The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team concluded the Misano weekend on a positive note, with Remy Gardner finishing eighth in Race 2 at the Misano World Circuit, while teammate Stefano Manzi scored a top ten result in the Superpole Race before ending Race 2 in 16th after an early setback.
Following a strong Warm-Up session, Gardner approached the Superpole Race with confidence but was immediately put on the back foot after a difficult start, dropping positions on the opening lap. Despite the setback, the Australian rider showed solid pace in the closing stages, fighting back to 13th at the flag.
Starting from 13th on the grid for Race 2, Gardner made a strong getaway and gained positions in the opening laps of the 21-lap feature race. Demonstrating consistent pace and strong race rhythm, he continued to move forward through the field, ultimately crossing the line in a well-earned eighth place.
Manzi enjoyed a competitive Superpole Race on home soil, battling his way to 10th place and narrowly missing out on a third-row starting position for Race 2. In the feature race, however, he was forced off track during the early stages after contact in the pack. Although he rejoined the race and continued pushing for points, he eventually finished 16th at the chequered flag.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team now looks ahead to Round 8 of the 2026 season, which will take place at Donington Park in Great Britain this July.
Remy Gardner – Superpole Race: P13 / Race 2: P8
“It’s a good way to end the weekend. Overall, I think we did solid work at the team’s home round. Unfortunately, the Superpole Race didn’t go well on the first lap and I had to recover, but in the long race the feeling was much better and I was able to push. I tried to go for more in the end, but we can be satisfied with the progress we made and the way we reduced the gap compared to yesterday. Now we move on to the next one. Thanks to the team for all the work this weekend and to everyone who came to support us.”
Stefano Manzi – Superpole Race: P10 / Race 2: P16
“The Superpole Race wasn’t too bad and I was able to fight for a decent position. It was a shame not to get ninth place and start from the third row for Race 2, because that made things more difficult. In the feature race, being stuck in the pack made everything more complicated, and I was forced off track after contact. I rejoined, but the race was pretty much compromised from there. It’s a shame, and the move probably wasn’t necessary, but that’s racing. We’ll take the positives and move forward, focusing on the good things we showed here.”
Maria Herrera secured a perfect weekend for the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team by claiming victory in Race 2 at Misano, while Natalia Rivera delivered another strong performance to finish eighth after battling in the lead group throughout the race.
Championship leader Herrera lined up third on the grid and made an excellent start, immediately placing herself at the front of the field. Setting a strong pace from the opening laps, the Spaniard controlled the race before finding herself in a thrilling late battle with Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha). Remaining calm under pressure, Herrera made the difference in the closing stages to secure her fourth victory of the season and complete a memorable double at Misano.
Rivera also enjoyed an encouraging Sunday. Starting from 12th on the grid, the 19-year-old made rapid progress in the opening laps and soon joined the group fighting for the podium positions. After losing some ground during the middle phase of the race, Rivera responded with determination, producing a strong recovery to rejoin the battle at the front and eventually cross the line in eighth place.
The Misano round sees Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team strengthen its position at the top of both championships. Herrera now extends her advantage in the Riders' Championship to 24 points, while the team continues to lead the Teams' standings.
Maria Herrera (P1)
“What a weekend. I couldn’t have imagined a better outcome, and it’s an incredible feeling to leave Misano with two victories. Today’s race was particularly demanding because of the high temperatures, and as soon as I realised it would come down to Beatriz and me fighting for the win, I knew I had to push as much as possible. I knew taking another victory wouldn’t be easy, so congratulations to Bea for such a strong race. I’m very happy with how I managed the final laps and that I was able to stay in front until the end. I’d like to thank the entire team for their hard work throughout the weekend. To give them a double victory at their home round makes this result even more special, especially with all the support we received here in Misano.”
Natalia Rivera (P8)
“Overall, it was a positive race and another important step forward for us. The pace was strong, and I was able to stay with the group fighting for the podium for most of the race, which shows that we are continuing to close the gap to the front. Unfortunately, I lost some time during the middle stages and had to work hard to recover, but we managed to get back into contention by the end. Of course, there’s a little frustration because we know there was potential for more, but we should use that feeling as motivation. We’re moving in the right direction, and I’m looking forward to fighting even closer to the front at the next round.”
Stefano Manzi delivered a determined performance in the opening feature race of Round 7 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship at the Misano World Circuit, securing a top ten finish on home soil after a hard-fought Race 1. Teammate Remy Gardner was also on course for a strong result before an unfortunate crash with three laps remaining.
Following an encouraging Free Practice 3 session, local favourite Manzi approached the Tissot Superpole with confidence. In the 15-minute qualifying session, he pushed hard to secure a strong grid position but ultimately had to settle for 15th place with a lap time of 1'32.803, just a few tenths shy of a third row start.
In Race 1, the Italian made an excellent start, gaining several positions on the opening lap. Showing competitive pace throughout the 21-lap contest, Manzi remained involved in close battles and continued to fight despite experiencing some grip issues in the closing stages. Maintaining his consistency to the chequered flag, he secured 10th place and valuable championship points in his first WorldSBK race weekend at home.
Saturday proved more challenging for Gardner. After qualifying 13th with a best lap of 1'32.790, the Australian was optimistic heading into the race. A strong start allowed him to remain in contention for a top ten finish, demonstrating solid pace throughout the opening and middle phases of the race. However, as grip levels dropped in the final laps, Gardner lost control and crashed while running in 11th position with only three laps remaining.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team will return to action on Sunday for Warm Up, followed by the Superpole Race at 11:00 and Race 2 at 14:00.
Stefano Manzi – Superpole: P15 / Race 1: P10
"Overall, it was a decent Race 1 and we can take away some valuable points and a positive result. Unfortunately, we couldn't qualify any higher than 15th, as the field was extremely close and just a few tenths would have made a significant difference. In the race, I made a good start and was able to settle into my rhythm, which was quite competitive overall. Towards the end, I began to struggle a little with grip, but I kept pushing and managed to bring home a solid top-ten finish. We'll continue working hard overnight and aim to take another step forward tomorrow."
Remy Gardner – Superpole: P13 / Race 1: DNFRemy Gardner – Superpole: P13 / Race 1: DNF
"Qualifying wasn't too bad, but once again the field was incredibly tight and we missed out on a few positions by just a small margin. Starting slightly further up the grid would certainly have helped. In Race 1 we tried to push hard, but the conditions were quite demanding. The pace was reasonable during the early stages, but as the race progressed I started to struggle with grip. Unfortunately, I crashed with three laps remaining. I'm sorry for the team, but we have another opportunity tomorrow and our goal is to bounce back strongly."
Maria Herrera stormed to another race victory at the Misano World Circuit, securing her fourth win of the 2026 WorldWCR season in Race 1 and extending her championship lead. It was also a strong performance from Natalia Rivera, who recovered seven positions to finish 11th.
Following the morning Warm-Up session, Herrera headed into Race 1 in confident form. Starting from second on the grid, she immediately took the lead and showcased impressive pace throughout the 12-lap contest. Locked in another intense battle with Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), Herrera managed the race perfectly and held firm until the chequered flag to secure victory. Thanks to another outstanding performance on Saturday, she further strengthened her championship advantage. Having also set the third-fastest lap of the race, the championship leader will once again start from the front row in Sunday's Race 2.
Rivera also delivered a solid performance after lining up 18th on the grid. The Spaniard made an excellent start and showed competitive pace throughout the race. Fighting for a top-eight finish until the closing stages, she gained seven positions from her starting spot to secure valuable championship points with an 11th-place result. Rivera will start Race 2 from 12th on the grid and will be aiming to make the most of her potential on Sunday.
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team also maintains its lead in the Teams' Championship standings, now sitting on 210 points and holding a 12-point advantage over Ampito Crescent Yamaha. Both riders will return to action tomorrow, with Race 2 scheduled to start at 11:50 local time.
Maria Herrera – P1
"It feels fantastic to win again here in Misano. This is the team's home round and there were so many people supporting us, so it's great to make everyone happy with this result. It wasn't an easy race, though. The temperatures were very high and managing the race over all 12 laps was quite challenging. I tried to focus on my own pace and be as fast and consistent as possible. In the end, I found myself battling once again with Beatriz (Neila), and it's always a tough fight. I pushed as hard as I could and, fortunately, we managed to get the job done. I'm really happy with today's result and with all the work the team has put in. However, there's still one more race to go, so we need to stay fully focused. We want to repeat this performance tomorrow and finish the weekend in the best possible way."
“Race 1 was tough, but overall I think we can be satisfied. We made good progress with our pace, and I was consistently faster, even improving on my qualifying time. Most importantly, I stayed with the group fighting for sixth until the end. It’s all valuable experience, and now we’ll keep working to make more progress tomorrow and in the future, because we’ve shown we have the pace to improve further.”
"Overall, it was a positive race and we managed to recover several positions. Starting so far back on the grid certainly wasn't ideal and unfortunately I wasn't able to bridge the gap to the group ahead, but our pace was strong and we made a clear step forward compared to yesterday, which gives us confidence for tomorrow. I pushed hard throughout the race, although it wasn't enough to secure a place within the first three rows for Race 2. Even so, starting from 12th still gives us a good opportunity. If we can make a strong start and stay with the group from the opening laps, we should be able to fight closer to the front. We'll keep our focus high and continue working hard. There's still one more day of racing ahead and I want to finish the weekend with a strong result."
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team completed the opening day of action at the Misano World Circuit for Round 7 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship, with Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi focusing on race preparation throughout Friday’s two free practice sessions. The pair ended the day 13th and 14th respectively on the combined timesheets.
Gardner enjoyed a solid start to the weekend in Free Practice 1. Together with his crew, the Australian concentrated on race setup and tyre evaluation during the 45-minute session, making encouraging progress on used tyres towards the end. He finished the morning in 10th position with a best lap of 1’33.679. The afternoon followed a similar programme, with the 28-year-old continuing to evaluate race options ahead of the weekend’s races. Despite focusing primarily on long-run performance rather than outright lap times, Gardner improved his lap time to a 1’33.564, ending the day 13th overall.
For local hero Manzi, Friday began with a challenging Free Practice 1 as he worked to regain confidence and improve grip levels. The reigning WorldSSP Champion completed the morning session in 16th place with a best lap of 1’34.106, making progress during the latter stages. Conditions improved in the afternoon and the Italian rider was able to make a significant step forward. Prioritising race pace and setup work over time attacks, Manzi showed encouraging consistency throughout the session and concluded the day in 14th position.
Both riders will return to the track on Saturday for Free Practice 3 at 09:40 local time, followed by Superpole at 11:15 and Race 1 at 15:30.
Remy Gardner: P13 (1’33.564)
"It was a decent day overall and, importantly, the feeling was very similar to what we had during the test a few weeks ago, which is encouraging. We still need to find a bit more speed, but it wasn’t a bad start to the weekend. Of course, the final position isn’t where we want to be, but we know there’s room for improvement. We’ll keep working hard to make another step forward because the field is incredibly close and every tenth of a second can make a big difference."
Stefano Manzi: P14 (1’34.600)
"Overall, I’d say it was a productive Friday, especially considering how difficult the morning session was for us. It took some time to regain a good feeling with the bike, but in the afternoon we managed to make progress and improve our consistency. We know there’s still work to do and that we need to find more performance, but I’m confident we can achieve that. We’ll keep working hard and do everything we can to enjoy our home round and be competitive over the rest of the weekend. Let’s stay positive and keep pushing because we still have two important days ahead of us."
Championship leader Maria Herrera secured a front-row start for Race 1 after setting the second-fastest time in Friday’s Superpole session at Misano. Teammate Natalia Rivera will line up 18th on the grid following a 6-grid penalty after qualifying 12th, and now she looks to fight her way through the field during the opening race of the weekend.
Herrera made an impressive start to the weekend, topping the timesheets in Free Practice 1. The Spaniard set a benchmark lap of 1’49.256 in the 25-minute session, carrying strong momentum into the afternoon’s qualifying session.
Confident and competitive throughout Superpole, the 29-year-old displayed both strong pace and consistency. Despite struggling with windy conditions in the closing stages and being unable to improve on her final runs, Herrera secured second place with a lap time of 1’48.007, earning a valuable front-row start for Saturday’s race.
On her first World Championship appearance at the Misano World Circuit, Rivera continued to build confidence throughout the day. The 19-year-old finished 14th in Free Practice 1 with a best lap of 1’52.194 before making a significant step forward in qualifying. Rivera will ultimately start from 18th after a six-place grid penalty was applied following qualifying.
In the 25-minute Superpole session, Rivera pushed hard to maximise her potential and ultimately secured 12th place on the grid with a lap time of 1’49.830. Missing out on a third-row start by only a few tenths, the Spanish rider nevertheless showed encouraging pace and consistency ahead of the races.
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team will return to action on Saturday with Warm Up at 09:00 local time, followed by Race 1 at 12:00.
Maria Herrera: P2 (1’48.007)
"It was a positive day overall and we can be satisfied with the work we’ve done. This morning the track was still a little dirty, but we managed to find a good feeling quite quickly and our pace was strong. Superpole started with a lot of traffic on track and I wasn’t able to find clear space until the final laps, but by then the wind had picked up and it was difficult to improve my lap time. That said, our pace is very good and we know tomorrow’s race will involve a larger group of riders, but we are prepared for that. It’s all part of racing and, in the end, we secured a strong front-row start. The race is what really matters, so now we need to stay focused, keep working hard and try to make another step forward. We’re ready to fight tomorrow." Siamo pronte a lottare domani."
Natalia Rivera: P12 (1’49.830)
"Overall, it was a productive but challenging Friday. Although I know Misano well, this is my first World Championship weekend here, so it wasn’t easy to immediately find the right feeling, especially with the track conditions this morning. We made a good step forward between the morning and afternoon sessions, but unfortunately we missed out on a third-row start by just a few tenths. Later on, we were relegated to 18th position due to a penalty. These things happen; it was a decision made by Race Direction and I accept it. Even so, our pace is good enough to stay with the group tomorrow and, with a strong start, we can fight for a good result. We’ll keep working hard to find a little more performance and I’m confident we can achieve that."
