From eastern Germany back further north and west, the Northern Talent Cup has arrived at the classic TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands for Round 4. It remains Jakub Gurecky (JRT Brno Circuit) in the driving seat in the standings after the Czech rider put in a showstopper on Saturday and then only just missed out on the win on Sunday at the Sachsenring, with 45 points a good weekend’s work by any standards, but even better news for him is that the only rider he finished behind was not his closest challenger in the points. Assen is a new challenge, however, and one where many a dream has been achieved or dashed round the final chicane…
Gurecky must remain the headline act on the way in, having not finished below second this season and that including four wins in six races. That said, the man who beat him to the top step in Race 6 was a familiar name at the top of on the timesheets, just not on race day until now: Rossi Moor (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team). The Hungarian started the season with a rollercoaster of speed and then struggles but it finally all came together at the Sachsenring with a second place and a win… so is that his momentum back with a bang?
Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team) also made some gains in Germany with another podium, and Lorenz Luciano Junior Black Knights Team) finished on the rostrum in Race 1 but was shuffled down to fifth on Sunday. The closest challenger to Gurecky so far, can Luciano find some form again at Assen? Or is Moor’s charge up to third overall set to continue on?
Form, meanwhile, was something on real show for Kas Beekmans (KNMV) in both races at the Sachsenring, and then even more so for Kevin Farkas (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team) and Niklas Kitzbichler (Racing-Team-Kitzbichler) on Sunday. The latter duo both made big steps forward in the dry to fight at the front throughout, and Beekmans did it in both. What can they do at Assen? For Beekmans it’s also home turf, and those who’ve seen Michael van der Mark vs the Geert Timmer chicane know there can be a secret or two hidden up the sleeve of a home hero.
Gurecky leads, Moor is on a charge and the TT Circuit Assen awaits. Traditionally creating some of the greatest two-wheeled racing on Earth, how will the NTC pack shuffle at the Dutch venue? Find out in Race 1 on Saturday at 17:15 (GMT +2), before Race 2 on Sunday at 16:30.