Northern Talent Cup:
Masili dominates at the Nürburgring as Van Crugten Clinches the title
The historic Nürburgring set the stage for an intense final round of the Northern Talent Cup with a thrilling battle for the conclusion.
Race 1 saw Masili triumph and Van Crugten crowned, while the win in Race 2 secured runner-up spot for Irmscher.
Race 1
Race 1 began with drama as Ferre Fleerackers (Junior Black Knights), who had started from second on the grid, crashed out on the opening lap. Thias Wenzel (Kiefer Racing), who started third, high-sided as if startled by Fleerackers fall. Both riders OK. The Belgian’s early exit, especially disappointing as it was his birthday, broke up the lead group, leaving Masili with a clear path to victory. Riding with newfound confidence and a refined bike setup, Masili led from start to finish, showcasing the skill that has been building over his three years in the category.
Richard Irmscher (Racingteam Irmscher) put in a strong effort to chase down Masili but couldn’t match the Italian’s pace, ultimately settling for second place. In a twist of fate, Julius Frellsen (Mass Sports Racing by JRP Motorsport), Masili’s teammate, charged through the field from 10th on the grid to complete the podium, mirroring the double podium success that Mass Sports Racing by JRP Motorsport achieved in Assen—albeit with the riders’ positions reversed.
For Cup leader Jurrien Van Crugten (BB64 Academy), Race 1 was far from ideal. Starting fourth, Van Crugten struggled to find his rhythm, dropping as low as 11th before finishing in 9th place. Despite his tougher race, the seven points he secured were enough to clinch the 2024 Northern Talent Cup title with one race to spare. Van Crugten now joins the prestigious list of NTC champions, alongside past rivals like Rocco Sessler and Rossi Moor.
Antoine Nativi (Racing Nativi Team) and Tobias Kitzbichler (Racingteam Kitzbichler) both entered the race with title hopes still alive but fell short of the necessary points. Nativi, needing a podium to keep his Cup ambitions alive, managed to reach third for a few laps before slipping to sixth, effectively ending his title challenge. Kitzbichler, starting from 15th, fought his way to seventh, but his nine points were also insufficient to keep his hopes alive.
As the dust settled on Race 1, Masili celebrated his long-awaited debut victory, while Van Crugten’s consistent performances throughout the season earned him the ultimate prize: the 2024 Northern Talent Cup.
Race 2
Richard Irmscher (Racingteam Irmscher) emerged victorious after a closely contested 16-lap battle. The sunny and hot conditions provided the perfect backdrop for the season finale, as riders fought for their final positions in the standings.
Belgian rider Ferre Fleerackers (Junior Black Knights) secured his debut pole position and was eager to make up for his Race 1 disappointment. Matteo Masili (Mass Sports Racing by JRP Motorsport), buoyed by his Race 1 win, led the pack for much of the race. However, Irmscher, who started fourth, strategically timed his attack, seizing the lead on the penultimate lap. A crucial mistake by Masili in the final corner saw him lose two positions, allowing Irmscher to take the victory. Fleerackers held on for second, with Masili completing the podium in third.
Irmscher’s Race 2 victory, coupled with his podium in Race 1, was enough to leapfrog him into second place in the Cup standings, pushing the stylish Frenchman Antoine Nativi (Racing Nativi Team) down to third and relegating Tobias Kitzbichler (Racingteam Kitzbichler) out of the top three entirely.
Kitzbichler, who had been showing strong form throughout the race, saw his hopes dashed when he crashed out on lap 14, ending his season on a disappointing note. Nativi, despite his best efforts, could only manage a sixth-place finish, which was insufficient to hold onto his runner-up spot in the standings.
As the dust settled, the NTC’s top three riders—Jurrien Van Crugten (BB64 Academy), Irmscher, and Nativi—were invited onto the podium to receive their gold, silver, and bronze medals. Van Crugten’s consistent performance throughout the season earned him the 2024 Northern Talent Cup title, fulfilling the promise he showed as the 2022 Rookie of the Year after overcoming a difficult, injury-plagued 2023 season.
