Using the new SCX tyres for qualifying – like most of the field – Aegerter took his maiden WorldSSP pole position in the Superpole and led them away at the start of the race. The Swiss rider initially came under pressure from Odendaal behind, but was able to pull a gap on the 11th lap and cruise to his second victory, taking the championship lead in the process.
Behind, Odendaal had made a lightning start from sixth on the grid and immediately launched up to second place on the opening lap. The South African harried Aegerter for the lead, but on the 14th lap he lost second place to Italian youngster Bernardi and was unable to make a move back through, taking the chequered flag in third.
GMT94 Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team’s Jules Cluzel was also in the podium battle, taking a place at the start to run third. The French rider fought with Bernardi and ParkinGO Yamaha’s Manuel Gonzalez throughout, eventually finishing in fourth. Friday’s pace-setter Gonzalez came home just 0.031s behind the experienced Cluzel in fifth to complete an all-Yamaha top-five finish in Italy.
Ten Kate Yamaha’s Galang Hendra Pratama made good progress in the race from his 25th grid position, with the Indonesian youngster climbing 12 places and into the points, crossing the line 13th and just ahead of the Kallio Racing Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team’s Vertti Takala, who himself had made up an almighty 14 positions.
Elsewhere, Kallio Racing Yamaha’s Hannes Soomer fell out of the race on the fifth lap from seventh, while GMT94 Yamaha’s Federico Caricasulo and Biblion Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team’s Maria Herrera also fell later in the race.
For full Race 1 results, click here.
