Kamil Holan, a 48-year-old Czech superbike rider, has been named as the competitor who died in a crash during a North West 200 qualifying session on Thursday. The incident occurred at Station Corner on the Triangle Circuit in Northern Ireland.
Holan's family initially requested his name not be released but later gave permission for it to be made public, insisting the event should continue despite their loss. He is the first fatality at the North West 200 since Malachi Mitchell-Thomas died in a Supertwins race in 2016.
His team, Hefty74, paid tribute on Facebook, describing him as an inspiration and saying his legacy would live on. The race organisers, Coleraine and District Motor Club, confirmed that the session was immediately red-flagged and emergency services attended, but Holan succumbed to his injuries.
Holan first competed at the North West 200 in 2022. The event, which attracts around 100,000 spectators, takes place on 8.97 miles of closed public roads. Organisers have confirmed that Thursday's planned races will not be added to Saturday's schedule.
