Special thanks to Czech Road Racing statistician Jan Vavra for putting together another fascinating stats based article, which revolves around 21st Century Netherlands racers circulating around the Czech Republic’s most acclaimed real roads circuit, Horice.
Jan’s recently compiled piece, reads as follows:
The first Dutch riders participating in non-yesteryear races at Horice was probably in 1975 (Will Massop) and then in 1982 via regular participants in following years Jannes Ebeling and Harry Heutmekers.
Popular with spectators Harry Heutemekers was a pioneer at Horice, testing GP500cc, Superbike machinery for event organisers. He went onto take part in Superbike races and has three podium finishes to his credit.
Another great rider Andre Stamsnijder has two podium finishes with one second place in 250 cc race from 1989. The fast Dutch racer Henri Sala crashed from first position in this race in wet conditions.
To the present times unofficially 29 riders in total from the Netherlands have participated at Horice (not on classics machinery).
There has been an expand of Dutch riders nowadays, started after premiere of IRRC (International Road Racing Championship) at Horice in 2014.
Two times overall, the sound of the Dutch national anthem arose at Horice for winning a race (modern classes).
Dutch aces emerging victorious were Supersport victors Joey Den Besten in 2017 and Jorn Hamberg in 2023.
Joey den Besten set in 2022 the quickest lap time (2.15.721) of all time by a Dutch competitor at Horice and the 11th fastest lap in history. Jorn Hamberg (2.16.142) is Supersport lap record holder after last August’s IRRC affiliated competition.
Virgil-Amber Bloemhard (2.16.265), Johan Fredriks (2.17.849) and Jochem van den Hoek (2.18.379) were very fast already as newcomers with lap times near or below 2:22 seconds.
After improvements of personal best lap times, they are still on the list of top thirty Superbike lap times and top thirty newcomers in Horice history.
Nadieh Schoots (2.18.700) is overall fastest female in Horice. She has also had experience with the Macau GP, NW200 and Cookstown 100.
Previously featured 2014, 2017 IRRC Supersport Champion Joey Den Besten, Johan Fredriks and Jochem Van Den Hoek, Ilja Caljouw are also known for their Northwest 200 starts.
Fellow Horice participants Peter Heijmans, Michael Hofman, Olaf Romijn and showcased-above Van Den Hoek, Caljouw additionally boast TT, Manx GP experience.
Hofman and Van Den Hoek have also taken wins at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.
In terms of Dutch classic machinery races exponents at Horice, there is the likes of Jacob Imminga, Jarno Jonker, Nicolai Klinker, Jan Koning, Ep Van Paassen, Hans De Witt and Sidecar pilots Kobus Bouman and Hendrik Jonker.
The riders from Netherlands to have sampled Horice, read as follows:
Horice participants 2011-2023
(Personal best lap time located near racers name)
Joey den Besten – 2.15.721
Jorn Hamberg – 2.16.142
Virgil-Amber Bloemhard – 2.16.265
Johan Fredriks – 2.17.849
Jochem van den Hoek – 2.18.379
Ilja Caljouw – 2.18.473
Nadieh Schoots – 2.18.700
Wally Jacobs – 2.23.494
Frank Bakker – 2.24.552
Rob van Eijs – 2.24.569
Casper Voogt – 2.29.031
Toufik Bijenhof – 2.30.531
Michael Hofman – 2.32.357
Peter Heijmans – 2.34.128 (only practice)
Olaf Romijn – 2.39.022
Paul Klop – 2.41.250
Horice participants before 2011 (unofficially)
(personal bests are not known – year of participation near racer’s name):
Will Massop – 1975
Jannes Ebeling – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Harry Heutmekers – 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995
Jack Dekkers – 1985, 1986
Johan ten Napel – 1987, 1989
Henri van Heist – 1987, 1988
Johan Schelings – 1988
Stefan Slootjes – 1988
Andre Stamsnijder – 1987, 1989, 1991
Rico Mertens – 1989
Henri Sala – 1989
Marcel Ebeling – 1990, 1991
Jan Hulleman – 1996
In memory of Joey den Besten and Jochem van den Hoek.
Photo credit: Rod Neill
Words by Jan Vavra