Last weekend, Douwe van Mechgelen of Seven Motorsport TM Racing lined up for the opening round of the Italian Championship in Alghero, Italy. The season opener immediately served as a valuable benchmark in preparation for the remainder of the season.
In time practice, Douwe showed his speed straight away by setting the sixth-fastest time, securing a strong starting position for the races.
The first moto got off to a solid start, with Douwe running around eighth position in the opening laps. Unfortunately, he suffered a crash, and from the very first lap it became clear that he had lost his rear brake. Despite this major handicap, Douwe kept fighting and managed to work his way back up to twelfth place. In the final lap, he was forced to avoid a lapped rider, losing one position and eventually finishing thirteenth. Despite the setbacks, Douwe was satisfied with his riding feeling. The pace was strong and he felt comfortable on the bike, even without a rear brake.
In the second moto, Douwe once again made a good start. However, in the first corner he became entangled with Cas Valk, resulting in a crash. The radiator was damaged beyond repair, making it impossible to continue and forcing him to retire from the race.
Although the weekend did not result in a top finish, Douwe looks back on Alghero with a positive feeling. The speed was there, confidence grew, and the weekend provided important information for the remainder of the season. With this solid foundation, he can continue to build with confidence moving forward.
