Northern Talent Cup:
Vincze wins his first race and Sessler is back to victory
The Northern Talent Cup was back again in action at Sachsenring in a thrilling MotoGP weekend for its fourth round of the season.
Race 1
VM Racing Team’s Martin Vincze is a Northern Talent Cup race winner after making a last lap, last corner move stick on Lenoxx Phommara (Team Phommara) in Round 4, Race 1 at the Sachsenring. Rookie star Antoine Nativi finished within a tenth of the race victory to bag his first podium in the Cup.
On a rapidly drying Sachsenring following heavy afternoon downpours, the NTC field were forced to opt for wet tyres as we got ourselves set for another classic battle for victory. Phommara started well from pole and grabbed the holeshot, but the lead changed lap by lap. Rocco Sessler (MCA Racing) made a great start from the second row and was leading before the German crashed out unhurt at Turn 8.
A lead group of 10 formed as the riders slowly got to grips in the tricky conditions. That became 12 when Maxime Schmid (Team Schmid) and Matteo Masili (Fairium Next Generation Riders) bridged a seven second gap with some stunning pace, as the fight for the win went down the final corner.
Phommara led through Turn 12 before Vincze pounced at Turn 13. A slick, clean move stuck as Vincze pipped Phommara to the line by 0.024s, as Nativi claimed a close P3. Filip Novotny (DG Corse) took the flag 0.2s shy in P4, with Levin Phommara (Team Phommara) rounding out the top five. Anakin Zelenak (KG Racing), Kyano School (KS Racing), Schmid and Julius Coenen (JRP Academy Racing Team) rounded out the top 10.
Race 2
After crashing out of the lead in Race 1, Rocco Sessler (MCA Racing) bounced back with a crucial victory on Sunday morning as Race 2 of Northern Talent Cup action at the Sachsenring threw up some title race drama. Kyano Schoo (KS Racing) claimed a debut podium in P2 with Julius Frellsen (MCA Racing) returning to the rostrum in third, as former Cup leader Lenoxx Phommara (Team Phommara) suffers a DNF following an issue with his bike.
In contrasting conditions to Race 1, a fully dry Sachsenring set us up for another brilliant NTC race to play out. A big group formed at the front with key title race players all in the hunt, as Frellsen made great progress from P11 to get into the podium hunt in the early exchanges. Sessler, Phommara, and Race 1 winner Martin Vincze (VM Racing Team) were right in the mix, with Schoo climbing his way into the victory fight despite a P21 grid slot.
With six laps to go, disaster struck for Phommara. Coming up the hill out of the final corner, the #48’s KTM encountered a technical issue that saw Phommara’s race come to a premature halt. As the race unfolded, it all came down to the last lap. Frellsen led for most of it but coming down the hill into Turn 12, Sessler pounced – and so did School. Sessler held on for a victory that takes him five points clear at the top of the standings, with School a career-best second. Frellsen had to settle for third.
Vincze was 0.5s off the win in P4, Filip Novotny (DG Corse) completed the top five, with Maxime Schmid (Team Schmid), Levin Phommara (Team Phommara), Jurrien Van Crugten (BB64 Academy), Antoine Nativi (CTM 83 Junior Team) and Anakin Zelenak (JRP Academy Racing Team) rounding out the top 10.
It was another great weekend of NTC action, as Sessler heads to Round 5 at Most with a five point advantage over Phommara.
Links
FIM Europe Road Racing
Northern Talent Cup – www.northerntalentcup.com
