Third podium in four races for Chris Clark

After a multi-week gap the 2025 FIM R3 BLU CRU World Cup was back in action for Round 2 of the series at the iconic Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy this past weekend, with American teenager and round one winner Chris Clark keen to pick up where he left off.

With experience riding at the Italian venue, it was straight down to business for the #5 Yamaha mounted rider who finished Friday morning’s FP1 in fifteenth before qualifying thirteenth later in the day.

With temperatures surpassing thirty degrees on Saturday the ten-lap encounter was always going to be hard work. A lead group of sixteen battled hard in what was the most intense race of the year so far and with Chris in the middle of it, his family, who had made the trip from the US could only watch on, at times through fingers covering their eyes, as the BGR Smrz Accolade Racing rider did his thing. Chris avoided a multi-rider crash on the final lap, crossing the line in seventh to retain the championship lead by one point.

On Sunday it was more of the same both in terms of temperature and racing. Starting twelfth on the grid Chris was once again immediately in the fight. Riding a smart race, he slowly worked his way into podium contention, crossing the line in third in a photo finish after a dramatic final lap that once again saw riders crashing. Chris is now just four points behind P1 in the overall championship standings.

Three podiums in four races gives the American charger a 75% World Cup podium percentage, a statistic that he is keen to continue with when the series heads to Donington Park in mid-July.

The UK Round will also see Chris support the Two Wheels for Life Charity on stage at the WorldSBK Paddock Show. His performance is one not to be missed!

Chris Clark:

“Overall it was a successful weekend with two race finishes and one of them being another podium. I started on Friday with a bit slower pace than I would have liked and that left me mid-pack after Superpole which was not ideal but also not the end of the world given how the R3 races usually go. In race one I had a bit of trouble making moves, but I was able to get into the lead group and salvaged seventh. Race two was similar and I was in the lead group but was struggling every time I pulled out of the slipstream. It was frustrating but I still managed P3 in a photo finish which was such a great result for me and the team. I’m only four points from the championship lead and I am looking forward to Donington where I am determined to fight at the front again. It’s all about long-term thinking for me right now – so let’s do it. I want to thank the team and everyone who is supporting me.”