Soma Görbe (HRE Team) is the first-ever Northern Talent Cup winner! The Hungarian came into the final round in second overall, 14 points off former Cup leader Freddie Heinrich (Prüstel GP Junior Team), before disaster struck for the German in practice on Friday and he was forced to sit the rest of the weekend out.

That left Görbe with 14 points to overhaul in two races and, after doing the double last time out, it was hard to bet against the number 42. The day started perfectly as he won Race 1 in style, and it all came down to just keeping it together in the final race of the season to defend against Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team), who was 19 points behind. That Görbe did, coming home in third place and wrapping up the Cup to take the honour of becoming the inaugural Champion.

Soma Görbe (HRE Team) won Race 1 at the Automotodrom Brno, coming out on top in a five-rider battle to take a valuable 25 points and put himself in the prime position to secure the cup in Race 2. With points leader before the race, Freddie Heinrich (PrüstelGP Junior Team), on the sidelines injured following a crash in FP2, Görbe was left with an open goal and capitalised to perfection. Jakob Rosenthaler (Racing Team Rosenthaler) took his first podium with an impressive second place, just a tenth and a half behind, with Stephan Zuda (Motoracin23 klub v ACR) back on the podium for the first time since the Sachsenring in third. Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team) was fourth, left 19 points down but moving up to second overall.

Initially it was Jakub Gurecky (JRT of Automotodrom Brno), Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team) and Luciano up at the front, with Zuda falling back six positions from pole position and left with a mountain to climb. Part of that would become a little easier next time around, however, as drama hit on Lap 2 for the leaders: Hosciuc and Gurecky crashed out, leaving Zuda, Görbe, Luciano, Kas Beekmans (KNMV) and Rosenthaler up in the front group.

That’s how it would stay, with the lead changing in a classic group fight. It wasn’t until late on that Görbe would cross the line in the lead, however, with the Hungarian starting to look ominous towards the end. Over the line for Lap 10 it was the number 42 ahead, and that’s ultimately how it would stay as he managed to pip an impressive Rosenthaler to the win by a tenth and a half, the Austrian nevertheless taking his first NTC podium in second. Zuda climbed his mountain, taking third and denying Luciano, as Kas Beekmans completed the top five in his best NTC race yet – only another few tenths in arrears.

Jonas Kocourek (JRT of Automotodrom Brno) took sixth on home turf, pulling ahead of the fight for seventh which was won by impressive wildcard Loris Venemen (Kahuna Security Racing). The Dutchman got the better of Niklas Kitzbichler (Racing Team Kitzbichler) by a few tenths, who in turn fought off Dustin Schneider (PrüstelGP Junior Team) by just 0.033.

Julius Rörig (MCA Racing) won a tight battle for tenth, beating Jordan Bartucca (intAct Battery Power Juniors) by just 0.044. Wildcard Barnabas Olah (HRE Team) was only another tenth off, pipping Kimi-Nikita Gundermann (KG – Racing) by 0.069.

Jakub Gurecky (JRT of Automotodrom Brno) took the final win of the 2020 Northern Talent Cup, just beating Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team) to the victory at Brno by an infinitesimal 0.089. Behind that duel – but not by much – Soma Görbe (HRE Team) wrapped up season in style with third place, on the podium once again as he became the inaugural Northern Talent Cup Champion.

The battle began with Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team) leading Gurecky, Görbe, Stephan Zuda (Motoracin23 klub v ACR), Kas Beekmans (KNMV) and Hosciuc, with Loris Veneman losing out early on the chance to repeat his Race 1 heroics as the Kahuna Security Racing Ducth wildcard crashed out. The battle raged on at the front though, and it didn’t take long for Zuda and Görbe to start asserting their presence.

By mid-distance, however, it was home hero Gurecky up front. The Czech rider was the man in charge over the line for over half the race from Lap 4 until the latter stages, keen to make amends for his DNF in the first race of the day at Brno. As was Hosciuc, with the Romanian right back in the battle from the off in Race 2. Görbe, Beekmans, Zuda, Jakob Rosenthaler (Racing Team Rosenthaler) and Luciano were well in contention though, and as the laps ticked down it was still anyone’s to win.

The story of the top step would ultimately come down to a duel, however, and home hero Gurecky came out on top. Beating Hosciuc to the line by just 0.089, it was a home turf win for the Czech rider to end the season on a high – and another podium for the impressive Romanian after neither finished Race 1. Görbe had his hands full to the flag too, just fighting off Beekmans by 0.056 and Zuda by another 0.074. The third place was enough for the Hungarian to lift the crown, having also won the last three races in succession ahead of the final outing in 2020.

For Beekmans it was another impressive race though and the Dutchman went one better than the morning to take fourth, with Zuda completing the top five. Rosenthaler was only another two tenths off in sixth, beating Luciano as the Belgian lost out late on. He does, however, take second overall in the Cup as he leapfrogged the injured Freddie Heinrich (PrüstelGP Junior Team); the German shuffled down to third overall by the end of the season finale.

The top ten was completed by another close fight, with Jordan Bartucca (intAct Battery Power Juniors) taking eighth by less than a tenth to fight off home hero Jonas Kocourek (JRT of Automotodrom Brno). Niklas Kitzbichler (Racing Team Kitzbichler) was only just under three tenths back from the Czech rider too, ending the season with another solid ride.

Tibor Varga (Forty Racing) headed a huge fight to complete the points as he took P11 ahead of Kimi-Nikita Gundermann (KG – Racing), Damian Boessenkool (KNMV), wildcard Barnabas Olah (HRE Team) and Maik Duin (Northern Talent Cup).

That’s all from the NTC in 2020! Close racing, stiff competition and some truly impressive performers have made it a memorable start for the newest path on the Road to MotoGP™. Congratulations to Soma Görbe on the crown and all those who took silverware this season, and get well soon to all those fighting back to full fitness.

Stay tuned for more on the NTC and what the future holds, and make sure to follow the Cup on social media for updates!