NW200: Glenn Irwin says close-knit road racing community will honour memory of tragic Czech rider Kamil Holan in 'best way'
North West 200 Superbike record-breaker Glenn Irwin says the “best way” for the motorcycle road racing community to honour the memory of tragic Czech rider Kamil Holan is to race on and “put on a good show” on Saturday.
The 48-year-old sadly lost his life in an incident at the fast Station corner bend on Thursday morning in Superbike qualifying.
His family have given their approval for the event to continue, and asked that he wasn’t immediately named on Thursday.
Yesterday, Kamil was officially confirmed as the rider in involved in the fatal crash with his family’s permission.
His Hefty74 team described him as a “wonderful friend and a man of great character” in a statement on Facebook, and said his legacy would live on in the team and “in our hearts”.
Carrickfergus man Irwin, speaking on Thursday before Holan was named, said his thoughts were with everyone who had been affected by the tragic accident.
“Today has been a good day in one sense in how we have turned the bike around a little bit, but I was honestly thinking about the accident every time I was going through Station,” said Irwin, who qualified second fastest in Superbike qualifying behind Honda Racing rider Dean Harrison.
“I drove by [the scene] earlier and it’s hard to see something like that. We’re all human beings and every lap I came down there – and I’m not particularly fast through Station anyway – but I was like, ‘don’t run out to the white line’, because I could see obviously what happened earlier.
“Our thoughts are with his team and family and friends, the spectators who were in the area and the marshals and paramedics who had to deal with it, Mervyn [Whyte, Event Director] and the entire racing community.
“Hopefully we can put a good fight on for Saturday and a good show for the rider we lost today and his family – I think that’s the best way we can pay our respects.”
Final qualifying was held on Thursday evening instead of the scheduled three-race programme.
Saturday’s race schedule is unchanged with six races on the bill, including two Superbike and Supertwin/Sportbike races, and a Superstock and Supersport race. Roads will close at 9am around the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ course.