GRT Yamaha Secure Stunning Double Podium in Buriram

The GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team enjoyed a superb Sunday in a hot and humid Buriram, Thailand at Round 2 of the 2018 FIM Supersport World Championship. Lucas Mahias had been the man to beat all weekend and – starting from pole position – was involved in a spectacular battle for the race win that came right down to the line. The man from Mont-de-Marsan gave it his all before crossing the line in second, just missing out on his second win of the season by 0.048s, and he is now the joint leader of the WorldSSP Championship standings with 45 points from the first two races. His teammate Federico Caricasulo made sure it was a day to celebrate for the team as he also put in an excellent performance to finish in third, just 1.213s off the race winner, to secure his first rostrum of the season and the maiden double podium for the team.

Mahias scorched to his third consecutive WorldSSP pole position on Saturday at the Chang International Circuit and when the lights went out on for Sunday’s race he became embroiled in a brilliant battle for the lead with his teammate Caricasulo and fellow Yamaha rider Jules Cluzel (NRT). As the race went on, it looked lit would be a duel to the line between the three riders on Yamaha R6s before Krummenacher –  also riding a Yamaha R6 – joined in the scrap for victory. It soon became a five-way fight at the front as Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) – also riding a Yamaha R6 – joined on the back of the leading group. Cluzel then crashed out of the race on lap 13, leaving Mahias and Krummenacher to duke it out for the race win. It was a classic fight between the two, with Mahias appearing to lose out on the straights to the Swiss rider, but making up swathes of time in the corners. They were inseparable until the last corner on the penultimate lap when Mahias almost lost the front and dropped 0.5s behind his rival. Undeterred, he showed incredible skill and determination to close the gap enough to make an audacious move under braking at the final corner on the last lap. He got past Krummenacher but ran a bit wide and the Swiss rider made contact with Mahias in the sprint to the line. It was a dramatic finish with Mahias missing out on his third consecutive WorldSSP victory by just 0.048s in a sensational finale to the race. This result meant Mahias collected 20 points to add to his race victory in Phillip Island and he is now joint leader of the championship, level on 45 points with Krummenacher.

His teammate Caricasulo had a great start from third on the grid and was immediately involved in the battle for the lead. After a few laps, he settled into a superb rhythm in third place and was battling for the victory for the majority of the race before he became involved in a great fight with Cortese. As he fought brilliantly to defend the final podium spot it, unfortunately, cost him time and made him lose touch with Mahias and Krummenacher at the front. Showing great maturity for his age, the 21-year-old Italian maintained his focus to fight off the attentions of Cortese and secure his first podium of 2018 and fifth for the team by crossing the line in third, just 1.213s behind the winner. He collected 16 points for his efforts which means he is now third overall in the championship standings with 25 points, level on points with Sandro Cortese and just 16 points behind his teammate Mahias.

It was another superb day for Yamaha as they locked out the podium and completed a Yamaha 1-2-3-4 with Krummenacher and Cortese in first and fourth respectively. The GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team are now looking forward to Round 3 of the 2018 Supersport World Championship at Aragon on the 13-15th of April. Check out the full race results.