ADAC Northern Europe Cup kicks off second half of season in Oschersleben

• Two races at Oschersleben during German Speedweek
• Meggle intends to catch Geiger again in Standard class
• GP class: Dubbink and Georgi go head-to-head in battle for lead

Munich/Oschersleben: The summer break is over, and the ADAC Northern Europe Cup (NEC) is now gearing up this weekend (26th - 28th August) for the final part of the season. The Motorsport Arena Oschersleben will host the sixth and seventh race of the 2016 season when the ADAC NEC riders line up within the context of German Speedweek, which will also host the finale of the Endurance World Championship season.

The race weekend will open for Standard and GP class riders with first practice on Friday morning before the first 25-minute qualifying session is held at 13:55. The second 25-minute quali will be on Saturday at 10:35 to finally decide the starting grid for the two 17-lap races which will be at 10:30 and 14:50 on Sunday.

ADAC NEC Standard class: Meggle launches charge to reduce Geiger's lead

Dirk Geiger (14, GER) went to the top of the standings in the Standard class with an impressive win last time out during the MotoGP race weekend at the Sachsenring. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé is on 85 points in the standings ahead of this weekend and aims to defend his lead. "I'm looking forward to racing on this track and hope that I can again get a podium finish in both races at the very least," he said.

Geiger, Junior ADAC Motor Racing Personality of the Year 2015, is a big fan of the 3.667-km Oschersleben circuit where he had a chance to gain some experience last year in the ADAC Junior Cup powered by KTM. "The track is a little bumpy, but riding in Oschersleben is a lot of fun. The layout is great," said the 14-year-old. Although there are two races on this weekend's schedule, the Team Kiefer Racing rider has not changed his training routine. "Being fit has never been a problem for me so far, so I'll continue to do things just as I've always done," he added.

But the young teenager will have to pull out all the stops this weekend, because Matthias Meggle (16, GER) will be going on a charge up the standings. Meggle, who is also contesting the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup this season, is still out of the points following a fall at the Sachsenring and is in second place overall on 81 points. He intends to reclaim the top spot for his Dynavolt Intact GP Junior Team at Oschersleben.

"I already know the track from previous years and like it very much. I think I can do well there. My goal is to be back in P1 again in Oschersleben and take points out of Dirk in the championship, for sure," said the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé, who has already got used to contesting two races per weekend thanks to his involvement in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

As 125 points are still up for grabs this season, the riders in pursuit of the leading pair still have a really good chance of lifting the title. Oliver König (14, CZE) on 76 points is in third place overall and within easy striking distance. Philipp Freitag (19, GER) is behind him in fourth place overall with 66 points, followed by Simon Jespersen (15 DEN) in fifth place with 59 points.

ADAC NEC GP class: Top three riders tightly bunched

Things are also very tense at the top of the GP category as the second half of the season gets under way. Ernst Dubbink (27, NED), who failed to finish the last race at the Sachsenring due to technical problems, leads the overall standings with 78 points. "At long last! The season is finally under way again this weekend at Oschersleben. I'm very excited about it," said the veteran Dutch rider.

"I've not ridden much during the summer break. The most I've done to the bike is clean it," added Dubbink and went on to comment on the upcoming race weekend: "Oschersleben is a technical circuit with plenty of turns and combinations of turns. I expect that this is going to be an excellent weekend for me. We will fight to secure 25 points in both races.”

Jason Dupasquier (14, SUI), who is unable to line up this weekend due to injury, is only one point adrift. Tim Georgi (16, GER) on 75 points is in third place overall. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé, who raced for the first time in the Moto3 World Championship at the Sachsenring on a wild card, will do all he can to stop Dubbink and Dupasquier in their battle for the GP class title.