Tom Booth-Amos Claims Victory in Thrilling World Supersport Race 2 at Phillip Island
The final race of the FIM World Supersport Championship at the Australian Round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship delivered high drama, intense battles, and a maiden victory for British rider Tom Booth-Amos at Phillip Island.
Following a mandatory pit stop requirement due to tyre wear concerns, riders had to carefully balance strategy and outright speed. Race 1 winner Stefano Manzi was quick to challenge early leader Can Oncu, taking control of the race in the opening laps. However, the action-packed contest saw multiple position changes, dramatic crashes, and unexpected penalties that reshuffled the field.
Australian wildcard Harrison Voight shone early, clocking the fastest lap on Lap 2 with a 1’33.319 after a strong start, showing significant improvement from Race 1, where he crashed out early. However, Jaume Masia quickly upped the pace, dipping into the 1’32s on Lap 3.
By Lap 5, Tom Booth-Amos had surged into the lead ahead of Marcel Schrötter and Valentin Debise, with Manzi slipping to fourth. The front-runners, including Booth-Amos, Schröetter, Jaume Masia, Bo Bendsneyder, and Oli Bayliss, were among the first to complete their pit stops. Manzi opted to stay out for an extra lap, but a not-so-ideal pit stop saw him drop to ninth once all riders had cycled through their mandatory stops.
The race took a dramatic turn on Lap 11 when Jaume Masia collided with Valentin Debise at Turn 1, sending both riders into a frightening crash. Fortunately, both emerged without major injuries. Moments later, Marcel Schröetter suffered a highside at Turn 11, forcing Lucas Mahias to take evasive action, dropping him down to eighth.
Further controversy struck when Jeremy Alcoba, running in podium contention, was handed a costly 6.8-second penalty for failing to comply with the pit intervention time. This effectively ended his chances of a top-three finish.
With all the chaos unfolding, Booth-Amos found himself in clear air and capitalized on the opportunity, leading ahead of Manzi and Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Meanwhile, Australian riders Oli Bayliss and Luke Power delivered strong performances, running inside the Top 15 in the closing laps. However, Power was later penalized 1.060 seconds for exceeding the pit intervention time.
As the race neared its conclusion, heartbreak struck Can Oncu, who crashed on the final lap, ending his hopes of a strong finish.
At the checkered flag, it was Tom Booth-Amos who celebrated his maiden World Supersport victory, followed by Stefano Manzi in second and Bo Bendsneyder securing the final podium spot in third.
In a proud moment for Australian fans, all three local riders finished inside the Top 15. Oli Bayliss impressed with a P7 finish, Luke Power crossed the line in P11 (post-penalty), and substitute rider Harrison Voight, who received a last-minute call-up on Tuesday, finished a commendable P14.
The thrilling conclusion to the Australian round showcased the unpredictability and excitement of the World Supersport Championship, leaving fans eager for the next chapter in the season.
