By 2025 roads season, fastest racers per nation edition take four. Today it’s Circuit De Chimay and principally the 15th Chimay Open Trophy edition (not including yesteryear categories at Classics event in July).
Fourteen nations swiftest exponents this year at Belgium’s leading active road race venue, are revealed below:
(Best 2025 lap time positioned near racer’s name)
France: Gabriel Pons – 1.37.945 (plus 1.37.835 set during qualifying)
Northern Ireland: Adam McLean – 1.37.985 (now fastest Northern Irish racer)
Belgium: Yan Ancia – 1.38.172
Germany: Johannes Schwimmbeck – 1.39.673
Sweden: Pontus Rostlinger – 1.41.045
Czech Republic: Petr Najman – 1.41.290
Finland: Anssi Koski – 1.41.462
Netherlands: Wally Jacobs – 1.41.586
England: Gary Johnson – 1.41.713
Switzerland: Mauro Poncini – 1.43.288 (plus 1.42.839 set during qualifying)
Isle of Man: Jamie Williams – 1.44.080 (now fastest Manx racer)
Slovakia: Emil Krchnavy – 1.45.669
India: Rushab Shah – 1.51.942 (first ever Indian racer at Chimay)
Austria: Stefan Hofer – 2.11.362 (plus 2.04.297 set during qualifying)
An added bonus, covering quickest Supersport pilots.
Northern Ireland: Adam McLean – 1.40.608 (new Supersport lap record)
Czech Republic: Petr Najman – 1.41.290 (now second fastest Supersport rider at Chimay)
England: Gary Johnson – 1.41.713 (now English fastest Supersport racer)
Netherlands: Ilja Caljouw – 1.43.258 (plus 1.43.068 set during qualifying)
Switzerland: Mauro Poncini – 1.43.288 (plus 1.42.839 set during qualifying)
Isle of Man: Jamie Williams – 1.44.080 (now fastest Manx Supersport racer)
Germany: Thomas Wendel – 1.44.503
France: Mathieu Rieder – 1.46.215
Slovakia: Daniel Chovanec – 1.47.974
Belgium: Thierry Vanhollebeke – 1.48.775
India: Rushab Shah – 1.51.942 (now fastest Indian Supersport racer)
Plus newcomer/female exponents 2025 stats:
Fastest 2025 newcomer: Darryl Tweed (Northern Ireland) – 1.39.552 (plus above mentioned Adam McLean debuted with Superbike in Chimay – 1.37.985)
Fastest 2025 Supersport newcomer: Matej Vit (Czech Republic) – 1.42.972
Fastest 2025 female rider: Soraya De Meulenaere (Netherlands) – 1.59.013 (as Sidecar passenger for Kurt Gusse)
Quick reminder, next year’s Chimay Open Trophy Racing weekend (edition No.16 – 25th-26th July) is-confirmed to show-case the following categories:
IRRC (Supersport/Sportbike), ESR (Superbike), BTT (Super Twins) and Northern Sidecar Cup.
We are awaiting full official announcements, plans in relation to 2026 Circuit De Chimay activities (including dates for Classics meeting).
Organisers are preparing some interesting updates, next year will mark the 100th Anniversary of when racing first took place at Chimay. A complete new-building is being prepared within the area of-the start-finish line.
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Jan Vavra
