NTS RW Racing GP had imagined another kind of home race in Assen. For Bo Bendsneyder, the Moto2 race ended early due to a crash in the second lap. Despite a brave race, Steven Odendaal stayed just outside the points in the Dutch TT. After a difficult qualification it was already clear that it would be a difficult day for Bendsneyder and Odendaal on the famous TT Circuit. Bendsneyder got away well from 23rd place. The Dutchman immediately won a few places. In the Strubben, however, his brake lever was hit, causing him to lose a few places again. In the second lap he overtook a few riders, including Simone Corsi, who came alongside again in the Strubben. When braking in front of the Stekkenwal, the Italian got a little off his line, causing his rear wheel to hit Bendsneyder’s front wheel and both of them crashed. The damage to the NTS is considerable, but the rider is unhurt except for some bruises. Steven Odendaal also had a good start. He came in 24th after the first lap and slowly crawled forward due to crashes from others. Staying on the bike and riding constant lap times was the assignment for the South African. A “long lap penalty” due to cutting the Geert Timmer chicane prevented Odendaal from running into the points. NTS RW Racing GP team manager Jarno Janssen was of course disappointed. “A crash in your home race is very disappointing. You don’t want to end the TT like this. On the other hand, we can be satisfied with Steven’s performance. He was able to end a very difficult weekend in a positive way and that is very important. The focus is now on the Sachsenring, right next weekend.”
Bo Bendsneyder (DNF): “It’s a shame, but it can happen in a race. I think I had a guardian angel with me, because it could have ended very badly. I was afraid that I would be hit by the motorcycle or by another rider. My Rev’it! suit has optimally protected me and absorbed the blow. It wasn’t an easy weekend, but the team worked really hard and never gave up. It is difficult: we have new material, little data and we cannot look at others, so we have to figure it all out ourselves. There is always a solution, but it takes a lot of time. The feeling was good today and therefore it is a shame that it ends in a crash. I was behind Manzi and wanted to try to stay with him, because he always rides aggressively and I wanted to take advantage of that. He became seventh. But to achieve a result and grab points, you first have to finish. I am happy that next weekend we will immediately have another race and can pick up the thread.”
Race Results:
Pos | Rider | Team | Time / Gap |
1 | Augusto FERNANDEZ | FLEXBOX HP 40 | 39’24.779 |
2 | Brad BINDER | Red Bull KTM Ajo | 0.612 |
3 | Luca MARINI | SKY Racing Team VR46 | 3.686 |
4 | Thomas LUTHI | Dynavolt Intact GP | 4.028 |
5 | Tetsuta NAGASHIMA | ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team | 5.391 |
6 | Andrea LOCATELLI | Italtrans Racing Team | 13.127 |
7 | Stefano MANZI | MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward | 13.183 |
8 | Marcel SCHROTTER | Dynavolt Intact GP | 13.567 |
9 | Dominique AEGERTER | MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward | 19.792 |
10 | Marco BEZZECCHI | Red Bull KTM Tech 3 | 21.291 |
11 | Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO | Beta Tools Speed Up | 23.591 |
12 | Jake DIXON | Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team | 26.585 |
13 | Lukas TULOVIC | Kiefer Racing | 30.817 |
14 | Joe ROBERTS | American Racing KTM | 34.122 |
15 | Iker LECUONA | American Racing KTM | 34.406 |
16 | Steven ODENDAAL | NTS RW Racing GP | 40.034 |
17 | Jonas FOLGER | Petronas Sprinta Racing | 51.405 |
18 | Xavi CARDELUS | Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team | 59.200 |
Not Classified | |||
Alex MARQUEZ | EG 0,0 Marc VDS | 2 Laps | |
Lorenzo BALDASSARRI | FLEXBOX HP 40 | 2 Laps | |
Xavi VIERGE | EG 0,0 Marc VDS | 5 Laps | |
Enea BASTIANINI | Italtrans Racing Team | 5 Laps | |
Jorge MARTIN | Red Bull KTM Ajo | 10 Laps | |
Sam LOWES | Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 | 14 Laps | |
Jorge NAVARRO | Beta Tools Speed Up | 14 Laps | |
Remy GARDNER | ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team | 15 Laps | |
Nicolo BULEGA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | 22 Laps | |
Simone CORSI | Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 | 23 Laps | |
Bo BENDSNEYDER | NTS RW Racing GP | 23 Laps |
Source: motogp.com, rwracinggp.com, badboybo64.com