- Imatra and Schleiz no longer part of the IRRC 2026
- Championship currently reduced to four events
- IRRC working on an additional fifth round in mid-June
Shortly after the season finale in Frohburg and while many teams and riders are still busy planning for the coming year, the management of the International Road Racing Championship has announced far-reaching changes to the provisional calendar for 2026. Instead of the six events originally planned, there are currently only four races left on the championship calendar.
Two prominent venues canceled
The cancellation of two classics of international road racing is particularly significant. Both the Finnish road course in Imatra and the traditional Schleizer Dreieck will no longer host IRRC races in 2026.
According to the IRRC, the reasons for the cancellation in Finland lie not with the organizer itself, but with a decision by the national association. Accordingly, the event was not included in the Finnish racing calendar for 2026. This means that the association’s support is no longer available and the IRRC riders’ licenses would not be valid for the race. From the series organization’s point of view, there was no other option but to cancel the Imatra round.
In the case of Schleiz, the separation came as a much bigger surprise. According to the IRRC, the organizer ended the collaboration unilaterally and without prior consultation. The series organizers expressly regret the end of this long-standing partnership.
Reduced championship and search for a replacement
With the loss of Imatra and Schleiz, the IRRC championship currently consists of only four events. Races are currently planned in Hengelo, Chimay, Horice, and Frohburg. Originally, the overall winners of the Sportbike and Supersport classes were to be determined again over six events, each with two races.
However, the IRRC is already working on expanding the calendar. Specifically, an additional fifth round is being worked on for the weekend of June 13 and 14, 2026. A final decision on this is to be made in the near future. At the same time, the organization points out that the changed calendar could also mean adjustments to the participation fees. Further information is to follow in the coming days.
Schleiz remains a racing venue without the IRRC
Despite withdrawing from the IRRC, the Schleizer Dreieck will remain part of international road racing in 2026. The dates already announced for mid-June will be retained, but with a newly aligned program. Instead of IRRC races, there are plans for races in the International Sidecar Trophy, the German Twin Trophy, the HR Cup, classic racing classes, and open races for Superbike and Supersport.
Parallel to this, other road races and hill climbs will take place in Europe during this race weekend, including events in Czechia, France, and Belgium. The density of dates underscores how vibrant, but also how vulnerable, the international road racing calendar remains.
Road racing under pressure
Observers of the scene have been pointing out increasing challenges for pure road racing for years. Insurance issues, rising damage costs, and a generally more critical attitude toward road racing on the part of international associations are said to be making it difficult for individual events to continue. At the same time, the scene is considered resilient and adaptable, even though short-term changes have become the new normal for teams, riders, and fans.
What does this mean for me as a road racing fan?
For road racing fans, the loss of Imatra and Schleiz means one thing above all else: fewer opportunities to experience the unique character of this sport live. Two tracks with completely different atmospheres, histories, and regional characteristics are dropping out of the championship, making the calendar not only shorter but also more homogeneous. The IRRC thrives on precisely these contrasts between fast forest passages, narrow town passages, and decades of tradition. When such events are canceled, not only does the number of races shrink, but so does the emotional diversity of the season. At the same time, the situation shows how fragile road racing has become and how quickly plans can change. For fans, this means remaining flexible, reevaluating dates, and enjoying the remaining events all the more consciously, because it cannot be taken for granted that they will continue to exist in the long term.
