Czech Champion Michal Dokoupil to make TT debut
Czech Republic road racer Michal Dokoupil is the latest International newcomer to confirm his intention to contest the 2009 Isle of Man TT Races.
29-year old Dokoupil may not be a name familiar to everyone but he has been in touch with the TT organisers for some time. Having enjoyed much success in his homeland, he is now ready to tackle the TT Mountain Course.
Dokoupil has been one of the Czech Republic’s leading riders over the past few years, winning the Czech Open Championship in 2005 and finishing 5th in the Supersport category in both 2006 and 2007.
However, it is the road races where Michal’s heart lies and, after finishing 7th in the 600cc Czech TT at Horice in 2005, he began to focus his attentions here instead. A year later, he improved to 5th at Horice, the best public road courses in theCzech republic, but it was 2007 that really marked his arrival as he finished 2nd in the 600cc Race. His measured approach, improving year on year, paid dividends in 2008 when he won the Horice TT, some 28 seconds clear of his nearest rival.
Michal in 300 Zatacek Gustava Havla Horice Road Race
At the 2008 Radvanice road race, he won both the 600cc and 1000cc races to reinforce his title as his countries’ leading road racer and he now aims to emulate the feats of his hero, Frantisek ‘Franta’ Stastny, and succeed at the TT. Works Jawa pilot Stastny was, arguably, the best road racer ever to have come out of what was then called Czechoslovakia finishing 3rd in both the 1962 and 1963 Junior TT races whilst also recording 4 more top-six finishes.
Michal will contest the TT with his own Indi Racing team, riding in the two Relentless Supersport Races. He has already been over to the Island, also studying numerous books and DVD’s, to aid him with his preparations.
Speaking about his TT debut, Michal commented:
“Competing at the Isle of Man TT will be a dream come true for me and now I’ve been over to the Island and seen the course ‘live’, I can’t wait for the first practice session. Franta Stastny is a hero of mine and having read a book about him and his TT career, I knew it was what I wanted to do. I also knew that I could only do it with the necessary experience so my team and I have concentrated all our efforts on the road races back home to give us the best chance at the TT. I know it will be quite different to the road races back home but I have been studying hard to improve my circuit knowledge and aim to give a good account of myself at TT09 becoming a regular in future years.”
Martyn Quayle MHK, Minister for Tourism and Leisure added:
“The TT is an International event and it is always good to see quality International riders express their desire to take part in the TT. Michal will be a welcome addition to the TT and no doubt he will want to follow in the footsteps of his countrymen before him and I am sure he is going to be a popular attraction to the fans.”
Simon Crellin
Redpoint PR Ltd