Current WorldSSP championship leader Stefano Manzi has agreed a two-year deal with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK outfit.
Manzi leads Can Oncu by 59 points after eight rounds of the 2025 championship, thus earning a promotion to WorldSBK for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The 26-year-old previously got to grips with the Yamaha R1 during a private test at his home track of Misano in May.
“I am super happy and proud; this is a step that you dream of when you are riding in the smaller classes – you always want to be in the top class,” Manzi announced.
“I am excited to continue with this project with Yamaha because I started with Yamaha in 2023 and every year, we have battled hard and achieved some great results with progress each season.
“This year, we started a new project with the R9, and it has been going so well, so to continue my relationship with Yamaha with another new challenge is really exciting.
“I enjoyed riding the Superbike earlier this year, and I am really looking forward to getting started but for now, my focus remains on doing the best job for the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team in World Supersport until the end of the season.”
GRT Yamaha already announced the extension of Remy Gardner for the next two seasons, meaning incumbent rider Dominique Aegerter will be forced to look elsewhere.
Niccolo Canepa, Road Racing Sporting Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe stated: “Firstly, I would like to extend our thanks to Dominique Aegerter for his hard work and commitment, not only over the last three seasons in WorldSBK but prior to that too.
“He won two World Championships with Yamaha in WorldSSP before stepping up to WorldSBK in 2023.
“While our journey together in WorldSBK comes to an end, we are, together with his management, exploring the possibility to keep him in the Yamaha family moving forwards.”
Canepa explained that Yamaha initiated the move to exemplify its “step-up philosophy” and commitment to “promoting the young talent within our ranks”.
“Over his three years in World Supersport with Yamaha, Stefano has made huge progress,” Canepa stated.
“We have been impressed by his approach which has ultimately put him in the position he is in now, leading the Supersport World Championship by 59 points.
“He also impressed us as he made his debut on the R1 at the recent Misano test, so for us he was a natural choice for a WorldSBK ride and hopefully he will be making that step as a World Champion.”
READ MORE – Remy Gardner remains in WorldSBK with GRT Yamaha through 2027
