Satisfied with rankings during wet FP2 on Friday

It is almost a forgotten tradition but it is now the last weekend of June and so the Dutch TT will be held from Friday to Sunday at the Drenthe circuit in Assen!)

Today, as usual, the first two sessions of free practice were on the program (FP1 & FP2). The conditions were quite different because during FP1 it was still dry in the north of the Netherlands, this afternoon with FP2 the circuit was wet due to the rain. The latter gave a completely different picture. This morning both Barry Baltus and Hafizh Syahrin had a hard time with a disappointing training especially for Hafizh due to an electronic problem with the engine. After FP2 both NTS drivers were a lot further forward. Hafizh managed to claim P21 and Barry even P15!

The Belgian gives a short analysis: “This track is really completely different from last week’s in Germany. The Sachsenring is a slow circuit while the TT circuit is very fast with fast, flowing, bends. We tried different set-ups this morning and it got better and better. But this afternoon FP2 took place on a wet track and that is very careful on a fast track but I was always able to improve and I am very happy with P15! And of course we hope for a wet QP1 tomorrow! The team and I will certainly be ready.”

Jarno Janssen, team manager of NTS RW, also notes this. “It’s no surprise then when we say we hope for a wet qualifying of course. But we also see opportunities on a dry track. In that context, it was a pity that Hafizh had problems with the electronics this morning. Fortunately, we can still compete in FP3 tomorrow.”

Hafizh isn’t completely confident yet: “Due to the problem during the morning practice and the rain in the afternoon, I haven’t really been able to work on getting the machine right yet. Tomorrow will therefore feel like the first day of training. We will work hard to try and get a good starting position for the race in a short time.”

The last free practice session (FP3) is scheduled for Saturday morning, after which the qualifications take place in the afternoon.