Published October 12, 2025 by Michael Le Pard , Editor‑in‑Chief
Stefano Manzi has been crowned 2025 FIM Supersport World Champion after securing a faultless and hard-fought Race 2 victory at the Circuito Estoril with one round remaining.
The Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha rider has enjoyed a dominant season in the first year of competition with the all new Yamaha R9. Victory in the opening race of the season in Phillip Island set the tone for what was to come, as a consistent and successful campaign saw Manzi build his points lead round by round.
After the first win in Australia, Manzi took five consecutive second place finishes. A streak without race victory didn’t deter the Italian, who returned to the top step in style with a double victory at home in Cremona.
Manzi’s 2025 win tally sits at ten wins so far, including four victories in a row at Balaton Park and Magny-Cours, where he overcame difficulties in both races to get the better of R9 rival Can Öncü.
18 times a podium finisher so far this year, Manzi built an insurmountable points lead of 82 with 2 races remaining to be crowned World Champion for the first time in Estoril, Portugal.
It has already been confirmed this will be Manzi’s last season in the Supersport class, with the 26 year old stepping up to WorldSBK with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team next year.
Stefano Manzi – Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha
“The feeling of becoming the 2025 World Supersport Champion is amazing. It’s difficult to find the words to describe how I feel in this moment, but after two years of trying, I was finally able to achieve this lifetime goal. When you start riding as a youngster, this is the moment you dream about. It’s also very special to have won the 2025 world championship aboard the Yamaha R9 in its first year of racing. Normally, with a brand new bike, winning is difficult in the first year. We were able to win both the Manufacturers’ and Riders World Supersport titles, which feels incredible. The support I have received from my team, Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha, has been overwhelming. They helped me both on and off the track and have been like a family to me over the years. If feels great to repay them with the 2025 title.”
Andrea Dosoli – Division Manager, Motorsport Division, Yamaha Motor Europe
“Stefano has been with Yamaha for three seasons and in this time he has grown into the man who has deservedly become World Champion this year. Twice he finished runner-up, but this year he came back with one goal and has put on an impressive display to take the title in this way. The R9 is a significant new model for Yamaha, so to win the riders championship, the manufacturers championship and be on course to complete the ‘triple crown’ is a remarkable story in itself.”
Niccolò Canepa – Road Racing Sporting Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe
“Congratulations to Stefano on becoming World Champion. He has put together an incredible season and ridden like a champion from the start, taking wins where he could and taking points where he couldn’t. This is a very important win for Yamaha, with the new R9 winning the championship in its very first season. A huge well done to Manzi and the entire Pata Yamaha Ten Kate team for their incredible work this year. We’re really looking forward to seeing what he can do on the R1 in WorldSBK next season.”
Michael Le Pard (“Mr. Totalmotorcycle”) is the Founder of Total Motorcycle, the world’s largest motorcycle information site, trusted by over 430 million riders since 1999. With over 34 years of experience in motorcycles, gear and rider culture, he has built a global community dedicated to empowering and inspiring motorcyclists.
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