2016 ADAC Northern Europe Cup: First conclusions

• The ADAC NEC title is being hotly contested after four of ten races
• Meggle narrowly leads Standard class from König and Geiger
• GP category: Dubbink versus Georgi and the best of the rest

Munich: The ADAC Northern Europe Cup (NEC) was established in 2016 and has already produced plenty of racing action. After the start of the season when two races were held under the banner of the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone, UK, there followed an exciting round at the World Superbike in Assen, Netherlands before the Standard and Grand Prix class riders continued their battle for top positions at the Lausitzring.

The series which is popular with riders, teams and fans, will continue within the context of the World Motorcycle Championship at the Sachsenring from July 15th to 17th before two more races are staged at the World Endurance Championship in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, followed by one round in Hockenheim and two final races which will be held again at Assen as part of the British Superbike Championship. However, before things continue, the best three riders in the Standard and GP classes draw their first conclusions about how things have gone after four of ten races in 2016.

Meggle intends to defend lead in Standard category

With two second places, a P3 and a win at the Lausitzring, Matthias Meggle (15, GER) has accrued 81 points so far, making him the top rider in the Standard class. "I'm very pleased with my season so far, because I now head the ADAC NEC championship standings," said the ambitious ADAC Sports Foundation protégé, before adding: "Still, I missed out on two wins at Silverstone and in Assen, which annoyed me quite a bit."

Meggle already has a cunning plan to relieve his frustration and even step things up a gear. "I simply have to be a little faster overall to ensure that I'm always well up the field in the next races," he said, thinking ahead to future fixtures in 2016, set to take place at the Sachsenring, at Oschersleben, Hockenheim and Assen.

However, his rival, Oliver König (14, CZE), will do everything in his power to knock Meggle off his perch at the head of the standings. "I'm very pleased to have finished on the podium four times in four races," said the young Czech rider, who, has so far racked up two third places, a win and a seventh place and 66 points overall in his hard-fought category, putting him behind Meggle in second position in the overall rankings.

"I'm not totally satisfied with the race in Assen, because we did something wrong when setting up the bike, after which my Honda wouldn't run properly. Second place in the standings is still really good and is something I would never have expected after four races," continued König. "I want to be back up front at the Sachsenring and do a bit better in the scraps that we regularly have," he resolved.

Dirk Geiger (13, GER) is reigning champion in the ADAC Junior Cup powered by KTM and riding a Moto3 machine for the first time in 2016. "I wasn't really satisfied with my first race at Silverstone, because I just rode a safe race and took absolutely no risks at all," said the 2015 ADAC Young Rider of the Year, looking back. However, Geiger was quickly able to improve on his ninth place in the first race, because he went straight out and finished fourth in the second fixture and then topped that result with two podiums.

"Things went much better in the second race. I really felt good on the bike at Assen and was very happy with second place. I also rode a good race at the Lausitzring, improved with every practice session and just felt really strong in the race," said the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé, who aims to consistently be up there with the leading group of riders in the next races and finish as far forward as possible. He is currently on 60 points and in third place overall.

GP class: Dubbink versus Georgi

In the GP category, Ernst Dubbink (27, NED) leads the table with 78 points after the first four of ten races. "The first race of the season was held at Silverstone and was straightaway the most difficult of all, as I'd never ridden there before. But I pushed harder in the second race on the same track and placed second," said Dubbink, who finished the first race of the season in fourth position.

"After Silverstone, we virtually had a home race at the WSBK Assen," continued the Dutchman. "I was strong and consistent with my riding all weekend and was well ahead of the others." Dubbink managed to win at his home track, but one of his main competitors, Tim Georgi (16, GER), was not in the line-up. "I then finished second behind Tim at the Lausitzring and lost five points in the overall standings," said Dubbink.

The well-experienced Dutchman is just three points ahead of Georgi in the standings in the run-up to the highlight of the season at the Sachsenring. "I will do everything I can to maintain my advantage there," he promised. But Georgi has something else in mind. "My goal is to steadily do better and to win at the Sachsenring," said the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé.

Georgi has won every ADAC NEC race that he has lined up in so far. The Berlin-based rider did not enter the second round in Assen, because he is also competing in the junior world championship in parallel with the ADAC NEC and was contracted to race in Spain at the time. "I can be quite content, I think," said Georgi, who intends to really stand out at the Sachsenring against the backdrop of the MotoGP.

Jason Dupasquier (14, SUI), who has done well to secure three podiums so far is in third position overall in the GP class of the ADAC NEC. "I hope I can continue to achieve such good results," said the teenager, who has moved up from the ADAC Junior Cup powered by KTM. "I intend to train hard for the Sachsenring and arrive there perfectly prepared," promised Dupasquier in conclusion.