By Post this week’s announcement of the full 2026 IRRC calendar, Northwest 200, Horice dates, another road race event has made public proposed dates for next season.
If things do not change, the 22nd meeting edition, the traditional Czech pure road races season opener, ‘Slovacky Okruh’ at Stare Mesto (it means literally Old Town in Czech) will unfortunately clash with the first IRRC weekend (2nd-3rd of May) at the Hengelo located Varsselring.
Local racing history through the streets of Stare Mesto, began to-be-written in the 1950’s and 1960’s. After a-long-period off the roads-scene calendar, the event returned early this century (2003 at Kunovice Airport and since 2004 on the current street-circuit).
Last May’s ‘Slovacky okruh’ extravaganza saw double wins with new lap records for, one of the top IRRC Supersport riders, Petr Najman in Supersport class (1.32.300) and Super Twins race (1.36.834).
Debutant this year in Stare Mesto, Finn ‘Crazy Chicken’ Chapman swooped Supermono race odyssey laurels whilst added winners included Austrian ace Christopher Eder (GP 125/Moto 3 race victor).
The Superbikes race was-cancelled after a red-flag incident involving multiple riders on lap one.
This incident, largely-interrupted pole-sitter (unofficial all-time lap record in qualifying – 1.30.352) David ‘Datziii’ Datzer’s season.
As widely reported, the jovial German having recovered from serious injuries, made a formidable real roads comeback in September, taking SBK race honours at Dymokury and placing fourth within the IRRC season finale, second IRRC SBK encounter at Frohburger Dreieck.
The 2024 IRRC Superbike Champion additionally tackled the Oschersleben 6 Hours Endurance, DLC Finale race, astride Harley Davidson Bagger equipment.
His official lap-record (1.31.509) from 2024, still stands as the fastest ever Stare Mesto lap, by an event first-timer.
Hopefully next year, high quality competition will continue in earnest around the 4 200 metres (2.61 miles) long Stare Mesto racetrack in the southeast of the Czech Republic.
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Jan Vavra
