Can Oncu won FIM Supersport World Championship Race Two Sunday at TT Assen Circuit, in the Netherlands. The BLU CRU Evan Bros Team Yamaha YZF R9 rider won the 18-lap race by just 0.012 second.
Stefano Manzi was a very close second on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF R9, and Bo Bendsneyder got third on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.
Former MotoAmerica regular Valentin Debise finished fourth, just 3.422 seconds behind the winner and just 0.272 behind Bendsneyder on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Oncu claims Race 2 win in dramatic return to Assen after career threatening injury in 2023. Manzi takes P2 after a move by Oncu in the final chicane, Dutchman Bendsneyder takes in P3 takes his second podium at his home round.
The Pirelli Dutch Round is officially in the books as the final race of the last round of the day has seen the chequered flag. The FIM Supersport World Championship’s Race 2 at Assen featured a dramatic last lap overtake, Turkish young star Can Oncu overtook Stefano Manzi who led most of the affair to take his first race win of the weekend. The win was a special moment for Oncu, as it was here in Assen back in 2023 when he suffered a very concerning arm injury which cast doubts on his ability to return to competition. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) was up in the podium battle once again, until an unfortunate spill late in the running on Turn 10 dashed his podium dreams. He was however able to continue, and without a fairing, he took P15 to salvage a point.
TRIUMPHANT RETURN: Oncu’s late move on Manzi claims Race 2 win in Assen
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) led the race for a majority of the contest, fighting off constant pressure from Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) repeatedly until the final chicane. Oncu passed Manzi, and while Manzi passed him back upon the exit of the chicane, he did so by cutting the corner, riding onto the green and was applied a one position penalty for Exceeding Track Limits. Oncu had a blistering start to the race, jumping up from a P5 grid start position to nip at Manzi’s heels until his late move. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) lacked the pace to catch up to Oncu and Manzi ahead of him for the race but powered forward to lead the second group for his second podium of his home round. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) similarly battled his way up into the podium battle before crashing out late in the race in Turn 10 to miss out on the podium however salvage a point from the round to finish P15.
SCHROETTER SAVES RACE 2: climbs 8 positions for P6
Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) partook in the spirited battle P5 among Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing), eventually coming out on top of the group to finish P4. Masia started from P3 on the grid, enjoying a strong start to the race before falling back to P6. Later he recovered a position to finish P5. Marcel Schroetter‘s (WRP Racing) P6 undersells the work the German had to put in to earn it, starting in P14, Schroetter made up 8 positions to help his Championship position.
TOUGH BREAK FOR MAHENDRA: P8 in Race 1, involved in podium fight until running wide
Another solid performance by Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) earned the grid’s only Kawasaki rider a P7 to cap off the weekend. Aldi Mahendra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) had another strong showing at Assen, much improved from his prior rounds. He hung with his teammate Oncu in the podium battle before unfortunately running wide onto the grass on Turn 15, falling down to finish in P8, tying his best ever WorldSSP result achieved in Race 1. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME Air Racing) made Schroetter’s effort look small however, converting his P29 grid start position into a P9 finish. Rounding out the top 10, Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) earned Honda their best result of the weekend with his P10 placement, just a quarter of a second behind Caricasulo.
DEMOLITION DERBY: 7 riders forced to retire early
Glenn van Straalen (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) crashed out of the Race on Lap 6, ending his day early. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) cruised up the grid early to P5 in Lap 2 from his P11 start; until a collision with Philipp Oettl sent him sprawling into the gravel. FIM WorldSBK Stewards later ruled a Long Lap Penalty for Oettl for Irresponsible Riding for the incident. Leonardo Taccini’s (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) race ended ahead of schedule as he crashed out of the race on Lap 8 at turn 10. Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) suffered a tech issue a lap later on Lap 9, retiring to the garage shortly after. Dutch Duo Loris Veneman (EAB Racing Team) and Melvin van Der Voort (Track and Trades Wixx Racing) retired due to separate tech issues on laps 10 nd 12 respectively. Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) crashed out of the race in the final lap of the race in Turn 16.
The top nine from the WorldSSP Race 2: Full results here!
1 Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.012s
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +3.150s
4. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +3.422s
5. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +5.131s
6. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +5.997s
7. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +9.478s
8. Aldi Mahendra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +15.909s
9. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME Air Racing) +18.199s
Be sure to tune in next time out in Cremona at the Acerbis Italian Round May 2nd-4th via the WorldSBK VideoPass!