WorldSBK Most: Baldassarri dominates dramatic WorldSSP race one

Evan Bros. Yamaha’s Lorenzo Baldassarri claimed his second WorldSSP victory from pole position at Most on Saturday after opening drama.

The Italian met the flag over six seconds ahead of his closest rivals with a debut podium for Dynavolt Triumph’s Stefano Manzi and an impressive return to the class from Kallio’s Steven Odendaal completing the celebrations.

Saturday’s final race action saw the WorldSSP class presented with a dry but rain-threatened track as Baldassarri lined the Evan Bros. R6 up on pole for the first time since the season opener. Defending champion Dominique Aegerter starting fourth on the Ten Kate.

Lights out saw a dramatic first corner collision as five riders were skittled out of the action by an over eager move from the Puccetti Kawasaki pair of Can Öncü and Yari Montella. Front row starter Federico Caricasulo and Aegerter amongst the stricken fallers with the Swiss rider needing assistance. Raffaele de Rosa, Montella and Andy Verdoia also out of the action before it had really begun.

Back in the action Baldassarri held a dominant lead after his closest rivals were taken out. Two seconds the advantage from MTM Kawasaki’s Adrian Huertas and Öncü with Glenn van Straalen heading an all-Yamaha trio of Valentin Debise and Odendaal.

Nicolo Bulega set the fastest lap of the race on lap four as the Ducati rider circulated in seventh. Manzi holding eighth on the Triumph as Öncü dropped down the standings due to a ride-through penalty.

Odendaal was up to fifth as he continued to battle with Bulega, Manzi punishing his countryman as he capitalised on the duel to take sixth with Debise rising to fourth and two-tenths shy of the podium fight.

Van Straalen was on the hunt for second as he began to challenge