Published October 21, 2025 by Michael Le Pard , Editor‑in‑Chief
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action at the Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, Spain, for a one-day private test, with Stefano Manzi immediately making an impression on his WorldSBK debut by setting the third fastest lap time.
Both riders faced tricky conditions in the morning, as light rain affected the opening hours of testing. When the track finally began to dry around 11:00 local time (the test running from 10:00 to 18:00 non-stop), Manzi headed out for his very first laps aboard the Yamaha R1, focusing on gaining confidence and understanding the Superbike.
The 2025 WorldSSP Champion completed a total of 95 laps, steadily improving throughout the day. In the final stages, he delivered a time attack, securing third overall with a 1’39.349 (on lap 87 of 95), while gathering valuable data and experience on the R1.
On the other side of the box, Remy Gardner’s day was limited by shoulder pain following his Superpole Race incident on Sunday. Despite the discomfort, the Australian still managed 16 laps in the morning session, setting a best time of 1’39.695 to end the day in ninth position. Gardner then decided to stop his test before lunchtime, preserving energy and track time for upcoming sessions.
The team will be back on track at the Circuito de Jerez on 26-27 November.
JEREZ TEST – TIMES
Stefano Manzi – P3 (1’39.349)
“First of all, it’s amazing to make my WorldSBK debut — it’s been an exciting day and I couldn’t wait to ride the bike. Our main goal today was to complete as many laps as possible. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t ideal early on, and we lost a bit of track time, but we still managed to do a lot of work and I’m happy overall. Today was all about getting comfortable and building confidence with the Yamaha R1. From the next tests, we’ll start to focus more on details, so I’m already looking forward to being back on track.”
Remy Gardner – P9 (1’39.695)
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t ride as much as we planned today because of my shoulder. Still, we completed a few laps and decided to save half a day for later, which could be useful. I’m satisfied with what we managed to do, and now the focus is on the next test in a month’s time. I’ll take some rest to recover properly and come back in good shape for the next outing.”
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