The great Dane hounds rivals from ninth on the grid
Race 1 in Oschersleben was another memorable Northern Talent Cup showdown, this time won by Julius Frellsen ahead of Richard Irmscher (Racingteam Irmscher) and Ferre Fleerackers (Junior Black Knights), with Jurrien Van Crugten (BB64 Academy) crashing out with a high side on lap 14. Rider OK.
Irmscher took the holeshot from second on the grid ahead of polesitter Matteo Masili (SaMarigosa MM Racing Team), with title contender and Dutchman Van Crugten getting a poor start off the line and dropping to sixth.
In the early stages of the race it was between Irmscher, Masili and Dustin Schneider (Mass Sports Racing by JRP Academy), in a lead group of seven featuring Fleerackers, Tom Kuil (Zelda People Racing), Van Crugten and Antoine Nativi (Racing Nativi Team). Positions were swapped and overtakes undertaken. By lap four Italian maestro Masili had established himself as the lead rider, and it stayed that way until lap nine when favourite Van Crugten finally hit the front. Meanwhile, Schneider had dropped to seventh.
Then something unexpected happened around lap 12. Schneider’s new teammate, and NTC alumni, Frellsen joined the leading group. Unless you’d been paying close attention to the timesheets you may not have noticed, but the Dane had been lapping faster than the leading group. By lap 14 Frellsen overtook Irmscher for the lead, timing it to perfection. Moments later Van Crugten crashed out, rider ok but his title tilt taking a hit.
It all came down to a photo finish as the Dane took victory in sensational form on his return to the category ahead of Irmscher and Fleerackers. Rounding out the top 10 were Nativi, Masili, Schneider, Kuil, Thias Wenzel (Kiefer Racing), Lorenzo Pontillo (Junior Black Knights), and Alessandro Binder (Kiefer Racing).
