First race weekend of 2023 done and dusted at the TT Circuit Assen

The World SBK round, boasting a weekend fan attendance of almost 55,000 spectators, played host to the first race weekend for our Academy in 2023.

With constant improvements, unfortunate slip-ups, and teeth gritting comebacks, the JRP ACADEMY can look back at a solid first event of the season.

After missing out on a bit of pre-season testing, the team had to make an educated guess on what direction to go with the bike's setup. Luckily, in FP1 we could prove that the starting setting was a step forwards from where we left off at the official test in Oschersleben three weeks ago.

With constant improvements throughout the first day, Anakin could establish himself in P14 for the free practice sessions and with further improvements to bike setting could improve upon that for a P13 in the sole qualifying session on Friday evening.

Race 1 on Saturday sadly ended before it started for us. With rain setting in just before the pit lane opened, and the possibility of some oil being dropped in the previous class' session, saw us hit a particularly slippery spot on track and crash out. Rider was taken to the medical center, but after further checks was cleared to race the following day.

Race 2 saw Anakin perform a blinding start, jumping from 13th on the grid up to 9th at the end of the first lap. He managed to keep and defend this position for a large part of the race, before a bit of excessive rear tyre wear and pain from the previous day's crash forced him to slow his pace and lose touch to his group. However, thanks to some other riders' misfortune ahead, he managed to bring home a fantastic 8th place finish and his first 8 points in the Northern Talent Cup.

A cheerful Anakin commented: "The practice sessions were good and I felt comfortable on the bike. I could constantly improve throughout the first day and had a good qualifying at the end of day 1. We were a bit unlucky in the first race, as it started raining shortly before the race start and I crashed on a particularly slippery part of the track in the sighting lap.

In race 2 I had a good start, going from P13 to P8 in the beginning. Towards the end I lost touch with the lead group as some of the pain from the previous day's crash came back. At the end I could bring home an 8th place finish though.

My team did a super job this weekend and I would like to thank them a lot for that."

After a two day test in Most this coming weekend, the next stop for our NTC Team will be at the legendary Sachsenring circuit, together with the german IDM championship, whilst our three rider MiniGP Team will have their first race of the season one weekend later, at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Make sure to follow our team's and the riders' social media channels so you don't miss out on any news and updates when they come out.