MotoGP Legends, a pre-war Le Mans start and a World Premiere on day 2 of the TABAC Classic GP Assen
MotoGP Legends and former Dutch TT-winners Kevin Schwantz and Randy Mamola treated the fans to some pretty fast demonstration laps on the legendary TT Circuit. Riding around on their original 500 cc Grand Prix bikes at an impressive pace, in the colours in which they achieved so many successes, it was almost like the thirty years since they last raced at Assen hadn't passed by. The Dutch Vintage Sports Car Club went even deeper into the history books, demonstrating a classic Le Mans start in front of the main grandstand after which the pre-war sportscars set off for a demonstration race. With the unveiling of the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR Assen by the Mayor of Assen, in honour of 35 wins for MV Agusta at the TT Circuit, the Assen crowd witnessed a world premiere. During the Formula Legends sessions some exotic F1, F2, F3000 and F5000 cars, as well as an F1 2-seater in which F2 driver Richard Verschoor drove around the famous Dutch model Kim Veenstra, lit up the Cathedral of Speed.
In between the demonstrations some serious classic racing took place during day 2 of the TABAC Classic GP Assen. German Ralf Goral won the AVD Historic Race Cup FFR / FOR from pole position. His countryman Daniel Schrey took the honours in the RECO NK GTTC 66 - 81, driving a Porsche 935 K1. Amanda Hennessy from the United States took her Argo to victory in the Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge. It was Philippe Vermast from Luxembourg who came first in the Super Sixties by NK HTGT race in his Lotus Elan 26R. Alexander Weiss from Denmark won the AVD Historic F3 Interseries driving a Reynard 873 powered by an Alfa Novamotor. French driver Enzo Thieffain powered his Austin Mini Cooper S to victory in the Kampf der Zwerge race. The NK Classics, the International Historic Racing Organization saw Mark Cornshaw race his Matchless JCRacing45 classic racing motorcycle to victory. Dutchman Leonard Batenburg took convincing wins in both NK Harc 82-90 races.
More classic racing action is to come tomorrow when the revolutionary racers return to the 'Cathedral' and the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR Assen gets its debut on the legendary Assen tarmac.