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Belgian rider Laurent Hoffmann paid tribute to a “good friend” in Kamil Holan, who died following an accident at the North West 200 on Thursday, describing him as “genuine, friendly and always kind”.
Holan, 48, crashed at Station Corner in the morning’s opening Superbike qualifying session at the event in Northern Ireland.
It made him the first fatality at the international road race since Malachi Mitchell-Thomas was killed in a Supertwins race in 2016, and he became the 20th to lose their life in the 97-year history of the event.
Hoffmann, who will compete in Saturday’s race schedule, has been in contact with Holan’s family and explained the late Czech rider had been taking part in the event in tribute to his late father, who recently died.
“He’s Czech and my wife is from the Czech Republic, so we were friends and got along very well,” Hoffmann said of Holan.
“He was genuine, friendly and always kind – a good fella with a good heart and a very good rider. I could not say anything bad about him – he was just the best guy.
“He’s a friend but was also standing next to us at his awning [in the North West 200 paddock].
“Also because I’m here with a lorry, we took a lot of riders’ stuff from Europe and his stuff was also there, so it was a very bitter pill when I heard it was him.”
‘A wonderful friend and a man of great character’
Holan’s team, Hefty74, described him as “a wonderful friend and a man of great character”.
“Kamil, you were an inspiration, support and a partner in life and on the track. Your humility, passion and smile will be missed every second,” Hefty74 posted on Facebook.
“Your legacy will live on in Hefty74 and in our hearts. We express our deepest and most sincere condolences to his entire family and all his loved ones.”
One of a number of international riders competing at the road race, Holan, who lived in Prague, first raced at the North West 200 in 2022.
His most notable victory came at the Manx Grand Prix in 2012, when he won the Newcomers ‘A’ race to become the first rider from the Czech Republic to win at the event.
Holan also raced at the Isle of Man TT and had a best finish of 20th in the 2018 Superbike race. He was a regular in European road racing and a multiple race winner in his native Czech Republic.
In the most recent running of the Ulster Grand Prix in 2019, Holan had two 14th-place finishes in the Supersport and Superstock classes.
Holan was initially not named at the request of his family, North West 200 organisers said on Thursday afternoon.
“The session was immediately red-flagged and emergency services attended the scene but unfortunately the rider succumbed to his injuries,” the organisers said.
“Coleraine and District Motor Club, the organisers of the races, offer our sincere condolences to the family and team.”
Holan’s family gave their approval for the event to continue, and the rest of the practice sessions scheduled for Thursday morning took place in the evening instead of the three planned races.
Race organisers said the races that were originally planned for Thursday night will not be added to Saturday’s six-race schedule.
The North West 200 is an international road race that takes place on 8.97 miles of closed public roads on the north coast of Northern Ireland, between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush.
Station Corner is a fast right-hand bend on the road between Portstewart and Coleraine.
