By Consistently a front runner in the International Road Racing Championship, the Netherlands Johan Fredriks has confirmed his participation, in the eighth running of Europe’s premier roads series.
Set to compete on ZX-10R Kawasaki machinery, the two times IRRC Superbike class runner up, will once again start as one of the firm favourites for championship success.
Having come close on multiple occasions, it would not surprise many, if 2017 marks the year Johan finally adds his name to a select group of riders to have become IRRC champions.
This year could also potentially see the Dutchman, compete for the first time at one of pure road racing’s most prestigious meetings, the North West 200.
In recent years, the likes of Didier Grams, Petr Biciste and Laurent Hoffmann, have been just some of the stars from continental Europe to take to the Triangle.
Photo by Robert Van Roozendael
There is no doubt that Johan, has the roads pedigree, talent and determination, to be amongst the leading newcomers at the traditional opening international roads event of each season.
Year on year, the popularity of pure road racing, in particular within Europe, is growing at a vast rate of knots.
With this in mind, it was interesting to find out Johan’s opinion on how popular the roads scene is at present, within the Netherlands.
He stated:
“I think pure road racing is getting more and more popular in Holland, especially since we don’t have a real national championship anymore.”
Johan’s home round of the 2017 International Road Racing Championship, at Hengelo, once again carries the title of been the first round of a series, which in my opinion, since it’s inception in 2010 has been instrumental in enhancing’s road racing’s reputation, worldwide.
Words by Stevie Rial
