Cerveny crowned champion for the seventh time; outstanding performances from Heinrich and Vetter

Marek Cerveny went into the final round of the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) with a 17-point lead. All the Czech rider had to do at Frohburg was keep his cool, avoid a crash and not lose too many places to his compatriot Petr Najman, who still had hopes of winning the title.

Following the retirement of Northern Irish pole-sitter Paul Jordan, who ran onto the wet kerb on the first lap and crashed, Germany’s Freddie Heinrich (Team Kawasaki Weber) enjoyed a lap in the lead, after which Najman, with Cerveny hot on his heels, took the lead. With his victory, Najman managed to postpone the title decider until the very last race.

Behind Heinrich, the German Rico Vetter (Vetter Racing Performance by SIEVI), the Dutchman Wesley Ankersmid and the Briton Gary Johnson (Team Schleizer Dreieck) provided plenty of excitement. Vetter had worked his way up from tenth place after the opening lap to fourth. At the finish, he was less than seven tenths of a second behind his compatriot. It was only on the eighth and final lap that Johnson lost fifth place to Ankersmid.

Zweimal Platz 3 in der IRRC Supersport für Freddie Heinrich in Frohburg

Foto: Thomas Neidhard

Fourth place is enough for Cerveny to clinch the title

The title contenders’ nerves were put to the test ahead of the second race. Following a downpour, the start had to be postponed. It was not until after 6.00 pm that the riders were able to take to the 4.780-kilometre course. Due to the poor conditions, the organisers had decided to shorten the race distance to five laps.

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Once again, it was Heinrich who took the lead from the start. It was not until the third lap that he was unable to fend off Najman’s attack. The Czech rider Matej Vit, who coped superbly with the wet conditions, overtook the German on the third lap, before also taking on Najman on the final lap. For Vit, it was the long-awaited victory in the IRRC Supersport.

In a tactically astute race at the Frohburg Triangle – a circuit where he has celebrated many fine successes during his long career – Cerveny avoided taking any unnecessary risks. Unchallenged, he ‘cruised’ across the finish line in fourth position. That was enough to secure the IRRC Supersport title for the seventh time. He is thus the most successful rider in the history of the International Road Racing Championship.

Things didn’t go quite as well for Vetter as they had in the first race, though, although, finishing eighth, he was at least able to hold off his long-standing rival Sebastian Frotscher (Team Schleizer Dreieck). In the final championship standings, Vetter finished sixth, ahead of the Swiss rider Mauro Poncini, who was killed in a crash at the Manx Grand Prix. Frotscher finished ninth overall.

Rico Vetter wird bester deutschsprachiger Pilot in der IRRC Supersport

Foto: Thomas Neidhardt

Results, Frohburg, IRRC Supersport, Race 1, 20 September 2026

1. Petr Najman (CZ), Triumph, 8 laps in 14:53.876 mins. 2. Marek Cerveny (CZ), Triumph, 10.121 sec behind. 3. Freddie Heinrich (D)*, Kawasaki, +27.906 sec. 4. Rico Vetter (D), Kawasaki. 5. Wesley Ankersmid (NL), Yamaha. 6. Gary Johnson (GB), Suzuki. 7. Matej Vit (CZ), Triumph. 8. Wally Jacobs (NL)*, Honda. 9. Sebastian Frotscher (D), Yamaha. 10. Kevin de Haan (NL)*, Yamaha. Also: 14. Jan Büchel (CH)*, Kawasaki. 15. Jonas Stracke (D), Yamaha. 16. Gerhard Rohde (D), Honda. *Guest rider (no points)

Results, Frohburg, IRRC Supersport, Race 2, 20 September 2026

1. Vit, 5 laps in 9:08.730 mins. 2. Najman, 0.200 sec behind. 3. Heinrich*, +3.961 sec. 4. Cerveny. 5. Jacobs*. 6. Johnson. 7. De Haan*. 8. Vetter. 9. Frotscher. 10. Stephane Demalsy (F)*, Yamaha. Also: 12. Moritz Klaus (D), Honda. 15. Stracke. 17. Rohde*. 18. Florian Glashauser (D)*, Honda. *Guest rider (no points)

IRRC Supersport championship standings after 10 races

1. Cerveny, 213 points. 2. Najman, 205. 3. Vit, 159. 4. Ilja Caljouw (NL), Yamaha, 126. 5. Johnson, 98. 6. Vetter, 88. 7. Mauro Poncini, 87. 8. Ankersmid, 77. 9. Frotscher, 63. 10. Michael Mace (GB), 53, Triumph. Also: 11. Stracke, 52. 16. Klaus, 14.