After a short rest, the R&G British Talent Cup landed in the Netherlands for Round 7 of the season, delivering unpredictable conditions and incredible racing on the circuit. Ethan Sparks’ (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) momentum rolled into the weekend, clinching victory in Race 1. It was an intriguing end to Saturday’s proceedings, with Sparks beating Ryan Frost (Fibretec Honda by Mlav Racing) by a mere 0.045s. Filip Surowiak (City Lifting Team) followed behind, collecting further championship points as his advantage was reduced to just five points.
Sparks lined up on pole position, snatching the holeshot on the run to Turn 1 as Frost and Jack Dunabie (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) chased behind. Frost attacked on the opening lap, pushing Sparks briefly to second before the 62 responded a few corners later. Elsewhere, Harrison Mackay’s (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) hopes came to an end on Lap 1, crashing out at Turn 8 on Saturday. Positions shuffled throughout the opening laps, with Dunabie beginning to make his presence known in the front group.
Mason Foster (Mortimer Racing) impressed again, battling his way towards the top five in the opening stages of action. The front group grew to seven riders, with Jack Burrows (Burows Engineering / RK Racing ) glueing himself to the back of Clayton Edmunds’ (City Lifting Team) tailpipe as the 64 set the fastest lap of the race. However, conditions began to change with spots of rain beginning to drop onto the circuit, as Frost momentarily ran wide in the intense fight for victory.
There was action everywhere you looked in the closing laps, with the TT Circuit Assen producing an incredible show for fans across the globe. Surowiak later entered the podium places, sitting comfortably as he looked to stop Sparks from clawing further points back. The crucial move arrived at the final chicane as the 62 led the field across the line, and with a red flag bringing an end to proceedings on Lap 11 – Sparks was victorious in the Netherlands.
Sparks was declared the winner, with Frost and Surowiak completing another talented podium. Missing out on the celebrations was Dunabie, with the #63 crossing the line in P4, finishing ahead of Burrows, who rounded out the top five. Foster and Edmunds claimed sixth and seventh, beating Scott McPhee (SMP Racing) in eighth. Meanwhile, Peter Willis (WM Racing) and Joshua Raymond Jnr (Fibretec Honda by Mlav Racing ) rounded out the top 10 in the opening BTC race of the weekend.
