fastest lap time, only two seconds off the pole position.

Stefano Manzi (P10 – 1’37.675 / +0,556):
“We started well in the morning, and also in qualifying my pace was not too bad in the beginning. Unfortunately I lost the front in the final corner and crashed with the first qualifying tyre. I was able to bring the bike back to the box but I lost a lot of time. The team was very quick with repairing the bike, so thanks to them. After the crash I was able to do two fast laps but unfortunately I got a yellow flag in the lap that would have put me on the second row, now I have to start from P10. It wasn’t what we had hoped for today but we have to remain focused for tomorrow’s race.”

Yuki Okamoto (P27 – 1’39.153 / +2,034):
“Today I rode at the Misano World Circuit for the first time in six years, which was quite difficult for me. There are many areas where I need to improve. Tomorrow will definitely be better than today, I will do my very best together with the team.”

Kervin Bos – Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team manager:
“It was a challenging day for us today, especially during qualifying where things didn’t go according to plan. The bikes were well prepared for the warm conditions, and because of that, there are several tyre options available for the races this weekend. Unfortunately, things went wrong in the final lap for Stefano and he crashed. That is something that can happen in qualifying, of course. We managed to repair the bike and he set the fifth-fastest time in the last lap, but unfortunately, that lap was cancelled due to a yellow flag.

For Yuki it’s a tough weekend, and we’ll need to see tonight if we can help him find more speed for tomorrow. The expectation is that Stefano definitely has the pace for the podium, but he’ll have to start from P10. That’s not ideal, but we’ve won races from worse positions with him before. Tomorrow we’ll go on the attack with both Stefano and Yuki.”

Magnificent Manzi battles to home victory in Misano

Stefano Manzi claimed victory in the first World Supersport race on Saturday afternoon at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The Italian rider made a strong charge from tenth on the grid and managed to win the race after several intense battles. With this fourth win of the season, the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing rider extends his lead in the championship to 62 points. Teammate Yuki Okamoto finished 24^th in Race 1.

Due to a Superpole session on Friday afternoon that didn’t go as planned, Stefano Manzi had to start Race 1 from tenth position. However, the Italian kept his composure and after a very strong start and an excellent opening lap, he quickly moved up to third place. Manzi kept his cool and took the lead for the first time on lap seven. The leading group remained close, and the racing was fierce, but Manzi ultimately came out on top and crossed the finish line first at his home circuit.

It marks Manzi’s fourth win of the season—three of which have come on Italian soil. It’s also the fourteenth World Supersport victory of his career, and it brings him to a total of 50 podium finishes. With 9 podiums in 11 races in 2025, Manzi now holds a 62-point lead – matching his racing number – over his closest rival in the World Supersport Championship. In Race 2, Manzi will start from second on the grid based on the fastest lap times recorded in Race 1.

Yuki Okamoto is racing at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for the first time since 2019. Starting from 27^th on the grid, the Japanese rider worked his way up to 24^th in the first race of the weekend. For Okamoto, the focus this weekend is primarily on gaining more track time on the R9 with the Pirelli tyres.

Stefano Manzi (P1):
“Fortunately I had a very good start and I moved up many positions, but in turn 2 I had contact with another rider. After that moment I was in fifth positions so I told myself to keep calm, and see how I would be able to go towards the front as soon as possible. After a couple of laps I was already in third position so I tried to manage the race a bit, and after that I started my fight to be in the lead. My pace was good and after I took the lead, I was able to maintain this pace.

After a while, Can started to battle me but I didn’t want to give up the position. Every time he passed me, I managed to answer straight back. The last couple of laps I was able to be in front, and finally I crossed the finish line first as well. It’s nice that my lead in the championship is now 62 points. I want to enjoy this moment but we have another race tomorrow, so we will focus on that. It was good to win today, but we need to check where we can improve and make sure we’re there again tomorrow.”

Yuki Okamoto (P24 / +37,272):
“It was a difficult race today. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but we are working on it. I need to learn more about the tyres, the track and the bike. I know that the time is limited but I want to be better in tomorrow’s race.”

Kervin Bos – Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team manager:
What a fantastic victory by Stefano. We already knew on Friday that he was incredibly fast, although it didn’t quite come together in Superpole. That’s why today brought out the best in him, and it’s clear that Stefano, the team, and the bike are all in top form at the moment. In my opinion, this was the best race of the year. For tomorrow, it’s important to fine-tune the details. We’re going to try a few things in the warm-up, and hopefully we can take another step forward. Fortunately, Stefano will start from second place tomorrow, so the starting position is better than it was today. It was a tough day for Yuki, although there were certainly some positives that we’ll build on. We’ll also try a few things with him in the warm-up so he can approach certain aspects with a fresh perspective, and hopefully both riders can go on the attack tomorrow.”

Disappointing Sunday in Misano yields no points for Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing

Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing was unable to score points on Sunday in the second World Supersport race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Stefano Manzi was leading the race but crashed at the end of the ninth lap, bringing his race to an early end. Yuki Okamoto finished in twentieth place.

After Stefano Manzi’s victory in Race 1 on Saturday afternoon, expectations were high for Race 2 on Sunday afternoon. Starting from second on the grid, the Italian got off to a strong start and took the lead for the first time on lap five. Manzi looked comfortable and appeared to be in control, until things went wrong at the end of the ninth lap. As he entered the final corner before the start/finish straight, he lost the front of the bike and crashed.

Despite this non-score in Race 2, Manzi still holds a solid lead in the championship. With 210 points, he has a 47-point advantage over his closest rival.

Starting from 27^th on the grid, Yuki Okamoto made a good start and had climbed to 21^st after just three laps. Ultimately, he could do no better than twentieth, meaning he was unable to add any world championship points to his tally this weekend.

Yuki Okamoto (P20 / +27,808):
“I have given everything in this race, and there was nothing left that I could do. We are getting better but I felt that we could have achieved more. We will keep working hard and continue challenging. I will prepare myself in the best way possible for the next race at Donington Park.”

Stefano Manzi (DNF):
“It’s a big shame to end this good weekend in this way, because I was feeling amazing. We had a tricky Friday but yesterday’s race was fantastic. Today we were there, trying to do the same as yesterday, but unfortunately I lost the front in the final corner and I crashed. We have to analyse this with the team, because I crashed three times in the last two rounds and it is the second time this weekend that I crashed in that corner. I want to know how to manage this, because it is a bit strange. Now we focus on the next round at Donington Park.”

Kervin Bos – Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team manager:
“It was a disappointing day for us — unfortunately, things can’t always go our way. Stefano crashed while leading the race, and we need to look into why that happened. I’m confident we will come back stronger and be able to make things right. For Yuki it was a very tough weekend, and we need to analyse how we can make more progress with him. We’re already looking ahead to the next round.”