Birthday podium for Fenton Seabright at Misano

Fenton Seabright celebrated his 24th birthday with a podium finish to race two at Misano in round five of the 2025 FIM World Sportbike championship.

Riding the LOUTH based PHR Performance by Peter Hickman Racing Triumph Daytona 660, Seabright completed his qualifying for a third row grid position to race one while teammate Harrison Dessoy was struggling to find the pace on a new circuit and started the race down on row 10.

As the lights went out Seabright made good progress over the first few laps and found himself mixing it within the leading group exchanging positions throughout the race and crossing the finish line in fourth place. However on the final lap he ran wide and off the track which gave him a penalty and he was demoted to sixth place by the stewards after the race finish.

Dessoy rode well and made up nine places during the 12 laps to cross the finish line in 21st place and gain some valuable experience of the circuit.

Having set the fastest lap of race one Seabright started Sunday’s race from pole position and was exchanging the lead with championship leader David Salvador on the opening three laps. He then dropped back in the pack to sixth before making his way through to fourth in a 10 rider scrap for the lead. Going into the final lap he was second and then took the lead only to pushed back to second in the fight for the win. As they approached the chequered flag Salvador took the win, Carter Thompson second and Seabright third with just one and a half seconds separating the top 10 riders.

Seabright said: “I can’t complain at that, pole position and a podium on my birthday!  We were so close yesterday and knew we had to come out fighting today. We tried our best and it worked out well for us. Another third place and more championship points is great. I can’t thank my team enough for all their hard work and support.”

Dessoy started from 28th place and made steady progress through the field to take a creditable 16th place just one away from a points finish and said: “I was on the back foot this weekend but not through lack of trying. Misano was a new circuit for me and proved to be super technical, and I found it super tricky to find some good pace and click with the track. In race two I had the best feeling with the bike and made improvements. I  understood the circuit better and will take the positives into the next round.”

The series takes its summer break now and will be back for the next round over the weekend of  September 4/6 at Magny-Cours in France.