Locals Czech out the action

I took a notion a while back that I would like to go to Horice, in the Czech Republic. I'm glad I did.

Pronounced Horitza, the track is a fantastic mix of fast and slow corners, some off camber bends, and an amazing bit where the bikes go down a hill into the centre of the town, through the street, up a hill and then into a forest.

The forested area has fast left and right bends that all flow into each other. If you ever get a chance, go to it.

You probably know the love I have for the Southern 100, the reason being it's run for the rider, and not the organisers. Horice is the same.

I had been in touch with Pavel Koci, who is the PR man for the organising Automoto Klub v ACR Horice, since before Christmas. He organised a bus that lifted about 15 of us at Prague Airport, and took us to the track. Pavel looked after all of us for the duration of our stay, and in all honesty, made it so much easier for us, including the riders. Nothing was any problem. He even put me into his own car and drove me as many laps as I needed to find some decent places to take photos.

Ballygowan man Michael Pearson won the 600 race, coming from behind to beat Jiri Broz by over 37 seconds. Victor Gilmore was just pushed off the podium. Tomas Holubec, Victor and Petr Zrzavy finished just a second apart, in that order.

Michael Pearson also finished in second place in the Superbike race, only beaten by Czech champion Jiri Drazdak.

Kells man Corran Smyth finished in 26th place in the SBK race, despite having problems with a wheel cracking in practice, limiting the number of laps he completed. Paddy Woodside was 27th. Victor Gilmore, a man who basks in something marginally short of cult status in the Czech Republic, was listed as a retirement in this one. I'm not sure why he retired here, but Victor had problems with the brakes of his bike during practice, so that might have been part of the problem.

After the race finished, Victor was riding his bike back to the paddock. The fans at U Vodojemu got him stopped, and handed him a pint of beer. He was lifted bodily from his bike, and carried around until the beer was finished, with about 50 people chanting his name.

Portadown's Wayne Hamilton was third in the 250 race, which also boasted a number of Minitwins racing. The first Minitwin was Galgorm man Darren Gilpin, in 5th place overall. Gilpin was promoted to the lead after Alan Brown slid off his Suzuki with a lap to go, breaking the gear lever. The damage, while not serious, was just too much to race on.

Dave Walsh, in his first race since breaking his hand, finished in 7th place, the 2nd Minitwin. Brian Smith finished in 13th place, just behind Tim Stephenson.

In the Supermono race, the only Irish rider was Des Butler, who was 13th. Billy Lyle, from Draperstown was 3rd in the 500 Classic race. He was the only Ulster rider in the race.

When we were in Horice, the Czech Republic beat Russia, to win the World championship in Ice Hockey. The centre of the town was taken over by a massive TV screen, and the party went on half the night. Next morning, there was very little sign that there had been anything up to 2,000 people drinking in the square.

They have so much pride in their country, the litter that was left afterwards would have gone into a very small wheelie bin. I asked one of the guys what the Policie thought of an all night party. He looked at me as if to say 'why would they say anything?' They weren't there because they weren't going to be needed.

It was an experience I don't think I'll ever forget. The entire attitude is different to here, where Health & Safety has taken over, and destroyed road racing, in my opinion.

Racing here, now, is so sanitised that I suspect it's just a matter of time before spectators will stop going, as they are so far back from the bikes. There's one part of the Horice track that there is only the width of a footpath between the road and a man's from door. He brought his wife, and two small children out, sat them down on chairs, and watched the racing, about two feet from the bikes. As long as they were on his doorstep, that was fine.

Roads closed for practice at 7.30am, and were due to re-open at about 6.30pm. There were a couple of very heavy thunder showers during the day, which caused practice to be suspended. They simply never bothered opening the roads. They just worked away until they had all done they needed. Eventually it was about 8.15pm when they opened the roads again. Roads closed on Sunday about the same time the bar opened, 7.30am.

On Friday morning, I was in the Clubhouse at 7.45am having breakfast. Scrambled egg and a half litre of beer. That was the rule rather than the exception.

There is one corner on the track, as I mentioned earlier about Victor Gilmore, U Vodojemu, where the atmosphere was quite unlike anything I have experienced in 44 years going to racing.

Kells man Corran Smyth told me that it was well worth the money and effort travelling there, even if he only had done the slowing down lap. He had fitted a brand new set of tyres before practice. He destroyed the rear, with it bursting before he got back to the paddock.

In 2012 the meeting will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. The plan is to try to get as many Irish riders over as possible. Pavel has already told me that his ambition is to have Ryan Farquhar over for the 50th.

Michael Pearson told me that it cost him less to race Horice than it did the North West. Beer is about 30p per half litre, while soft drinks are about three times the price of vodka. Petrol works out at about 80p per litre.

It's a place that is very addictive, and I certainly hope to return for the 50th anniversary.

Check out the website. Make sure you click on the English version. Unless you can speak Czech, of course. It's www.amkhorice.cz

KINGHAN GOES TO MAR TRAIN

Randalstown rider Gerard Kinghan has signed for Mar Train Racing. After jumping ship last year from the Farlough Garage team, Kinghan made the move to the KP Racing set up.

That partnership has now folded, with both parties stressing the split was amicable.

Gerard has now moved to the Mar Train Racing team, and with the Temple based heavy haulage firm putting the local man on a Suzuki Superbike, it looks like we could be in for a hot and heavy second half of the season. I wish both parties well.

THIS WEEKEND

The Irish Clubmans series moves towards its halfway stage this weekend, when the Belfast & District promote the Presidents Cup meeting.

Ballymena's Sam Wilson, one of a couple of riders I said at the start of the year was capable of winning the Clubmans championship, sits on top of the table at the minute, with 186 points. In second place, another lad I tipped, Ahoghill's Luke Johnston has 139, while Jason Lynn holds third position on 122.

Practice is due away at 9am, with the first race at 1pm.