MANFREDI BRILLIANT IN QUALIFYING, BUT TWO TEAM MISTAKES STOP HIM

The 2025 Italian Speed ​​Championship stopped at the Piero Taruffi racetrack in Vallelunga for the third round of the season, called the Roma Capitale Round.

After an already scorching first weekend at the Mugello Circuit, temperatures rose further in Vallelunga, putting riders, teams, technical components and performance on the track to the test.

Expected to redeem himself after the unlucky Round 2, Kevin Manfredi, very fast in the Suzuka tests, showed up at Vallelunga determined to return to the top positions.

And he succeeded: the rider from La Spezia confirmed his speed and tenacity, taking the Honda CBR 1000 of the Penta Motorsport team to P7 in qualifying, just 0.4 tenths from third place. A clear sign of his potential in the highly competitive Superbike category.

However, serious oversights by the Team compromised the results of the two races. In Race 1, an internal error forced the number 34 rider to retire before the start.

In Race 2, a further unforeseen event ruined any chance of making the most of the work done: after a first start interrupted by the red flag, at the second start Kevin had to line up with used tyres, since the backup ones requested the day before were not ready in the garage. The rest of the grid, however, restarted with new tyres.

Despite the heavy handicap, Manfredi fought with determination for the positions that count, finding himself in sixth place in Superbike and in a full-blown battle for the podium. But at the entrance to the “Esse”, aided by the scorching heat and the now worn front, he slipped, saying goodbye to a result that could have changed the fate of his championship.

Kevin: "It's a shame, because we are fast and I feel good on the bike, but so far I haven't been able to finish 4 out of 6 races for reasons that unfortunately don't depend on me. With little we would have been in the fight for the podium.

It's a hard blow and I haven't digested it very well. Now we have a month to prepare ourselves as best we can for the Misano Racing Night.

I will do my best to convey to the team what is needed to improve the many aspects that have been lacking so far, but as we know both parties must question themselves and work with the same commitment.

It won't be easy to get into this role without creating internal tensions, but I have a goal to complete and I will try until the end..."

Kevin could return to the track as early as July for a pre-Misano test: a precious opportunity to be ready for one of the most important events of the season.

Kevin thanks all the sponsors and technical partners for their support in the 2025 season.