When they lost Brno, they meet on racing circuits all over Europe. They love motorcycles so much that they can even break the language barrier thanks to it. It is said that the question “Brno circuit?” is asked every time, so what about the Brno circuit? And every time some theory emerges according to which the race will be resurrected.
Hundreds of millions are needed
“And it’s a beautiful dream. I would very much like it to return, but I am very afraid that it will not happen,” former motorcycle rider Karel Abraham told Novinkám. His racing career was closely linked with Masaryk’s circuit. The races on it were said to be the most challenging and at the same time the most wonderful for him, because the fans always created a completely unique atmosphere.
I really wish it would come back.
Karel Abraham, former motorcycle rider
Photo: archive of Karel Abraham
Karel Abraham in 2016 as a competitor with his machine
Abraham is not surprised that they want them back. They were driven for 70 years. It is said that during that time, unique bonds between people were formed. They didn’t just go to Brno on motorbikes, but also to see friends. The races were canceled because the promoter company for the Dorna motorcycle racing series demanded the reconstruction of the circuit for around one hundred million crowns. At the same time, she calculated that the so-called registration fee, without payment of which the race cannot be run, will increase to a quarter of a billion crowns per year.
QUIZ: Rag plane and sleight of hand. Do you know the famous nicknames of our veterans?
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The circuit needs a new asphalt surface, the extension of the safety zone around the track and the adjustment of the technically demanding turn number five. Underlined and added up, it is about 200 million crowns, which would have to be invested in making the circuit ready for a brilliant comeback.
Photo: archive Automotodrom Brno
The legendary Brno Masaryk circuit. His preparation in order to be included in the series of motorcycle championships again would come to 200 million crowns according to rough estimates.
Thousands of people came to see the veterans
Motorcycle fan Pavel Carda from Popůvek firmly believes in him. His uncle took him to racing for the first time as a boy in his eighty-fourth year. At that time, he and his cousin saw the accident of one of the competitors in a dangerous corner near Veselka. Carda is convinced that “eventually the above will happen”, that the races will pay off.
Photo: Brno Grand Prix Revival archive
The Grand Prix of the Czech Republic was commemorated on Saturday during the race of motorcycle and car veterans.
“Their visitors made money for the entire republic. Why do the Hungarians, who protect Formula 1 racing, understand it, and we don’t understand it,” Carda emphasized. The last time he talked about the Brno circuit was some time ago with the police in Slovenia. They asked about him during a roadside inspection. According to him, the motorcycle grand prix in Brno is a “still alive and very good” brand.
Photo: Brno Grand Prix Revival archive
Spectators could also admire the formulas.
The Brno Grand Prix Revival event was also in the spirit of remembrance, to which over 10,000 people arrived on Saturday alone, regardless of the tropical heat. “Since the cancellation of Moto GP, this is the biggest event at the Masaryk circuit. The interest exceeded our expectations,” said Jiří Smetana for the organizer. The event, where car and motorcycle veterans race, continued on Sunday.
Photo: Brno Grand Prix Revival archive
Over 10,000 people came to see the veterans on Saturday.
Ostrovacice as a giant campsite
At the time of the races, the population of Brno increased by roughly half in the short term. Visitors to the races arrived even more than a week in advance. A strategic place was Ostrovačice, located near the circuit, which turned into a huge camp. Its fans, often on motorbikes, went out to castles and chateaux all over the country, to the Moravian Karst for caves, to Prague for monuments. Sometimes there were so many fans that they even camped in front of the island’s church.
Photo: Vladimír Klepáč, Novinky
Touring engines. In 2016, this is how racing fans frolicked in the camp by the highway in Ostrovacice.
The legendary Tranzit campsite on the island is now a meadow. Before the races, beer flowed there, music blasters blared from the speakers, hundreds of fans showed off their bikes to each other and had endless discussions about the races. This year, the Božkys, who run the Oáza campsite, are unusually quiet. They built it in the garden after letting German motorcyclists sleep on it once. For years the camp was bursting at the seams, now it survives. “Thanks to Moto GP, we have created unique friendships. Friends always come to see us,” said Jitka Božková.
Photo: Vladimír Klepáč, Novinky
Ostrovačice turned into a giant camp at the time of the races. In 2016, this was located next to the D1 highway.
Director of the Tourism Center – South Moravia, Martina Grůzová, confirmed that the races meant a flood of tourists for the entire republic. “The event had an international reputation. Grand Prix is a world-renowned thing and a brand of quality. It’s a shame that we don’t have races anymore,” she added.
Photo: Vladimír Klepáč, Novinky
Camping in Ostrovacice at the time of the races in 2016. It was one huge party with Hungarian rock crushing car speakers, with streams of beer, revving motorbikes and endless discussions about the races and possible winners.
The iconic Grand Prix sign once again shines above Brno. It is a reminder of famous motorcycle races
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