ADAC NEC: De Vits and Dupasquier prevail in rain-affected first race at Assen

• Restart and rain make for tricky conditions – title fight hotting up
• Sasha De Vits scores maiden win in Standard class
• GP class: Jason Dupasquier beats Ernst Dubbink

Assen: The ADAC Northern Europe Cup is being contested this weekend in the context of the British Superbike Championship. As the penultimate race of the season got underway, the skies above the TT Circuit at Assen were heavily overcast. On the second of the originally scheduled ten laps, it started to rain so heavily that the proceedings had to be halted. At the restart some time later, it was reclassified as a wet weather race over nine laps. Coping best with the difficult conditions were Sasha De Vits (14, BEL) and Jason Dupasquier (15, SUI) who emerged triumphant in the Standard and GP class respectively.

Standard class: De Vits beats Geiger

Following the restart, Dirk Geiger (14, GER) initially took the lead. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé led the Standard class for six laps until De Vits got past to take the lead. Geiger could not muster a counter-attack and had to content himself with the runner-up spot.

His Kiefer Racing team-mate Toni Erhard (15, GER) was down the field in fifth after the first lap, but gradually the 15-year-old found his rhythm and worked his way past a couple of opponents to finish third. This was Erhard’s second podium of the season.

Following a problem with his clutch at the start, Leon Orgis (15, GER) was handed a ride-through penalty, but he made good the lost time towards the middle of the race, ultimately crossing the line in fourth position. Oliver King (14, CZE) came fifth, while pole-sitter Sander Kroeze (14, NED) had problems in the race and was unable to finish any higher than tenth.

This second place for Geiger takes his points total up to 153 and consolidates his lead in the Standard class. His closest pursuer, Simon Jespersen (15 DEN), finished the first race in P8, which means he has considerably lost ground on the championship leader ahead of the final race on Sunday (start time 14:45 CEST). Jespersen is currently in second place on 137 points.

Dupasquier and Dubbink put up a tough fight in GP class

From pole position, Dubbink immediately went into the lead on the restart. On the fifth lap, however, Jason Dupasquier (15, SUI) got past the local favourite who was clearly having technical problems with his bike. Dupasquier retained the lead until the finish line and ultimately took the victory 4.619 seconds ahead of Dubbink. Maximilian Kofler (16, AUT) came home in third place to compete the podium party.

The situation has therefore tightened up again ahead of the final showdown on Sunday. Second place for Dubbink means that he has conceded valuable leadership points to Dupasquier. Dubbink goes into the last race of the season in the lead on 123 points, but second-placed Dupasquier is breathing down his neck just one point behind on 122.

Comments from the Top Three

Sasha De Vits (14, BEL), winner in ADAC NEC Standard class:
“My start was initially not so good, but I gradually began to build up race pace and managed to get past Dirk. I was in pretty good form and ultimately nailed the victory. That was a fantastic race. I already knew that I was capable of a podium finish but wouldn’t have expected to win. I don’t really have any special secret regarding this track. I may know it better than the others, though, because I’ve often competed here. I hope that I can win again in tomorrow’s race.”

Dirk Geiger (14, GER), second in ADAC NEC Standard class:
“When the rain came down after the first start, I was proceeding slightly more cautiously and lost touch with the leaders. Consequently, the restart was quite good for me. When the race got underway for the second time, I got off the mark well and went into the first corner in the lead. Several of the GP riders from the British Moto3 were ahead of me, and I followed in their wake. Unfortunately, I got held up by an opponent, which was very difficult. I saw that Sasha was gradually closing the gap, and then he overtook me. After that, I tried everything I could to get level with him, but I didn’t come out of the hairpin very well, and then he was gone. On the whole, though, I’m very satisfied. I scored some vital points and extended my lead. I would like a similar outcome to tomorrow’s race.”

Toni Erhard (15, GER), third in ADAC NEC Standard class:
“My starts are getting better. They went well on two occasions today. I got off the line but first had to get used to the rain tyres, because that was our first wet race of the season. It was a bit difficult. Gradually, I found the limit and noticed that I was making good progress. I caught up with various groups of opponents, overtook them and moved up to third. I’m very happy with this podium. In the second race tomorrow, I will be on the attack again.”

Jason Dupasquier (15, SUI), winner in ADAC NEC GP class:
“My first start was not so good, but I saw some drops of rain on the first lap and was riding very carefully. Then the red flags came out, and it really poured down. At the restart, I soon caught up with Ernst. I felt OK on the wet track. I was almost surprised at how well it was going. If the weather is good tomorrow, I’ll try to keep up with Ernst. But that could be difficult. However, I’m more than satisfied with this first race.”

Ernst Dubbink (27, NED), second in ADAC NEC GP class:
“The first part of the race went really well for me. In the rain, though, it got a lot tougher. The adjustment from dry to wet was complicated. We had some problems with our bike which was not running properly at high engine speeds. It was therefore all the more difficult for me to maintain a good position. In the wet, you have to change the way you ride, so in my opinion, that made the problem worse. We’re still in with an excellent chance, and I’m hoping for dry weather conditions tomorrow.”

Maximilian Kofler (16, AUT), third in ADAC NEC GP class:
“In the dry, I was doing OK. In the rain, it got a bit more difficult, because it was my first race competing under these conditions. Normally I ride in Supermoto where the ride in the wet is very different. Consequently, I was struggling a bit with my bike and at times found myself almost going round on my own. But I ultimately managed this third place finish, which makes me very happy. I’m hoping for another podium tomorrow.”