Double WorldSSP300 Podium in Most For Benat Fernandez, Now P3 Overall

Benat Fernandez raced to his third podium of the 2025 season in the latest round of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at Autodrom Most in Czechia.

Another new venue for the Spanish teenager, Benat once again soon got to grips with the circuit finishing Friday’s Free Practice session in fourteenth position, before qualifying an encouraging sixth in Superpole later the same day.

Saturday’s opening twelve lap encounter was held in dry conditions and from lights out to the flag the #7 Retro Traffic Team 109 KOVE mounted rider was in contention for the podium. It was another typically frantic WorldSSP300 with at one point a leading group of over eighteen riders battling, sometimes five abreast for position. Racing smart, Fernandez ensured he remained inside the top six as the race entered its final few laps and despite a heart stopping moment at turn one on the final lap, was able to lead out of the final corner. With no slipstream he was overtaken on the run to the line but thanks to KOVE power was able to hang on to third at the flag.

A rain shower on the warm up lap of race two on Sunday brought out a red flag and with all riders on slick tyres race direction made the right call. The race was subsequently restarted over a reduced race distance of ten laps, with most riders, including Benat, electing to start on dry weather tyres. Once again in the mix from the off, Benat showed great race pace and maturity. Starting the last lap fourth, he picked his way past his rivals, moving into second and setting up a last corner, last straight attack for the win. Unable to pass the leader by the line, he had to be content with second.

Overall, #CzechWorldSBK was a strong weekend with Retro Traffic Team 109 KOVE and Benat Fernandez now just four points shy of the World Championship lead!

Benat Fernandez:

“The weekend was good. I started the free practice going alone and taking my time to find a good pace. In Superpole i did my lap time alone with no slipstream which was encouraging and showed I was able to run a fast pace. Race one was chaotic like always. I was feeling good in the group. On the last lap at the first corner, I arrived from the outside. My bike started sliding but luckily, I could control it. In the last sector I arrived first, and I entered the final straight in the lead. Without any slipstream the group behind could overtake me just before the finish line but my bike is strong, and I was on the podium in P3. In the second race I was mindful of what happened on Saturday and because of the changing track conditions because of the rain we needed to think a lot about what to do with the bike. Finally, we decided to go with slick tyres and that was a good choice because the track was already dry in two laps. On the last lap I was fourth, but I managed to overtake David (Salvador) and Humberto (Maier) in the last sector. My expectation was to overtake Buis before the finish line, but I got a bad exit out of the last turn, and I got out of his slipstream early but at least I got P2. I am very happy for this weekend. The team did super mega work to find a good set-up, and this is the result of very kind people in the team and their hard work. We took good points for the championship, but we keep working and now we focus on Misano.”

Paul Tobin – Team Principal:

“Most was another new circuit for Benat. He built into the weekend really well. FP1 was all about learning the track. He made a big step in Superpole to take P6 and qualify on the second row of the grid which we were really happy with. Race One he was at the front throughout, and he rode a fantastic race. There are some areas where our bike is better than the others and some not, that’s racing, but one area is on the straight so it’s difficult to try to break the slipstream. That said to finish third and take another podium was great and we were all really happy. Race two was a bit crazy with the weather conditions. It was the correct decision for race direction to stop the race on the sighting lap but when Benat came back into the pits he said the track isn’t fully dry, it’s still slicks which is what we were leaning towards. He made a great start once again and was at the front throughout. He tried to slipstream Jeffrey (Buis) to the line, but it didn’t work out. We are now third overall in the championship which is a great achievement for both Benat and the team. Our next focus is Misano in three weeks!”