MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Stefano Manzi has finally bested Nicolo Bulega to take his second victory in the World Supersport class, and his first of 2023. Manzi and Bulega fought a tense and fierce battle over the final half of the race, swapping the lead and sizing each other up for the win.

It was Federico Caricasulo who took the early lead, battling for first with Bulega in the early laps, until a mistake at Turn 10 saw the Althea Ducati rider run wide and allow Bulega through. That left Marcel Schrötter in second, while Stefano Manzi had come through to sit in third.

Manzi got past Schrötter at the chicane, a sign of things to come for the Ten Kate Yamaha rider, and took a few laps to shake off the MV Agusta of Schrötter. But Manzi was soon on the tail of the Aruba.it Ducati of Bulega, and looking for a chance to pass.

Over the next 10 laps, Manzi tried on Bulega a couple of times, getting past at Turn 2, carrying speed into the second part of the chicane, but the drive that Bulega could get out of Turn 10 gave the Aruba.it Ducati rider an advantage down the back straight, retaking the lead at Turn 13, as they braked through the series of right handers approaching Turn 14.

Manzi pushed and probed over the following laps, showing Bulega a wheel at Turn 2, at Turn 4, at Turn 8, and trying to stay close enough down the straight to allow an attempt at Turn 14. Bulega knew that a pass was coming, but Manzi still found a way to surprise him, getting past at Turn 3, a place he hadn't tried before.

That move turned out to be both smart and victorious, the Ten Kate Yamaha rider able to pull enough of a gap through Turns 4 and 5 to hold off the Ducati down the back straight to Turn 8, and again along the straight through Curvone. There was nothing Bulega could do, Stefano Manzi taking the win, Nicolo Bulega crossing the line in second.

Marcel Schrötter ended up third, having closed the gap to the leaders as they battled, but been unable to hang on in the final laps. Federico Caricasulo ended up fourth, despite having a Long Lap Penalty for the way he rejoined the race after running wide at Turn 10, while Adrian Huertas put the Kawasaki ZX-6R into fifth, making it four different bikes in the top five.

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