By IRRC/ESR/BeNeLux Trophy Hengelo races, with probably-the ‘last dance’ of Superbikes around the Varsselring circuit, are here!
Real roads ‘artists’ poised for Saturday, Sunday’s qualifying/racing sensations include 2025 Manx Grand Prix winner x2 Jamie Williams (JLG/NCE Racing), twice TT winner Gary ‘AKA Driver’ Johnson (Team Schleizer Dreieck), France’s fastest TT racer Amalric Blanc (Never Be Clever Racing).
Six-times IRRC Supersport Champion Marek Cerveny (WRP Wepol Racing), three prospective Manx GP newcomers Moritz Klaus (MK Racing), Laurent Hoffmann (Hoffmann by MRP) and Mauro Poncini (Performance Racing Achterhoek) plus Northwest 200 debutant next week, Fedrik Matthys (Hoffmann by MRP).
As we previously informed the free-live stream of ESR/IRRC, support races at Hengelo will be on the You Tube channel (the same for upcoming 300 Curves of Gustav Havel in Horice – 23rd-24th May) of Czech company, Sport Marketing System. For Hengelo, alternative Dutch, Czech language commentary is available.
IRRC Hengelo Itinerary, is as follows:
Friday, 1st May:
5:30-5:45 PM – Riders Briefing (only for Hengelo newcomers)
7:00-08:00 PM – Meet and greet with riders at Hengelo city centre (start of bikes parade from Hengelo windmill ‘Varsselse Molen’ )
Saturday, 2nd May:
First Qualifying Sessions
08:30-08:50 AM – ONK Classics – IHRO
08:55-09:15 AM – BeNeLux Trophy – Supersport
09:20-09:40 AM – Camathias Cup (Classic Sidecars)
09:45-10:05 AM – Belgian Twin Trophy
10:10-10:30 AM – ESR / BeNeLux Trophy Superbike
10:40-11:00 AM – IRRC Sportbike
11:05-11:25 AM – Two Strokes
11:30-11:50 AM – IRRC Supersport
11:55-12:15 PM – Northern Sidecar Cup
Second Qualifying Sessions
12:30-12:50 PM – ONK Classics – IHRO
12:55-1:15 PM – BeNeLux Trophy – Supersport
1:20-1:40 PM – Camathias Cup (Classic Sidecars)
1:45-2:05 PM – Belgian Twin Trophy
2:10-2:30 PM – ESR / BeNeLux Trophy – Superbike
2:40-3:00 PM – IRRC Sportbike
3:05-3:25 PM – Two Strokes
3:30-3:50 PM – IRRC Supersport
3:55-4:15 PM – Northern Sidecar Cup
Opening Races
4:30 PM – ONK Classics – IHRO Race 1 – 7 Laps
5:00 PM – BeNeLux Trophy – Supersport Race 1 – 9 Laps
5:30 PM – Camathias Cup (Classic Sidecars) Race 1 – 7 Laps
5:50 PM – End of Qualifying / Races
Sunday, 3rd May:
09:00 AM – Two Strokes Warm Up Session
09:25 AM – Belgian Twin Trophy Race 1 – 9 Laps
09:55 AM – ESR / BeNeLux Trophy – Superbike Race 1 – 9 Laps– 9 Laps
10:30 AM – IRRC Sportbike Race 1 – 9 Laps
11:00 AM – Northern Sidecar Cup Race 1 – 9 Laps
11:50 AM – IRRC Supersport Race 1 – 9 Laps
12:20 PM – Camathias Cup (Classic Sidecars) Race 2 – 9 Laps
12:50 PM – Belgian Twin Trophy Race 2 – 9 Laps
1:20 PM – BeNeLux Trophy – Supersport Race 2 – 9 Laps
1:50 PM – ONK Classics – IHRO Race 2 – 7 Laps
2:35 PM – ESR / BeNeLux Trophy – Superbike Race 2 – 9 Laps
3:10 PM – IRRC Sportbike Race 2 – 9 Laps
3:40 PM – Two Strokes Race 2 – 9 Laps
4:15 PM – IRRC Supersport Race 2 – 9 Laps
4:45 PM – Northern Sidecar Cup Race 2 – 9 Laps
5:10 PM – End of Races
An added bonus, the current race lap record holders per class at Circuit De Varsselring, Hengelo.
(Year lap record attained near racer’s name)
IRRC Superbike: Luca Salvadori – 1:45.259 (2024) plus unofficial all-time lap record set during qualifying 1:45.033 (2024) as newcomer
BeNeLux Trophy Superbike: Arie Vos – 1:45.633 (2014)
IRRC Supersport: Derek McGee – 1:49.111 (2025)
BeNeLux Trophy Supersport: Jorn Hamberg – 1:49.149 (2025)
Northern Sidecar Cup: Tim Reeves / Gregory Cluze – 1:54.874 (2014)
Super Twins / Belgian Twin Trophy: Sasha De Vits – 1:56.142 (2025)
Two Strokes: Luke Notton – 2:03.513 (2019)
Classics IHRO: Luke Notton – 2:05.304 (2015)
Camathias Cup (Classic Sidecars): Marvin Vermeulen / Troy Klinker – 2:17.270 (2025)
ESR Superbike and IRRC Sportbike: Premieres this week
Plus:
Fastest newcomer: above illustrated Luca Salvadori –1:45.259 – unofficial all-time lap record set during qualifying 1:45.033 (2024)
Fastest female rider (Superbike): Nadieh Schoots – 1:53.365 (2018) – unofficial information
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Jan Vavra
