German rider Philipp Öttl made WorldSSP history on Sunday at TT Circuit Assen, claiming his maiden victory in the FIM Supersport World Championship during a rain-affected Race 2. The Feel Racing WorldSSP Team rider secured the win after officials red-flagged the race due to a crash, with results finalized after two-thirds completion.
Öttl's breakthrough marks him as the 70th different winner in the championship's history and ends an eight-year victory drought since his last Moto3 triumph in 2018. The race saw riders gamble on slick tires despite unpredictable weather, creating tense battles in a lead group separated by less than a second during early laps.
Chinese entry ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing celebrated Valentin Debise's strong seventh-place finish, demonstrating the team's growing competitiveness in the 2026 season. The mixed conditions tested riders' adaptability, with Öttl ultimately capitalizing on his strategic positioning when the race concluded prematurely.
Reference(s):
Öttl claims maiden WorldSSP win in Race 2, ZXMOTO's Debise 7th
cgtn.com
