ADAC Northern Europe Cup: Good progress in 2017 plans

• Register for next season at www.adac.de/moto3
• Action-packed schedule for 2017 now almost complete
• Competitors can expect to win top prize money and draw on an extensive pool of sponsorship

Munich: The dates for the second season of the ADAC Northern Europe Cup have been finalised even before 2016 has ended. A total of seven race weekends will be staged within the context of a number of specially-selected top-class meetings during 2017. The season will open 8th to 11th April 2017 with an introductory practice session at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli which is a popular Italian grand prix course.

Over the four days, newcomers will be able to gain some initial experience on their machines, while the more practised riders from the Standard and GP classes get reacquainted with their 250cc bikes after the winter break.

ADAC NEC riders will line up at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben during German Speedweek from 19th to 21st May 2017 before heading for the next round to Donington Park and the World Superbike Championship in the UK the following weekend (26th - 28th May).

Two season highlights have already been calendared for the summer with the German and Czech grands prix. The German Grand Prix will be held at the Sachsenring from 30th June to 2nd July, while the young ADAC NEC talents will go head-to-head from 4th to 6th August on the historic Brno circuit within the context of the world championship under the watchful gaze of their managers and heroes and that of potential sponsors.

Two meetings under the banner of the British Superbike Championship (BSB) will bring a close to the season. The ADAC NEC riders will line up on the weekend of 8th to 10th September at the British grand prix circuit in Silverstone before the final race weekend takes place at the popular Dutch track in Assen where the ADAC NEC riders will race alongside top riders contesting the BSB (29th September to 1st October).

The last remaining date to complete the 2017 calendar will be announced in January.

ADAC NEC as springboard to career as a world championship rider

The ADAC NEC was launched a year ago to help promising young talents build international careers. The Standard class of the ADAC NEC facilitates young riders’ development and was hotly contested in 2016. In the GP category, riders can continue to work their way up the ladder towards their big goal, a start in the world championship.

In the Standard class, top prize money and a considerable pool of sponsorship on which to draw have been made available to promote young ADAC NEC talents. To this end, Honda, who supply the machines used in the Standard class, is contributing 14,800 euros. Intact Battery Power and Liqui Moly are sponsoring the best riders to the tune of 10,000 euros. Dainese and MRA will also continue to be partners of the ADAC NEC in 2017 and provide a worthwhile contribution to the sponsorship of riders.

The top competitors in the Standard category won considerable sums in prize money in 2016. Dirk Geiger (14, GER), who triumphed in the Standard class last season, took home 8,290 euros, while Simon Jespersen (15, DEN) was awarded 7,000 euros for second place.

World championship team Kiefer Racing, who competed with four riders in the Standard class in 2016 and also fielded ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Geiger in the races, will be increasing their squad to seven for next season in the 2017 ADAC NEC. Dynavolt Intact GP’s junior team also intend to continue in the ADAC NEC next season.

Interested riders aged 14 and over can register for the 2017 season of the ADAC Northern Europe Cup online at www.adac.de/moto3.

The 2017 schedule at a glance

8th - 11th April Misano, ITA Practice

April TBA

19th - 21st May Oschersleben Endurance World Championship

26th - 28th May Donington Park World Superbike

30th June - 2nd July Sachsenring MotoGP

4th - 6th August Brno, CZE MotoGP

8th - 10th Sept Silverstone British Superbike Championship

29th Sept - 1st Oct Assen, NL British Superbike Championship