Kratochwil’s momentum rolls into Brno
The Northern Talent Cup served up further excitement at the Autodrom Brno, once again impressing in front of the MotoGP stars. Race 1 proved to be unforgettable, with Fynn Kratochwil (MASS SPORTS Racing by JRP Motorsport) continuing his run of form, working hard to defeat Tobias Kitzbichler (Racingteam Kitzbichler) by a mere 0.073s. It was yet another nail-biting end to an NTC showdown, with Alessandro Binder (ASR Binder Team) also returning to form, clinching the final spot on the podium.
Once the lights went out, Binder made a strong start from pole position, but it wasn’t enough to stop the force of Kratochwil, who propelled the #8 back into P1 on the opening lap of Saturday. It was all action in the opening stages, with Kratochwil setting sights on extending his championship advantage over the next 11 laps in Czechia. The top four began to break away early on, with Robin Siegert (Motorace Academy Germany) glued in fourth – looking to repeat his Sachsenring success.
The conditions were perfect for the NTC field, with the field beginning to bunch up with just seven laps remaining. Eight riders battled continuously at the front, including home favourite Roman Durdis (FS12 Racing Team). Kiefer Racing’s Anina Urlass and Thias Wenzel showed some incredible pace, initially fighting for a top-five spot before charging into the podium positions. Urlass continued to create moves, storming into the lead before Durdis took the lead on home turf with three laps remaining.
In the final laps, Kitzbichler and Durdis locked horns at the head of the field. It was gloves-off action at its best, with no clear favourite emerging as the corners and laps ticked down. Meanwhile, Kratochwil continued to work hard, chipping away in the closing stages before snatching the lead with a spectacular move at Turn 3 on the final lap. The Brno circuit delivered yet again, with the stage now set for another blockbuster finish.
It was all about the drive out of the final corner, where Kratochwil showed his class – edging out Kitzbichler for victory. The win marked his seventh of the season, extending his title lead, with Kitzbichler and Binder joining him on the podium. Durdis missed out on a Race 1 rostrum finish but set his sights on redemption in Race 2 after beating Tom Rolin (Belgian Motorcycle Academy), who settled for fifth. Urlass claimed sixth, finishing ahead of Siegert and teammate Wenzel. Meanwhile, Filip Surowiak (FS75 Racing) impressed as a wildcard, while Tamas Lukacs (Team Lukas Pesek) took the final spot inside the top 10.
Maximum haul for Kratochwil as Durdis delights home crowd
Fynn Kratochwil notched his eighth victory following another standout performance at the iconic Autodrom Brno. The #8 held his nerve to cross the line ahead of Roman Durdis, who wrapped up an incredible weekend on home turf with second position at the flag. Alessandro Binder completed a talented podium, ending a race which was marked by high intensity, tight battles and late drama.
Once racing got underway on Sunday, Binder made a strong start, but it was Kratochwil who stormed into the lead heading into Turn 1. From the start, it was elbows-out racing, with Filip Surowiak also making a notable impression, breaking into the top five. The #75’s talent continued to shine on Lap 2, grabbing the lead in his second-ever NTC race. The fastest lap changed hands throughout, with the leaders unable to break away – it was NTC at its finest once again.
Roman Durdis continued to put on a spectacular display for the home crowd, flying the Czech flag inside the top 10, while teammate Adam Vyskocil was fighting inside the points. While the gauntlet was thrown at the front, disappointment struck for Lorenzo Pontillo (Belgian Motorcycle Academy), who retired with six laps remaining, his championship hopes taking another blow. Then Anina Urlass and Tobias Kitzbichler’s Race 2 ambitions were dashed after both riders crashed out at Turn 5.
There was further drama one lap later as Surowiak and Thias Wenzel became the next riders to crash out with four laps remaining. Meanwhile, the crowd was brought to their feet, with Durdis launching an incredible move to hit the front of the pack. Eventually, Siegert would hit the front, with an 11-rider group poised to attack behind. Kratochwil positioned himself perfectly for the final lap, with the #8 hunting for a magical eighth victory of the season.
Everything came down to the final sector, with the #11 continuing to lead until Kratochwil pulled off a sensational move at Turn 13. The German star continued to show his skill once more, edging out Durdis by 0.356s, while Binder secured the final spot on the podium. Tom Rolin would cross the line in fourth, ahead of Valdemar Mellgren (Nordgren Racing), who claimed the final spot inside the top five. Robin Siegert grabbed sixth place at the flag, with Tamas Lukacs following in seventh place after another strong ride. Further back, Adam Vyskocil, Domi Pekkanen (DPR Team) and Swan Emprin (Swan96) rounded out the top 10.
The NTC field now enjoys a short break before the penultimate round of the season at the legendary Nürburgring. It could be a pivotal weekend for Kratochwil, who has the chance to clinch the NTC crown on home soil in front of the German fans. Don’t miss the next chapter as Round 6 gets underway from September 5-7!