Superpole showed that the ever-determined Manzi is always ready to put in a hot lap, and the Italian took second spot on the grid with a 1’43.292. Navarro qualified fourth, while Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) took fifth. Australia’s Tom Edwards (Yart-Yamaha WorldSSP Team) impressed with a great sixth.
In Race 1 Manzi got off to a strong start, maintaining his grid spot off the line and into the first corners. Over the next few laps he was able to keep the pressure on the race leader and defend well from third place, although as the race wore on he slipped back to the final podium spot. At this point the Italian was simply focused on staying ahead of the charging Yamahas of Navarro and Debise behind him, but after Montella, who was sitting in second, suffered a DNF it was game on for Manzi and he settled into a nice rhythm. Meanwhile, Navarro was feeling more confident and comfortable with each passing lap around the tricky track and the Spaniard was able to gain a great third, achieving his first WorldSSP podium. Debise took another strong finish with fifth, and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) finished 10th.
Taking his 14th win of the season on Saturday, Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega was crowned the 2023 FIM WorldSSP Champion. Manzi sits in a very solid second in the standings, 63 points ahead of third.
