By The 2024 Czech road racing season continues this weekend at the popular 300 Curves of Gustav Havel (called at home ‘300 zatáček Gustava Havla’ or also known as ‘300 ZGH´) Horice meeting, the 61st edition of this traditional racing event.
Superbike:
(Personal best Horice lap time located near racer’s name)
All eyes of spectators will be fixed especially on David Datzer (Datziii Racing by TW3 Racing), fastest German TT rider and Superbike, outright lap record holder for Horice, Dymokury and Stare Mesto. Will he be able to improve his two years old Horice record lap time, 2:13.141 seconds?
The biggest potential competitor for popular ´Datziii´ will be his teammate Patrick Hoff, TT 2024 newcomer, the fourth fastest man in Horice history with a personal best lap time of 2:14.237. Another dark horse for the Superbike race podium will be another German rising star Johannes Schwimmbeck (2.15.916).
But Czech aces will not be left behind, for example Kamil Holan (2.15.762) and Karel Pesek (2.16.423).
Fastest Slovak, respectively Austrian fastest Horice exponent Tomas Toth (2.19.213) and Florian Astner (2.19.158) are also favourites for the top positions same as added members of club ‘Horice sub 2:20’ lap times, Leos Hlavacek (2.19.474) and Muller Motorsport by EDEKA Meisel powerred Nico Muller (2.19.510).
They will be supplemented by other fast drivers like KRTZ Motorsport’s Jiri Petrla (2.20.147), Emil Krchnavy (2.21.439), Andreas Jochum (2.22.223), Marek Stibor (2.22.391). Horice newcomers in this category will be Thomas Altendorfer and Rene Mlkvy.
Supersport:
Two times winner of IRRC Supersport races at Hengelo from last weekend, Marek Cerveny (WRP Wepol Racing Parts) will be the biggest favourite to win the Supersport race. Cerveny is second fastest Supersport rider in Horice history with lap time of 2:16.209 seconds (2:16.142 is Supersport lap record of Jorn Hamberg from IRRC competition last year).
His biggest rivals will be the next following shooters to register under the magic value of 2:20 lap time:
Two times 2nd at IRRC Supersport race in Hengelo last Sunday – Petr Najman (2.18.062) with Ducati Panigale V2 model, all solo classes TT 2024 entrant Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil (2.18.319), Wolfgang Schuster (2.18.608), Kamil Holan (2.18.747) and new IRRC 2024 permanent participant Karel ‘Chupa’ Brandtner (2.18.883).
Added names of fastest riders featuring within the Supersport start list include Sebastian ‘Frosch’ Frotscher, Tomas Toth, Manx GP rostrum finisher Jamie Williams, Matous Ondrusz, Martin Hulin, Frantisek Loucka, Ales Sykora, Petr Vajner Jr or Tobias Grunzinger.
TT 2024 participant Veronika Hankocyova with Wonder Women Racing Team is also on start of this race. Horice newcomers in this category will be Matthieu Pauchard and Dusan Kovarik.
Super Twins:
Already mentioned Multiple IRRC Supersport Champion Marek Cerveny is lap record holder for Super Twins class at Horice (2.21.609) and he is also favourite for victory of Super Twins race again clashing against Petr Najman.
Additional notable Super Twins entrants include Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil, David Hanzalik, Jan Markalous, Ludovit Krusina, Lubos Konak, Belgian Dieter Vervloessem, Martin Hrstka, Miroslav ´Laki´ Sloboda, Lukas Fikker, Jan Nehasil, Stefan Holz, Lukas Walter and Dutch Toufik Bijenhof. There is Veronika Hankocyova in the start list of this category as well.
Other Classes:
Expect the 125GP/Moto 3 race to be battle between Patrik Kolar (record with 12 wins at 300 Curves of Gustav Havel meeting), local matador Oldrich Podlipny (record with 23 times podium finishes at 300 ZGH, recently celebrated his 60th birthday), Steffen Gramer, Chris Meyer, and Christopher Eder.
There are also well-known names in other categories like Supermono speedsters Libor Kamenicky, Moritz Nestler and Daniel Zornweg plus 250 Open entrants Pavel Navratil, Rico Vetter, and Nico Kehrer (also Supermono participant) or Radek Lamich in Supersport 300.
One final point of interest revolves around Horice lap record holder David Datzer. He will join the Sport Production 125 field. We will see how it goes for him with Aprilia RS 125 tackle against established leaders of this category like Marek Zima, Michal Vecko, Lukas Fikker and Pavel Habrda.
All competitors and spectators are warmly welcome to Horice!
Photo credit: Thijs Van Der Horst
Words by Jan Vavra
