Masia Pounces Late For First WorldSSP Race Win

Dramatic Czechia race sees Spaniard charge from 15th to victory, Bayliss scores top 10 finish

The 2025 WorldSSP race at the Most Circuit delivered an instant classic. As the lights went out, it was Can Oncu who led the charge into Turn 1, but Stefano Manzi immediately surged forward with a rocket start, slicing past pole-sitter Lucas Mahias before taking the lead from Oncu with a confident move into Turn 6.

Tom Booth-Amos was also lively in the opening exchanges, moving ahead of Marcel Schroetter while Jorge Masia, starting way down in 15th, was already picking his way through the field. Masia jumped into seventh early on but briefly lost and then regained position in the chaotic midfield battles.

As the front trio of Manzi, Mahias, and Oncu began trading fastest laps, Masia’s progress gathered momentum. Mahias nearly caused calamity on the third lap, flying into Turn 1 with excessive speed and almost wiping out the race leader. Just a lap later, disaster struck for Booth-Amos, who crashed out in a heavy fall that dealt a huge blow to his championship aspirations.

Manzi managed to regain the lead from Mahias on Lap 4, with Oncu putting pressure on the pack and eventually slipping past Valentine Debise. The Frenchman’s attempt to hold back Masia ended badly, crashing out at Turn 1 as the Spaniard continued his determined charge. Just as Manzi was starting to stretch his legs and assert control of the race again by setting the fastest lap, he lost the front and crashed out.

With Manzi down, a new three-way contest emerged at the front. Masia, Mahias, and Oncu began trading blows, with Masia’s Ducati impressive through the tight and technical sectors and the Yamahas of Mahias and Oncu showing superior punch out of the corners. Oncu dived through to take the lead by Lap 12, but Masia was ruthless in response, going back past Mahias and hunting down the Turkish rider. The two began to pull away, leaving Mahias adrift in a lonely third with no answer to their superior pace.

Meanwhile, Oli Bayliss had quietly worked his way into sixth, profiting from crashes ahead. But as the laps wound down, he began to struggle, eventually slipping back to ninth after being overtaken by Barry Bendsneyder in the final sector of the race.

As the last lap began, Masia was directly on Oncu’s rear wheel, shadowing him in the sectors where his Ducati excelled. Through the flowing esses, Masia closed in once more, and in a bold, clinical move into Turn 20, he block-passed Oncu to seize the lead. The Yamaha tried to fight back, but Masia held firm through the final turns and crossed the line for an astonishing victory.

It was an exceptional win for the Spaniard — his first of the season — after starting 15th on the grid and carving through the pack with a masterful blend of aggression and racecraft. Oncu had to settle for second after a valiant effort, while Mahias took third after fading late on. Marcel Schroetter and Andi Mahendra completed the top five. With retirements from key contenders and ambitious charges through the field, this race not only produced a thrilling spectacle, but also shook up the title fight in true WorldSSP style.

Manzi leads the championship with 175 points, ahead of Bendsneyder on 139 and Booth-Amos with 124. Masia moves up to fourth with 106 after his latest win, followed by Oncu on 97.

Czech WorldSSP Race 1

WorldSSP Standings