Competing in hot and dry conditions both Can and Yari were highly motivated to put in podium-level race performances for their team and themselves, but the leading three in the 18-lap WorldSSP Race One broke clear and contested the podium positions all the way to the flag.

Teenager Öncü fought hard and won the battle for fourth place in what was a tough and tiring race, winning an off-podium duel against three other riders.

One of those competitors was Montella, who was only 0.069 seconds from his team-mate in his first WorldSSP race at Misano, but two positions behind.

Despite missing out on his greatly desired podium finish in Race One Can moved up to fourth place in the overall championship standings, with one Misano race to go on Sunday 12 June. Montella remains sixth overall in the points, with a chance to move up the table with a strong race on Sunday.

The second 18-lap Misano WorldSSP Race will take place at the earlier time of 12.45 on 12 June.

Can Öncü, stated: “At a home race for the team P4 is difficult to accept but we are in this situation which is really difficult at the moment. But, it is important to keep ourselves positive for Race Two tomorrow. Today is finished and tomorrow is a new day. We will work a lot tonight on the options for Race Two and I hope we can find something different. For sure my team will find a good set-up and we will start again.”

Yari Montella, stated: “The race was a bit of a struggle. I started well, but then was unable to get into the kind of rhythm that would allow me to stick with the frontrunners. Both the team and I are really working hard, but we need to understand what we’re still lacking in order to be able to fight for the podium. We need to take another step forward and I’m sure we’ll manage it.”

First year WorldSSP rider Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) placed tenth in the opening race of the weekend, heading up a large group of riders across the finish line.

Tom Booth-Amos (Prodina Racing Kawasaki) suffered a fractured right wrist after a first lap incident involving two other riders and was declared unfit to compete tomorrow.

Ben Currie (Motozoo Racing by Puccetti Kawasaki) and his team-mate Jeffrey Buis retired when they each crashed in separate incidents.

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