Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi secured valuable championship points in Race 2 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, concluding the Portuguese round of the 2026 WorldSBK season with strong progress for the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team.
Following the morning Warm-Up session, Gardner approached the Superpole Race with confidence. However, as he almost collided with other riders at the start dropped him to 21st on the opening lap. Despite a solid recovery effort, he finished 16th in the 10-lap sprint, resulting in a 12th-place grid start for Race 2.
In the final race of the weekend, the Australian made a strong start and maintained his position early on. Demonstrating consistent pace throughout the 20-lap contest, Gardner fought within the top ten for much of the race. He ultimately crossed the line in 10th place, securing a valuable top-10 finish and underlining the team’s progress over the weekend.
Manzi, competing in his rookie WorldSBK season and celebrating his 27th birthday, also showed encouraging improvement. After a challenging Superpole Race, where he finished 17th, the Italian rider delivered an impressive comeback in Race 2. Starting from 17th on the grid, the reigning WorldSSP Champion displayed strong race pace to finish 11th, gaining further points and continuing his adaptation to the WorldSBK category.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha duo will return to action on 17–19 April at the TT Circuit Assen for Round 3 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Remy Gardner – Superpole Race: P16 / Race 2: P10
“It was a solid way to end the weekend with a strong Race 2. Unfortunately, in the Superpole Race I got caught up with other riders and dropped back to 21st within the first corners. In such a short race, it’s always difficult to recover positions. In Race 2, I made a much better start and stayed close to the group ahead. The race pace was competitive, and I was able to fight inside the top ten, finishing P10. It’s not exactly where we want to be, but there are definitely positives to take from this weekend, though the long race was tough physically. Thankfully we’ll have some time to rest and be fit again as I could start to push again. We’ve made good progress and can head to Assen with confidence—a track where we’ve traditionally been strong.”
Stefano Manzi – Superpole Race: P17 / Race 2: P11
“Overall, it was a positive Sunday. The Superpole Race was quite demanding, and we couldn’t fully show our pace over just 10 laps. However, Race 2 confirmed that we are making steps forward, which is encouraging. Our race pace was solid, and we can use this weekend as a foundation to keep improving. We know there is still work to do, but we’ll continue pushing to close the gap. Now the focus shifts to Assen, a track where the team has performed well in the past, and hopefully we can be competitive there.”
Maria Herrera claimed an excellent second-place finish on Sunday at Portimão, retaining the Championship lead for the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team after the opening round of the season. Teammate Natalia Rivera also delivered a solid performance, finishing seventh after showing consistent progression throughout the weekend.
The reigning World Champion entered Race 2 with high confidence following her Race 1 victory and the fastest lap in Warm Up 2. Herrera made another strong start and quickly demonstrated impressive race pace, leading the race while being closely followed by Paola Ramos and Beatriz Neila during the 11-lap contest.
After leading throughout the race, Herrera was involved in a thrilling final-lap battle, ultimately crossing the line in second place, just 0.053 seconds behind the winner. The result secured another podium finish and allowed her to maintain the Championship lead after the season opener.
It was also a positive race for Natalia Rivera. Starting from fifth on the grid, she gained one position at the start and initially tried to bridge the gap to the leading group. Rivera maintained a strong pace and stayed in contention for fourth place until the closing stages, eventually finishing in seventh.
Following the opening round, Maria Herrera leads the championship standings with 45 points, while Natalia Rivera sits joint sixth with 17 points. The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team will return to action on 17–19 April for Round 2 at TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.
Maria Herrera – P2
“It was a very intense race, and I knew it was going to be more challenging than yesterday. The wind played a key role today and, although I tried to create a gap, I knew it would likely come down to a last-lap battle. Unfortunately, we finished just 0.053 seconds behind after leading the whole race, but overall it was a very strong weekend. The fact that we are satisfied but still a bit disappointed shows our potential and speed. Now we head to the next round with great confidence, aiming to stay at the front once again.”
Natalia Rivera – P7
“It was another solid race with several positives to take away. I tried to close the gap to the leading group, but it wasn’t easy and I had to fight for fourth place until the end. The pace was good and we battled hard to secure seventh place. It’s a good step forward, but we want more and aim to make the final push to join the leading group. We go home satisfied, but also motivated to come back stronger and fight at the front in the next round.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão for Round 2 of the 2026 WorldSBK season, with Remy Gardner delivering a determined performance to secure a points finish in Race 1.
After gathering valuable track time in Free Practice 3, the Australian rider pushed hard in the Tissot Superpole session, posting a solid lap of 1’39.500 to qualify 12th on the grid for both Race 1 and the Superpole Race.
Despite a challenging start that saw him lose positions off the line, Gardner showed strong race pace throughout the 20-lap contest. Fighting his way through the field, the #87 rider executed a consistent recovery ride to finish 13th and collect valuable championship points.
On the other side of the garage, rookie Stefano Manzi experienced a more demanding day. Following an encouraging FP3 result where he placed 11th, the Italian struggled to maximize his Superpole performance, qualifying 17th with a 1’40.203 lap time.
In Race 1, Manzi faced a tough opening lap but remained focused, demonstrating improved pace in the latter stages. He ultimately crossed the line in 17th, gaining important experience as he continues his adaptation to the WorldSBK category.
Both GYTR GRT Yamaha riders will return to the track on Sunday for the Warm Up session, followed by the Tissot Superpole Race at 11:10 and Race 2 at 15:30 local time.
Remy Gardner – Superpole: P12 / Race 1: P13
“I gave it everything in Superpole and the lap was solid, but not quite enough to move further up the grid. That made Race 1 more difficult, especially after losing positions at the start. It’s frustrating because our pace was strong and we had the potential for a better result. Still, we’ve got another opportunity tomorrow and we’re confident we can make a step forward.”
Stefano Manzi – Superpole: P17 / Race 1: P17
“It was a tough Saturday overall. We made progress in the morning, which was encouraging, but Superpole didn’t go as planned. In the race, I tried to stay competitive, but it wasn’t easy managing the battles. Our pace improved towards the end, which is a positive, but we know there’s more to find. We’ll keep working and aim for a better result tomorrow.”
Today, 28 March, Maria Herrera secured the first victory of the 2026 FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship season, launching her title defence in perfect fashion at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. Starting from pole position, the Spanish rider delivered a dominant performance in Race 1.
The day began with the Warm Up 1 session, where the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team riders gathered valuable data ahead of the race. In the 10-minute session, Herrera topped the timesheets with a 1’52.885 lap, while teammate Natalia Rivera finished 14th with a time of 1’55.757.
Race 1 got underway at 12:00 local time, officially kicking off the 2026 season. Reigning World Champion Herrera made a lightning start, immediately taking the lead and building an early advantage during the opening lap.
The 29-year-old continued to set a relentless pace, extending her lead to four seconds by lap five. Maintaining impressive consistency across the 11-lap race, Herrera controlled the gap to the chasing pack and ultimately secured her first victory of the season — the 13th of her WorldWCR career. After also recording the fastest lap of the race, she will start tomorrow’s Race 2 from pole position once again.
Teammate Rivera also delivered a strong performance. The young Spanish rider made a solid start, gaining several positions during the opening laps. Showing competitive race pace, she closed the gap to the group battling for fourth place and remained in contention until the final lap.
The 19-year-old eventually crossed the finish line in ninth position, taking confidence into Race 2. Having recorded the fifth-fastest lap of the race, Rivera will start from the second row on the grid, aiming to further reduce the gap to the riders ahead.
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team will return to action tomorrow morning for Warm Up 2, before Race 2 takes place at 12:00 local time.
Maria Herrera – P1
“What a way to start the season — I couldn’t have asked for a better beginning! I made a great start and was able to create a gap straight away, which allowed me to manage the race over the 11 laps. I expected a close battle, but lap after lap I was able to extend my advantage and secure a strong win. It wasn’t easy, as I had to stay focused and push throughout the race, but I’m happy everything worked out. Tomorrow will be another challenge and we need to stay fully focused, as the pack could be closer, but we’ve shown we’re ready to fight again for the top step.”
Natalia Rivera – P9
“It was a very intense race. After the start I managed to close the gap to the riders ahead and join the battle for fourth place, showing strong race pace. That’s definitely a positive step forward. Of course I would have liked to fight even more at the front, but that’s something we’ll keep working on. Tomorrow we have another race and there is still room for improvement. Starting from fifth will help us stay closer to the group from the beginning, so the goal will be a strong start and another solid race.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action today at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão as Round 2 of the 2026 WorldSBK season got underway, with Remy Gardner producing a solid Friday performance to finish 11th on the combined timesheets.
The Australian rider began his day with Free Practice 1 at 10:20 local time, focusing mainly on race setup for the weekend ahead. During the 45-minute session, Gardner prioritised long runs rather than flying laps, eventually finishing 16th with a best time of 1’41.683.
The afternoon’s Free Practice 2 followed a similar approach, with the #87 continuing to work on race distance. Gardner managed to improve his lap time by 0.8 seconds, ending the day 11th overall with a 1’40.879.
On the other side of the garage, rookie Stefano Manzi used the day to gain as much experience as possible on the Yamaha R1. Despite an early crash during Free Practice 1, fortunately without consequences, the 2025 WorldSSP Champion quickly returned to the track to complete valuable laps ahead of the race weekend, finishing the session in 20th place.
In the afternoon, Manzi was able to complete more laps and continue working on race pace, making progress during the 45-minute session. At the chequered flag, he placed 19th on the combined standings with a best time of 1’41.766.
Both GYTR GRT Yamaha riders will return to action tomorrow for Free Practice 3 in the morning, followed by the Tissot Superpole qualifying session at 11:30 and Race 1 at 15:30 local time.
Remy Gardner: P11 (1’40.879)
“We saw some positives today as we were able to make a good step forward from morning to afternoon and close the gap. There’s still work to do, but we’re confident we can find more performance and improve further. It will be important to put together a strong lap in Superpole tomorrow to secure a good grid position for Race 1 and try to stay close to the front group.”
Stefano Manzi: P19 (1’41.766)
“It wasn’t an easy Friday, as we needed laps to build confidence with the bike. Unfortunately the crash in the morning didn’t help, but luckily it was a small one and I was able to get back on track quickly. Overall we made a decent step forward from morning to afternoon and we’ll keep working to further improve our performance.”
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team made a strong start to the 2026 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship season, with reigning World Champion Maria Herrera storming to pole position at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.
Friday’s action began with Free Practice 1 at 09:00 local time, where Herrera immediately demonstrated competitive pace. Setting fast laps on used tyres, the Spanish rider secured second place on the timesheets with a 1:53.838 in the 25-minute session. Teammate Natalia Rivera also delivered a solid performance, finishing eighth with a best time of 1:55.270.
In hotter conditions during the Superpole qualifying session, Herrera continued to build momentum. After setting the early benchmark, the 29-year-old improved further to post a decisive 1:52.572 lap, securing pole position and a front-row start for Race 1.
Rivera showed consistent progress throughout the 25-minute session, ultimately qualifying in tenth position with a 1:54.727. Just a few tenths away from a second-row start, her performance highlights strong potential heading into the race, particularly after demonstrating encouraging long-run pace.
Both riders will return to the track on Saturday morning for Warm-Up 2, ahead of Race 1, which is scheduled to start at 12:00 local time, marking the official beginning of the 2026 WorldWCR season.
Maria Herrera: P1 (1:52.572)
“It’s been the best possible way to start the season and defend the title. Superpole wasn’t easy with so many riders on track, but I managed to find space and put together a strong lap to secure pole position. We now need to stay focused for both races. We’ve shown strong pace, but the key will be converting that into results. It’s going to be a close fight, and we’re ready for the challenge.”
Natalia Rivera: P10 (1:54.727)
“Overall, it was a decent Superpole session, and I was able to set a competitive lap time for a top-10 start. We know there’s still room for improvement, but we’re not far from the front, which is encouraging. We have good potential, and I’m confident we can turn that into solid race performances.”
