Yamaha pilot Carter Thompson secured a strong third place in the Sportbike World Championship standings following an impressive victory at the season finale.
Despite Yamaha boasting the largest representation on the grid with eleven regular riders, the brand faced a challenging first half of the season. While rival manufacturers secured early wins, Yamaha's breakthrough podium did not occur until the fourth meeting in MotorLand Aragon. From that point onward, the Australian rider emerged as the manufacturer's standout competitor.
Climbing from ninth in the standings after Aragon, Thompson consistently fought at the front of the field, securing podium finishes in five of the final eight races—including two victories. At the Jerez finale, Thompson mastered early-race rain drops, took the lead on the fourth lap, and pulled away to win by 4.5 seconds. The result lifted him to third overall in the championship, cementing his position as Yamaha's most consistent performer in the series.