Belgian pair Nolan Huysmans/Thibaut Bernard are in the lead of the U23 AVS Cup with sixteen points after the opening night. Another Belgian duo Stan Dens/Tom Crabbe is second with twelve points, as are Mathieu Dupe and Lucas Menanteau from France.
It was Dupe who won the first points race. He picked up 52 points. Huysmans had to settle for 15 points, while German Benjamin Boos scooped 13 points. In the second points race of the evening, the honour went to Dutchman Elmar Abma with 77 points. Renzo Raes pocketed 65 points and finished second ahead of William Salter from Great Britain with 51 points.
The first night ended with a one lap time trial, in which, Dens and Crabbe proved to be the best. They finished in 8.839. Huysmans and Bernard covered the 166.66 metres in 8.987. Another Belgian pair Victor Vaneeckhoutte/Lian Van Bylen took third place with a time of 9.073.
“We are of course very happy with the leaders’ position,” Huysmans and Bernard echoed afterwards. “We did well to finish second in the first points race and fourth in the second points race. In the track lap, we only had to let Dens and Crabbe go ahead. We don’t want to give away our leadership position just like that. Now we have a good idea of who the stongest opponents will be in the coming days. It’s only the first night and too early to say anything yet, but we certainly made a good start.”
