Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup: plenty of drama as R3 bLU cRU European Championship enjoys first races The TT Circuit Assen played host to the first round of the 2023 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship, and two exciting and dramatic races were put on by the 19 young riders contesting the event. Italy’s Emiliano Ercolani was the winner of Race 1, and Race 2’s victor was Brazil’s Gustavo Manso during the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s Pirelli Dutch Round. Sunny skies and pleasant temperatures greeted the R3 paddock on Saturday morning for the opening race and the riders prepared for battle at the technical Dutch track. Bad luck hit Colombia’s Jeronimo Gonzalez when he went down on the warm-up lap and was unable to start, and Brazil’s Gustavo Manso was also forced to miss the first race due to extended medical checks following a crash on Friday. The