Disappointing classifications during TT Assen: P23 and P24

The Dutch TT in Assen today concluded the first half of the 2021 season. The next race is only on the program in six weeks: the GP of Steyermark (or Styria) in Austria, on the Red Bull Ring. Unfortunately, it was not a good home race for the NTS RW team: Hafizh Syahrin and Barry Baltus closed the line in the Moto2 race with places 23 and 24.

Because the teammates had to leave the last row of the grid this afternoon, team manager Jarno Janssen knew beforehand that it would not be an easy task to score points in Assen. “Barry might start one row forward but it was very difficult here. We couldn’t bring enough today and that’s a shame because it’s the team’s home race. I know there is extra pressure on Hafizh and Barry because this race is important for us as a Dutch team, but they have to be able to handle that. The last games before the TT we always had the right set-up and the right rhythm, but today it didn’t work out. Barry’s start went well, but we couldn’t continue the warm-up pace. It was difficult for Hafizh, we made a lot of changes to the bike but not everything worked out well and that was difficult for Hafizh. In the coming weeks we will be charging the batteries with the drivers and the team for the second half of the season and will be back in Austria.”

Hafizh Syahrin agrees: “I have to apologize to my team that we didn’t manage to get points here in Assen. We had a very hard time this weekend. During the summer break we will go to Malaysia and I will return to Europe full of energy for the next races.”

Barry Baltus was of course not happy either: “It was a difficult weekend for me here in Assen. It was just really frustrating that it didn’t work. We can’t help but work on a good preparation for the rest of the season. The first half was short for me because I was only able to start in five races. I can be satisfied with the two points I have achieved, but I want to achieve more after the summer break.”