ADAC Northern Europe Cup gaining recognition in MotoGP paddock

• Moto2 riders praise young talent from Germany and surrounding countries
• ADAC NEC as an important stepping stone to the World Championship
• Jonas Folger and Sandro Cortese impressed by precocious talent in their team

Munich: Launched earlier this year, the ADAC Northern Europe Cup (NEC) is already making big waves. In addition to a full complement of riders from eight different countries, the new series is causing quite a stir on the World Motorcycle Championship scene. Teams and riders in the MotoGP World Championship are taking notice of the junior series, and some of them have a direct involvement.

The Dynavolt Intact GP team has set up a junior squad fronted by Matthias Meggle for entry in the ADAC NEC. Jonas Folger and Sandro Cortese, the two lead riders at Dynavolt Intact GP in the Motorcycle World Championship, are impressed by the concept. “Racing series such as the ADAC NEC are of great importance in attracting new talent,” says Cortese, who is currently competing in the Moto2 World Championship. “So it’s obviously fantastic that my team, Dynavolt Intact GP, are involved. This is the right way of doing something for the future of the sport and preparing young riders for the World Championship.”

Cortese’s team-mate and former ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Jonas Folger, who cut his teeth in the ADAC Mini Bike Cup and is set to graduate to the highest echelon of the sport in 2017, is equally enthusiastic: “I think it’s good that we have this class. It’s important to do something in Germany for the next generation, and it’s great that my team has made this commitment by entering a junior team in the ADAC NEC. I wish Matthias [Meggle] the best of luck.”

Cortese and Folger are not the only star names in the Grand Prix paddock who are enthusiastic about the ADAC NEC. “When I was that age and wanted to make the step up from the pocket bike scene to a higher category, we had nothing of this kind in Switzerland,” recalls Tom Lüthi. “So we went to Germany and started out in the ADAC Junior Cup. That was perfect for me.” The 2016 Qatar Moto2 winner and former 125cc World Champion knows how important it is for young riders to see a pathway towards realising their dream of one day competing in the World Championship. “It’s obviously fantastic if it leads somewhere. It is very important for the young generation to have more opportunities for paving their way into the World Championship. This is a very good thing, and I think it’s great that it enjoys such wide-based support.”

Swiss Moto2 rider Dominique Aegerter agrees: “I think it’s really good that the ADAC has established the trophy in its current form and simply superb that World Championship teams are giving their backing to young riders here. It is always important to bring on the next generation.”

Aki Ajo, the Finnish team principal of Moto3 outfit Red Bull KTM Ajo, takes a similar view of the way the ADAC NEC is developing: “This is exactly what we want to see in the future. The Moto3 class is the category in which some of the greatest talents are discovered before they graduate to the World Championship. This is the normal route – via Moto3.”

Thanks to his many years of experience at the highest level, Ajo is well able to assess the progress that has been made: “For all riders, especially those from northern Europe, it is not easy to find the right people and the right material for the Spanish championship, which is definitely the most straightforward route into the World Championship. I think it’s really good to have other championships. There is nothing stopping you from competing in the ADAC NEC or in Junior World Championship races in parallel, or even getting in there late on in the season to test your level of performance. We need such championships. I am pleased to see new trophies like this one.”