By Although the main-focus presently for roads scene insiders, is the Northwest 200, let’s not forget that it’s also this week (10th-11th May) the 62nd 300 Curves of Gustav Havel, Horice (Czech Republic) edition.
Following David Datzer’s nine consecutive Superbike victories at Horice plus a record- breaking lap time (2.12.041 – plus unofficial all-time lap-record 2.11.843 from last year’s Czech TT), we will see a different winner after Sunday afternoon’s big-bike race.
Horice SBK master Datzer, the 2024 IRRC Superbike Champion is unfortunately unfit for racing this weekend after a race incident, which was not his fault at Stare Mesto (Last Sunday). Stay strong Datziii!
Those hoping to follow Germany’s swiftest TT Races pilot, in obtaining premier category honours at Horice include:
(PB Horice lap-time near racer’s name)
German rising star Johannes Schwimmbeck (2.15.538), Czech aces Kamil Holan (2.15.762) plus Ales Sykora (2.19.381), Slovak stunt-riding showman Tomas Toth (2.16.786) with fellow countryman David Hanzalik (2.19.346).
Fastest Austrian Horice exponent Florian Astner (2.19.158), Nico Muller (2.19.510) and Rene Grundei (2.19.926).
There’s additionally racing Jiri ´Joker´ Petrla (2.20.147), Marek Stibor (2.22.391), Dominik Haslinger (2.22.579), Christoph Kreller (2.24.140), the every-year improving, well-known from his European Road Race Hill Climb Championship participations, Thomas ´Uccio´ Altendorfer (2.24.290).
Special mention as well for Martin Horky (2.25.230), currently second overall in the European Handy Bridgestone Cup, post first round at Le Mans.
The Supersport Horice race will see lap-record holder for this category, Petr Najman (2.15.636) go up against legend of Czech roads scene Marek Cerveny (2.16.209) and other fast roads titans such as:
Wolfgang ´Wolfi´ Schuster (2.17.766), seasoned TT exponent Michal Dokoupil (2.18.319), last season IRRC participant Karel ´Chupa´ Brandtner (2.18.801).
Already mentioned Kamil Holan (2.18.847) with Tomas Toth (2.21.770) plus two times TT winner Gary Johnson (2.19.009) and his team-mate in Schleizer Dreieck Team, Sebastian ´Frosch´ Frotscher (2.20.876).
They have previous good pace around Horice, just like Slovakia’s first ever TT racer Miroslav ‘Laki’ Sloboda (2.21.236), Manxman Jamie Williams (2.22.363), 2025 IRRC Czech newcomer Matej Vit (2.22.672), Swiss Matthieu Pauchard (2.22.814).
English IRRC participant Mike Mace (2.26.153) and extra Czech riders like Martin Hulin (2.23.343), Maxim Zanaska (2.23.544), Frantisek Loucka (2.23.948), Ales Sykora (2.24.116) and Roman Bocek (2.24.640).
Fastest female Horice Supersport exponent is TT 2025 entrant, Veronika Hankocyova (2.30.306) whilst making first starts in Supersport category are ‘Racetastic4Datziii#55 Road Racing Team’ members, number one and number two plate holders, Finn ‘Crazy Chicken’ Chapman and above showcased Thomas ‘Uccio’ Altendorfer plus Czech female rider Kristyna Jakesch.
Newcomers include Moritz Klaus, a wildcard this month for the IRRC season curtain-raiser at Hengelo.
Outside Superbike, Supersport, the other classes at Horice, contain to name but a few:
Ludovit Krusina, Stefan Holz, Jan Markalous, Jan Nehasil, Belgian Twin Trophy organiser Jacques Borremans in Super Twins (with prior-mentioned Cerveny, Najman, Sloboda, Mace, Astner, Hanzalik, Hankocyova, Bocek and Williams).
The Supermono field, includes last year’s winner Finn Chapman, competing against Matous Ondrusz, UK Dave Walsh, Libor Kamenicky, Nico Kehrer, Moritz Nestler, Daniel Zornweg. The Supersport 400 entry-list contains former TT rider Dirk Kaletsch, Tobias Grunzinger, Ondrej Mraz and Petr Plichta.
Radek Lamich, Petr Endrst, Karel Silpoch are astride Supersport 300 equipment whilst the 250 Open, GP 125/Moto 3, Sport Production 125 race start-lists feature:
Pavel Navratil, Rico Vetter, Horice 250 Open race returner after many years away, the above-spotlighted, Wolfgang Schuster.
300 Curves of Gustav Havel wins record-holder with 13 wins, Patrik Kolar, local matador Oldrich Podlipny, Sweden’s Anders Richnau, Cookstown front-runner Chris Meyer, Christopher Eder, Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil. Local star Marek Zima, Pavel Nechanicky, Michal Vecko and Pavel Habrda.
The Classic Sidecars contest will also be raced in regularity form. All riders and spectators are warmly welcome in Horice for upcoming racing weekend!
Photo credit: Thijs Van Der Horst
Words by Jan Vavra
