The waiting was over, we needed to skip a year due to illness of the other rider last year but now we are BACK!

The team was fully complete and everybody was very enthusiastic about the day to come. We had made some changes to the quick release of the transponder, 2 iPads for track position and laptimes at the pitwall and more experience then the last time we tried.

Also same as the sprint race we where in the light class.

Training

In the training we all needed the crew and riders to settle a bit again. Few adjustments in communication set-up and we did just a few laps to spare the energy for the race.

Qualify

Qualification was ok with a 1:58 but not one of our fastest laps. It was busy on the track and I personally need more laps to get tuned in. 51st was the result of a 56 total. More or less the same result as the previous time.

It was ok because we know our speed is better and the race is 5 hours not 5 laps.

Race

The track marshals forgot to put down the starting positions on the track and it was chaos when all riders arrived. Everybody was wrong and it took quite some time for them to find more or less the right spot. Since our position was almost the same as before we know where to be.

With the helmet on and being down the line it was hard to hear the guy counting down till 1 and I was a bit slow off the line. The previous time I went all to the left of the road and ended out of the track on the first corner. This time I stayed and went all to the right (inside) to gain quite some track positions. And that worked this time.

The race started and the 20 laps where counting down. The speed was already there and did decent 1:58 to 1:57 laps at a constant pace. Our strategy is to do as less stops as possible. A pit stop takes about 30 ~ 45 seconds. If you do 10 ~ 15 laps that by doing the double amount you gain almost a 3 seconds per lap not pitting and you can be slower to make the stint.

And this long strategy payed off! After 2 hours we where 1st in our class and even 31st of the total field. After 3,5 hours it got tough, energie was getting lower and quite some laps done in the long stints. Even broke my personal PR by doing a 1:55.680 together with many 1:57, 1:56 laps we opened up a full lap to the 2nd rider of the light class.

Result

We timed the last 2 changes to perfection, one during code 60 and one normal where Peter finished the race at P1 in our class and 35th overall!

This was an amazing performance of the team and riders. The dedication and consistency and the joy of the game that everybody felt made Pitbox8 Motorbanden team win the 5 hours of Assen!