300 Curves of Gustav Havel

by Willis Marshall

NEI Motorsports rider Michael Pearson, will be hoping to "Czech Mate" next weekend, as the Kawasaki mounted rider takes in the 300 Curves of Gustav Havel Horice Road Races in the Czech Republic, with Pearson making his fifth visit to the picturesque circuit in the North East of the country.
Promoted by the Automoto Klub v ACR Horice, the meeting has become one of the most important races of the year for the Co-Antrim rider, and will see Pearson facing his toughest task yet at the 3.2 mile public road circuit.
The meeting which was named after former Czech Grand Prix rider Gustav Havel, who finished in third place in the World 350 Championships in 1961 behind Gary Hocking and his Jawa Team mate Frantisek Stastny, contains 26 turns and an elevation of 90 mts, making it one of the most technical circuits outside of the United Kingdom.
Pearson became the first UK rider to win on his debut when he took his then Carryduff Forklifts Yamaha 600 to a win in the Supersport 600 race in 2010, and in 2013 Michael set a new track lap record for the circuit in a time of 2m17.445s on the Hotties Racing BMW1000 Superstock machine.
This year Pearson has again entered in the Supersport 600 and Superbike races.
In the Supersport 600 race, Michael will ride the NEI Motorsports ZX6R Kawasaki, and in the Superbike race, he will ride the NEI Motorsports ZX10R Kawasaki Superbike.
Michael will face stiff opposition from all of the entrants, but his biggest rivals will come in the form of Kamil Holan (CZ) 600 Yamaha and 1000cc BMW, Marek  Cerveny (CZ) 600 & 1000cc Kawasaki's, and Michal Dokoupil (CZ) 600 Yamaha.
 
Michael Pearson:  "I really enjoy the Horice Road Races, and each year I've been there, the racing is getting harder and harder.   There are so many really good riders out there, who I have know doubt would go really well racing on our National Road Races.   I have a great team again behind me this year with excellent bikes from Northern Escalator Installations, and support from Hotties Road Racing.    Hopefully the weather is a little kinder than it is here at the moment, but whatever it is, I will be giving 100% effort in both my races".
 
Joining Michael at the Horice Road Races will be Fermanagh man and Hotties Road Racing rider, Paul Gartland.    Gartland will ride the Hotties GSXR600 Suzuki in the Supersport race, and the Rod Lee Racing 650 Kawasaki in the Supertwins race.
 
Michael Pearson Horice Road Races Fact File:
 
Debut 2010
1st - 2010 Supersport 600 Race (600 Caryduff Forklifts Yamaha)
2nd - 2010 Superbike Race (1000 Morrell Racing Kawasaki)
 
2011
2011 - Pole Position in Supersport 600 Practice (675 Truimph)
2011 - Pole Position in Superbike Practice (D&GW Racing BMW 1000)
2011 - Unofficial New Lap Record in Superbike Practice)
MEETING ABANDONED
 
2012
1st - Supersport 600 Race (D&GW/Carryduff Forklifts Yamaha 600)
1st - Superbike Race (Richard Rawson/36 Supporters Club 1000cc Honda
 
2013
1st - Superbike Race (Hotties Racing 1000cc BMW)
SETS NEW ABSOLUTE TRACK LAP RECORD
 
 
Pictures:   Michael Pearson taking the chequered flag in the Superbike Race in 2013 and Horice Road Race circuit layout.