The competition is organized by the Dutch Scooter Sprint Competition (NSSC). Between Rolderstraat and Kloekhorststraat, a 100-meter long sprint track will be created, surrounded by crush barriers, concrete blocks and straw bales, behind which the public can watch four qualifying rounds from 7 p.m. In different classes, the participants compete for a place in the final. The best sprinters take part in the final around midnight.
“We were looking for special motorcycle entertainment. Something the public has not seen before during the TT Festival,” says Jan Gerbrand Krol, director of the TT Week Assen Foundation. “We were tipped by the TT Circuit to talk to the NSSC. And that turned out to be a bull’s eye. We worked out the program together with great enthusiasm. With this we add even more roaring engines and the smell of burning rubber to the festival.”
The public can not only enjoy the sprint race, but also literally take a look at mopeds. A cyclist’s quarter will be set up on Javastraat and Rolderstraat. Here the participants tinker with their mopeds, the racing monsters get a final cleaning and the public can talk to participants.
The moped sprint has a fixed group of experienced participants. The NSSC organizes six national competitions every year. The mopeds must meet specific technical requirements in order to participate. Prior to the competition, the mopeds are inspected by the NSSC. Johan van Schie, chairman NSSC: “This is the first time that we organize a competition at a festival. The competitions are normally during the day and now in the evening. That is new for the participants. And the number of spectators will also be considerably more than at our other competitions. A unique opportunity for both the participants and the NSSC. This gives us the opportunity to show our sport to a wider audience.”
During the TT Festival, the Fabriciusstraat will turn into Action on Wheels Arena. In addition to the lightning-fast mopeds, stunt drivers Johnny Do from Belgium and Martijn Brink from Assen will entertain the audience during the TT Nacht. The night before, the stunt drivers are also active there, but they are accompanied by several Supermotard drivers and there are motorcycle trials active.