TT ends in crash for Bendsneyder, Odendaal just outside points
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.”
Steven Odendaal (16 on +40.034): “It was a difficult race after a very difficult weekend, but we can be satisfied with the result. The times were constant and when I passed Roberts I closed in on Tulovic. In the Geert Timmer I was pushed wide by another rider. As a result, I came outside the track and could not help but cut. Too bad I got a long lap penalty for that. That made me ride alone and I was completely out of rhythm. Sixteenth is pretty good on one hand, but it is not satisfactory, because there had been at least one point in it.”