ADAC NEC: Tension building ahead of third round at the Lausitzring

• New ADAC Northern Europe Cup comes to Germany for the first time
• Promise of thrilling race action in both classes
• Georgi aiming to close gap on Dubbink and Dupasquier in GP category

Munich: After two consecutive race weekends to launch the debut season of the ADAC Northern Europe Cup (NEC), the riders have been able to enjoy a few days’ rest before the campaign continues with the third round at the Lausitzring this coming weekend (29th April - 1st May). The ADAC NEC contestants will be competing in the first race in the new series on German soil, which is to be held in the context of the Superbike IDM event staged by ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg,

In pursuit of Meggle

Matthias Meggle (15, GER) arrives at the Lausitzring as leader in the Standard class. The 15 year-old has already scored 56 points in the first three races of 2016 and is one of the few entrants who was unable to take a break from racing, because in parallel with the ADAC NEC, the talented youngster is making his debut in the 2016 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, the first round of which was held in Jerez de la Frontera last weekend.

Just below Meggle in the standings is Philipp Freitag (18, GER) on 50 points which he earned for two race wins. The youngster from Buchholz wants to close the gap at the Lausitzring but has a difficult task ahead of him. “I was there last year for IDM practice and the IDM race itself, so I have a pretty good feel for the track,” he says. “In any case, I’m looking forward to the next race and hope that the weather will be slightly better than at Silverstone and Assen, because it has such a major effect on the grip. I don’t particularly like the track, but we found out something about our setup there and consequently I am convinced that it will go well for us anyway.”

One opponent Freitag needs to watch out for is Oliver König (14, CZE). The rookie is likewise on 50 points and has already banked one race victory.

Dubbink versus Georgi

After claiming victory in his home race at Assen in the Netherlands, Ernst Dubbink (27, NED) will be hoping to defend his lead in the GP class (58 points): “First of all I hope that the weather is a little better. The weather at Silverstone was not so great, but at Assen it was a little better. I’m hoping for a lot of sun in Germany.”

The Dutchman also expressed his opinion about the 4.25km circuit: “The start-finish straight is very long. All in all, it’s a beautiful track. The first section is hard for me because I’m a bit bigger and the corner before the long straight has to be taken very slowly in first gear. That’s problematic for me, but I like the track anyway.”

Jason Dupasquier (14, SUI) is just behind Dubbink on 52 points. The Swiss teenager has achieved podium finishes in all races so far. By contrast, Tim Georgi (15, GER) had to miss out on the second race weekend due to a prior engagement in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship, but his 50-point haul from a double victory in the curtain-raiser at Silverstone also puts him well within striking distance of the leader, and he will be keen to make up for his absence from Assen as quickly as possible.

The schedule for the Lausitzring

For the ADAC NEC contestants, the race weekend begins on Friday 29th April with three 25 minute free practice sessions at 10:30, 14:05 and 17:30. The two qualifying heats from 8:40 to 9:10 and from 12:00 to 12:25 on Saturday will decide the starting line-up.

Sunday begins with a ten-minute warm-up at 09:30, before the fourth race of the 2016 season commences at 11:05. It is held over a distance of 14 laps.