By Special thanks to Czech Road Racing statistician Jan Vavra for putting together another fascinating stats based article, which revolves around 21st Century Italian racers circulating around the Czech Republic’s most acclaimed real roads circuit, Horice.
Jan’s recently compiled piece, reads as follows:
Although Jawa factory Grand Prix rider Silvio Grassetti, was on the start-list of the 350 cc Horice race of 1970, he didn´t arrive, meaning the first Italian rider participating in non-yesteryear races at Horice in the middle of the 1970´s was probably Aldo Larcher.
To the present times 18 riders in total from Italy have participated at Horice (not on classics machinery).
First sound of ´Fratelli d’Italia´ at Horice in modern classes for winning a race, was in 1991 within 300 Curves of Gustav Havel event, when Dario Marchetti wins last all time GP 500cc two-stroke race in Horice.
Andrea Majola added another victory Italian victory in the Super Twins race of 2021.
Luca Gottardi set last August during the IRRC Superbike race, the quickest lap time (2.18.217) of all time by an Italian competitor at Horice.
He is also the quickest Supersport Italian rider (2.18.989) from 2015. He became the sixth quickest rider in history having conquered the magic 2:20 seconds lap time on Superbike machinery and has also dipped below 2:20 seconds astride Supersport tackle (same as Marek Cerveny, Kamil Holan, Michael Pearson, Joey den Besten and Laurent Hoffmann).
Former European Superstock champion Alex Polita was also very fast as a newcomer (2.21.117) at Horice in 2017. He is additionally known for his starts at TT 2016 and 2017.
Umberto Rumiano tackled the TT’s of 2003 and 2004 – vanguard for further Italian Manx GP/TT modern era riders but not Horice participants like Stefano Bonetti, Maurizio Bottalico, Francesco Curinga, Salvatore Sallustro or Ulster GP Lightweight entrant Lorenzo Tiveron.
Ex Horice Super Twins lap record holder, S1-R Paton specialist Andrea Majola (2.24.743) also has Manx GP, Northwest 200 pedigree.
Second in the overall Supersport classification in FIM European Hill Climb Race Championship 2023, Tiziano Rosati set a very creditable lap time (2.22.654) as a Horice debutant this year. South Tyroleans Christian Steinhauser (2.21.353), Mathias and Hartmann Engl’s are also specialists at hill climb races. Luca Zanutto from Udine raced at some IRRC races in 2019.
Current citizen of Horice and World Supersport 2018 wild card rider Pierre Coppa held the third best all-time lap time (2.39.113) of 125cc Sport Production exponents, circulating around Horice.
One point of interest is that official MotoGP Legend Andrea Dovizioso was announced on the start list for GP 125cc race in 2001 at Horice but shortly before the races he got a contract for European Championship 125cc, first step to Grand Prix and the start of his successful career.
There are some added racers from Italy who have sampled Classic machinery races at Horice, like Angelo Gagliardi, Giovanni Macchi and Giuseppe Sandroni.
The riders from Italy to have sampled Horice, read as follows:
Horice participants 2006-2023
(Personal best lap time located near racers name)
Luca Gottardi – 2.18.217
Alex Polita – 2.21.117
Christian Steinhauser – 2.21.353
Tiziano Rosati – 2.22.654
Andrea Majola – 2.24.743
Luca Zanutto – 2.30.460
Matthias Engl – 2.32.232
Pierre Coppa – 2.39.113
Hartmann Engl – 2.39.388 (only practice)
Umberto Rumiano – 2.43.267 (only practice)
Horice participants before 2006
(personal bests are not known – year of participation near racer’s name):
Aldo Larcher – 1976, 1977, 1978
Nicola Casadei – 1986
Dario Marchetti – 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991
Donato Batistoni – 1988
Paolo Giarolo – 1988
Paolo Fazi – 1989
Albano Fabbri – 1989
Sergio Lorenzini – 1990, 1991
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Jan Vavra
