The 2026 FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup title fight is boiling down to the absolute wire, with a razor-thin single point separating the top two riders as the series heads to its final round at the Circuito do Estoril. Riichi Takahira delivered a stunning performance in Race 2 at the Cremona Circuit in Italy, securing his third victory in four races with a commanding final lap that completely reshaped the standings.
Takahira, hailing from Japan, has mounted an unstoppable charge over the last two rounds. He methodically hunted down the championship lead previously held by Xarly Mendez of the Dominican Republic, and that brilliant final-lap push at Cremona was enough to put him at the top of the table by the slimmest possible margin.
It was a very good race, I thought I could make a break on the last lap so tried my hardest and it worked. The championship gap is now one point, so I will try very hard at Estoril to win the title!
Now, the tables have turned. Mendez put together a much stronger run than he managed on Saturday, but crossing the line in second position simply wasn't enough to fend off the charging Japanese ace. Mendez now heads to Estoril in the unfamiliar position of the chaser, though he is far from alone in the fight, with five other riders still holding mathematical chances at the crown.
Behind the top two, Leonardo Marques of Brazil drove a solid race to complete the podium in third. Italy's Emanuele Pastore followed closely in fourth, with Race 1 winner Aymon Bocanegra of Brazil taking fifth, and Angelo Mottola of Italy rounding out the top six to complete a fierce battle near the front.
The rest of the points-paying positions saw Superpole victor Hinata Okada from Japan bring his machine home in seventh place. Switzerland's Alessandro Binder slotted into eighth, the USA’s Nathan Bettencourt took ninth, and Rintaro Takemoto of Japan brought it home to close out the top ten.
Not everyone managed to tame the circuit, of course. Chris Clark of the USA grabbed the holeshot and led the field into the first corner, but unfortunately suffered a crash at Turn 2. Guest rider Valentino Knezovic from Australia also met a similar fate, sliding out of contention while fighting hard for a podium finish.
Mathematically speaking, the championship door remains open for quite a few contenders. Every single rider down to Alessandro Binder in seventh place in the standings is still technically in the hunt for the title when the paddock reconvenes at Estoril in two weeks’ time.
Reflecting on his brilliant drive, Riichi Takahira said: “It was a very good race, I thought I could make a break on the last lap so tried my hardest and it worked. The championship gap is now one point, so I will try very hard at Estoril to win the title!”
