Double top ten results in Argentina’s WorldSSP Race One

From the third row of the grid, Stefano Manzi got off the line well in today’s 19-lap FIM Supersport World Championship race one at the Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina.  The Italian moved straight to seventh and by lap five was up in podium contention before Aegerter passed him for third.

Staying with the double champion elect, an issue with the slipper clutch at mid-race distance caused the 23-year-old to run wide and drop to seventh.  With too much ground to make up, Manzi came home in seventh position.

Stefano Manzi: “So it was not a bad qualifying because we don’t start from the back but also we don’t start from the front.  This morning we found something from yesterday that meant we can go faster.  In the race I had a good start and good first laps but I started to struggle with the slipper clutch and that cost me a lot of positions.  Finishing in P7 is not a good race for us so we will try to fix everything for tomorrow and everything is going to be alright.”

Teammate Hannes Soomer made a decent start to the race but was hindered by Van Straalen crashing out in front of him on the first lap at turn seven.  The Estonian rider still made his way into contention for the top ten, finally crossing the line in tenth.

Hannes Soomer: “Quite a good day today. The Superpole we did a good lap time, the position wasn’t great but we weren’t far from the main group.  In the first lap of the race Van Straalen crashed in front of me on the long straight and I had to close the throttle and this is where I lost a lot of time and I had to catch back up.  Overall a good day.”

Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “Both riders in the top ten today.  Hannes started on the harder tyre and once it came in, he came back through the field and made it into the top ten.  We can still see his progression, getting better and better on the bike and I’m proud of the way he is improving and working so well with the team.  Congratulations to his guys and we hope to make another step closer to the front tomorrow.  Stefano made a good start then he ran wide a couple of times but was determined as always and stuck at it.  After enjoying recent podiums, we all obviously want better than seventh so let’s see where we can improve tomorrow.  Well done to everybody for the team effort and we look forward to tomorrow’s race.”

Fifth for Manzi, as Soomer is taken out in Race Two

In what turned into a lonely race, Stefano Manzi produced a stronger result to finish fifth in today’s 19-lap FIM Supersport World Championship race two at the Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina.  Manzi got off the line well again climbing to seventh by the second lap.  A mistake ahead by Tuuli and a gainful battle with Cluzel elevated him to fifth before the Finnish rider recovered, putting the Italian back to sixth.  Race leader De Rosa crashed out on lap eleven and Manzi maintained his position, crossing the line in fifth, just 4 seconds off the win.

Stefano Manzi: “Well today was a better day for us, we made a big step in front from yesterday.  We gained a bit but it’s not enough to be on the podium which was our goal this weekend. Fifth is good for taking home some points, now we have to focus on the next two races. We will see what happens”.

Teammate Hannes Soomer was hit from behind and taken out at turn two on the first lap and, unable to re-join, his race was over almost before it had started.

Hannes Soomer: “Very disappointing day. I was really optimistic about today’s race I think we had good potential to be in the top five at least and I just got hit in turn two and there was no room for all of the bikes so I crashed.  Yes, very disappointing.”

Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “Really disappointing for Hannes, he had improved all weekend and had really good potential in the race but that’s racing, that’s how it goes but we go to the next race in Indonesia with confidence and we’ll look for a good result for Hannes there.  A very good ride by Stefano to fifth place.  Every track is new to us this year with the bike and this one proved more challenging for us but we gained some more points back on Bulega.  A good job by the whole team, thanks to all our partners and we’re looking forward to Indonesia.”