Challenging Friday for Ten Kate Racing in Estoril

Stefano Manzi qualified thirteenth on Friday afternoon for the first World Supersport race at Circuito Estoril. His Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing teammate, Yuki Okamoto, will start Saturday afternoon’s opening race of the weekend from 28^th position on the grid.

Under sunny and quite warm conditions, the eleventh round of 2025 got underway on Friday at Circuito Estoril. Stefano Manzi quickly found his pace in free practice, while for Yuki Okamoto it was mainly a matter of learning the track which, like many others this year, is new to him.

The Superpole session proved to be difficult for both Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing riders. Championship leader Manzi eventually set the thirteenth fastest lap time, which means he will start Race 1 from the middle of the fifth row on Saturday afternoon. However, the Italian has already shown several times this season that he is very strong at the start and excels in race conditions. In addition, the first World Supersport race will also be his first opportunity to secure the world title, depending on his rival’s finishing position.

Okamoto ended his first day at Circuito Estoril with the 28^th fastest time in the Superpole session, placing him on the tenth row of the grid.

Stefano Manzi (P13 – 1’40.346 / +0,738):
“Today was completely opposite to what I expected, because I have good memories here from last year. Of course this year it is different with the R9 but it has been great from the beginning in the other rounds. This time we are struggling a bit more with finding the right setting, so I think we need to work hard tonight to find improvements. I am confident we can be more towards the front tomorrow and join the fight.”

Yuki Okamoto (P28 – 1’42.034 / +2,426):
“I like this circuit but it is difficult for me. There are many blind corners and elevation changes, so I need a bit more time to learn the circuit. My shoulder feels better than it did during the Aragón round so I will be able to push hard tomorrow.”

Kervin Bos – Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team manager:
“It was an interesting first day for us in Estoril. The conditions are excellent and it’s a circuit we enjoy coming to, but today things didn’t go our way. We are far from the pace and the potential that Stefano has, so we will work hard on that. He clearly doesn’t yet have the right feeling with the bike, and it’s our job to give him that. For Yuki, this is once again a new track, but he is making progress every session and that’s what we want to see. It will be important for him to continue improving every session at yet another new European circuit.

As we’ve shown more than once, as ‘Team Rocky’ we always bounce back and we already have a plan for tomorrow. We will work hard and are confident that we can perform better tomorrow.”

Manzi extends World Supersport Championship lead after thrilling battle in Race 1 at Estoril

Stefano Manzi finished second on Saturday afternoon in the opening World Supersport race at the Circuito Estoril. The Italian rider charged forward impressively from the fifth row of the grid, battling for victory in a spectacular fight at the front. The Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing rider finished ahead of his main championship rival, further extending his lead in the standings.

After a challenging start to the race weekend on Friday, Saturday’s first World Supersport race at the Portuguese circuit was expected to be a tough one for Manzi, who started from 13^th on the grid. However, following overnight setup changes, the morning warm-up already showed clear improvement — Manzi was over 0.6 seconds faster than his best lap in Friday’s Superpole session.

Making an excellent start from 13^th, Manzi quickly moved up the order with several well-executed overtakes, climbing to fifth place by the end of the opening lap. Just two laps later, the Italian had reached the top three, where he remained in contention for victory for the rest of the race. In an action-packed and entertaining battle, Manzi crossed the finish line in second place, only 0.440 seconds behind the winner.

By finishing ahead of Can Öncü, Manzi has extended his championship lead to 64 points. This means the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing rider only needs a fourth-place finish in Race 2 — regardless of his rival’s result — to secure the 2025 World Supersport title. Having set the fifth-fastest lap in Race 1, Manzi will start Sunday’s Race 2 from the second row, three rows further forward than in Race 1.

Teammate Yuki Okamoto finished 24^th in his first race at the Circuito Estoril. The Japanese rider once again improved his lap times compared to Friday and continues to make steady progress as he gains more experience on the Portuguese track.

Stefano Manzi (P2 / +0,440):
“It was a very good race today. Yesterday we were struggling more than expected, especially as we were quite fast on this track last year. It was not a good day but the team worked very hard in the evening to give me a good bike today, and we already showed the difference in warm up where I found the right feeling back. In the race I managed to recover the positions quickly, and then we had a big fight for the lead which was very enjoyable. To be honest, I come here to win but at this point of the championship we can definitely be satisfied with a second place. We need to continue working this evening because I want to win tomorrow, then we’ll see what happens in the championship.”

Yuki Okamoto (P24 / +44,797):
“It was a difficult race for me. Fortunately, I made a lot of improvements so I must continue in this way to achieve a better result. I know what I need to do for tomorrow’s race, so let’s see how it goes.”

Kervin Bos – Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team manager:
What a race it was today, and ‘Team Rocky’ is back once again! We clearly identified yesterday’s weak points, which allowed Stefano to regain a much better feeling with the bike. That has been the key to success this season, and today was no different. He made a fantastic start and then raced like no one else — taking smart decisions and the right risks at the right moments, while still keeping the championship in mind. Tomorrow will be an exciting day with the first real match point for the world title. Of course, all eyes are on the biggest prize and that’s what matters most, but we’ll go into it with an open mindset. We’ll do what needs to be done and stay focused on achieving the results we want.

For Yuki, it was another valuable day of learning. The new circuits are challenging with the current schedule, so he simply needs a bit more time — hopefully he can take another step forward tomorrow.”

Manzi wins Race 2 in Estoril and secures Ten Kate Racing’s thirteenth world title in style

Stefano Manzi and Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing clinched the World Supersport Championship title on Sunday afternoon. In Race 2 at Circuito Estoril, the Italian rider crossed the finish line as a convincing winner, securing the 2025 FIM World Supersport crown.

After a very strong Race 1 on Saturday — where Manzi battled his way from 13^th on the grid to finish second — his starting position for Sunday was much better, lining up fifth. Despite the added pressure of possibly sealing the championship, Manzi was determined to go for victory in Race 2.

Manzi managed his race perfectly and ultimately proved to be a step ahead of his rivals. The Italian crossed the line with a comfortable margin to claim his tenth win of the season. Across the 22 races run so far this year, Manzi and Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing have shown remarkable consistency, achieving no fewer than 18 podium finishes. It was the perfect way to seal the world title — celebrated in style with a golden race suit.

This world title marks Ten Kate Racing’s twelfth in the World Supersport class and thirteenth overall. After winning two championships on the Yamaha YZF-R6, the Nieuwleusen-based team has now also claimed a title with the Yamaha YZF-R9, in the very first year this Next Generation Supersport machine has competed in the world championship.

Stefano Manzi (P1 – 2025 FIM Supersport World Champion):
“This feels amazing, it is difficult to find the right words. After being the runner-up for two years we have finally achieved it. This is what you dream of when you start riding as a child. I am incredibly happy. I learned a lot from the mistakes I made earlier in the year, it was an important part of winning this championship. I enjoyed today’s race as well with the hard battle at the front. It’s great to win with the Yamaha R9 in its first year and I am also very proud to add my name to the list of riders who got a world title with Ten Kate Racing. They have been like a family for me over these past seasons and it will be difficult to leave them at the end of this year.”

Yuki Okamoto (P25 / +31,741):
“I gained a lot of experience in today’s race. We learned a lot but I still need to improve my riding. I will remain focused on the next round and I want to keep improving myself, together with the team. A big congratulations to Stefano for becoming world champion.

Kervin Bos – Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team manager:
“The thirteenth world title for Ten Kate Racing — what an incredible and special feeling. The chance to become champion always brings pressure for a rider, and to handle it the way he did is truly impressive. He managed to stand out, and when you win the world title in such a convincing way, it shows you’re something special. Hats off for what he has shown, and this success was made possible thanks to all our partners, sponsors, relations and everyone who has always stood by us. It was quite a challenge to start this season with a new bike, but together with Yamaha we have claimed our third world title. This is a very special championship, and we are extremely proud of it.”

From Estoril, the team will head straight to the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, where the twelfth and final race weekend of the 2025 season will take place from October 17 to 19.