Superbike championship race (photo: dicktay2000 @ flickr.com)

Superbike World Championship race is one of the most important events taking place at Brno racing circuit every year. It is popular among fans for its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. You can even camp right next to the start/finish lane.

Tickets costs from CZK 600 – check out the circuit website for more details, including a schedule and information on transportation.

The racing circuit offers free entrance on Friday, so if you do not know whether you are in love with motorbikes or not, give it a chance.

This also means that downtown Brno will be more lively than usual this weekend. Also, traffic in the western part of the town may be busier from Friday to Sunday.

Fireworks… again (photo by Zdenek Softic)

There are more events yet to be announced – but let’s take a look at the list of what we already know is going to happen in Brno in 2011.

(Hint: nothing special beside the fireworks festival and Grand Prix. Actually, is that something special anymore?)

January 25 – Thirteen people, including the Rector of the University of Technology, Karel Rais, will be awarded by the Prize of the town of Brno.

Some time in January or February – The beautiful functionalist building of café ERA should be finally reopened for public, after months of delay.

February 28 – The last day people can complain about the draft of the new urban plan (Czech only).

March 2-9 – Film festival Cinema Mundi will present less known films from all around the world.

March 3 – Uber-popular dance show Lords of the Dance will take place in the Exhibition centre.

March 18 – German techno band Scooter will ask the question “How Much Is the Fish?” in the Exhibition centre.

March 29 – Bobby McFerrin will perform at Jazz Fest Brno.

April-May – Bonjour Brno, the festival of French culture.

May 27 – Start of the international fireworks festival Ignis Brunensis (usually lasts for two weeks).

June 4 – Launch of Autosalon, the international exhibition of cars and automotive industry.

June 17 – A race of WTCC - Fia World Touring Car Championship at the Brno Circuit.

July – The month of author reading. This time it will cover contemporary Polish literature.

July 8 – Superbike race at the Brno Circuit.

August – The Guitar festival.

August 14 – Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix. The biggest event of the year. As usual.

October 7-21 – Moravian autumn, a festival of classical music.

December – Tugendhat villa will finally be restored. It will reopen in 2012.

I will try to update the list whenever anyone anounces anything interesting. But will they?

Superbike crash (by driver1998)

A popular series of superbike races heads to Brno. Circuit located in quarter Žebětín will host the 9th race of this season on the weekend of June 9-11.

You may show your support to Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa, Noriyuki Haga or many other popular racers.

Affordable tickets for adults, free entrance for kids

Tickets for the Saturday race cost only CZK 300 – and children up to the age of 14 (140 cm) will be admitted free if they are accompanied by an adult person. People older than 63 have a free entrance to some stands, too.

World Superbike Championship is popular for the friendly atmosphere at venues – you may use your ticket for all grandstands and get really close to the motorcycles.

Motosalon 2010 (photo by M. Kulíšková, bvv.cz)

“The International Trade Fair of Motorcycles, Motorcycle Accessories and Clothes Motosalon 2010” takes place at the exhibition ground until Sunday, March 14.

The promoters claim that this is the biggest motorcycle exhibition held in the central Europe.

Tickets cost CZK 100 (€3.90). Entrance is free on Friday between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

You can enjoy the newest models from these makers: Access Motor, Aprilia, Artic Cat, BMW, Buell, Bombardier, CPI, Daelim, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husaberg, Hyosung, Chunlan, Kawasaki, Keeway, Kentoya, KTM, Linhai, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Sachs, TGB, TMEC, Triumph and Yamaha.

The exhibition is joined by a freestyle motocross race on Saturday; tickets cost CZK 290+.

Beer and sausages sold at the racing circuit certainly aren’t the best thing Brno can offer, nor the most reasonably priced. For authentic Czech pub experience, visit these restaurants in the centre of Brno:

1. Bláhovka

A girl drinking Pilsen and eating blue cheese balls with paprika at Bláhovka

“Hostinec u Bláhovky” is known for probably the best Pilsen beer draught in Brno. Bunches of men (an some women) are standing with beers in nearby streets (!) every evening, as the pub itself is crowded.

If you are lucky enough to get a seat, try roast pork knee. If standing, try Czech tapas – pickled camembert, blue cheese balls (“nivové koule”) or bread with butter and tvarůžky.

Zvětšit mapu

2. Panoptikum

Beer garden of Panoptikum

Modern pub (opened 2007) with good draught Pilsen and many tasty meals to choose from.

Zvětšit mapu

3. Pegas

Pegas is offering at least 4 unique types of beer

Microbrewery with unique products, incl. weizenbier, but also legendary rude waiters. Try at your own risk.

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4. Zelená kočka

Old fashioned restaurant with excellent Dalešice beer on tap (and Oslavany sometimes). They often offer meals from game meat.

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5. Modrá růže

Pub with low prices, various Czech beers on tap and closing hour as late as at 4 a.m.

Zvětšit mapu

Prices

A 0.5 l draught beer in Brno usually costs between CZK 25 and CZK 35 (€1-€1.5). During the MotoGP some pubs double their prices; I think the above-mentioned restaurants play a fair game and do not change their prices.

Prepare CZK 200-400 (€7.5-€15) for a big meal. The small tapas cost less than €2.

Most pubs usually do not accept euros or cards, however the policy about the first one may be changed during the MotoGP weekend somewhere.

Don’t forget a very impotant thing: driving under influence is strictly prohibited in the Czech republic and may lead to a fine of hundreds of euros. If you are sleeping in a camp, use a bus or a taxi to get to the centre.

The Grand Prix of the Czech republic takes place at a modern closed racing track “Automotodrom Brno” but from the 1930s to the 1980s racers risked their lives at streets of Brno’s quarters Bosonohy, Žebětín, Kohoutovice and Lískovec.

I found some nice YouTube videos showing the old track, full of long and quick straights and sharp curves, often bordered by trees or old houses.

By the way, you can ride it in your car or on a bike — just don’t race on it.

Czechoslovak newsreel about the 1957 Grand Prix

A short documentary about Jarno Saarinen’s race in 1972

Jazz, hot girls and communist policemen – racing used to be classy! Too bad Jarno Saarinen died in an accident some time later.

German TV spot about the 1982 race

Note that the track goes more through new ugly suburbs than through the old villages.

1949 layout in Grand Prix Legends

Virtual drive through the old layout, including Žebětín (around 2:00).

Grand Prix Legends lap with commentary

One more virtual lap, this time with a commentary and without Žebětín.

Map

If you are interested in the old track, enjoy this map with links to photos.

Max Biaggi has been competing in the WSC since 2007 and has won 3 races. (source: Wikimedia Commons)

You can listen to the roaring motorcycle engines at the Masaryk Circuit from Friday July 24 to Sunday July 26 – there’s will be a race of World Superbike Championship (WSB) held at the Automotodrom Brno.

The cheapest tickets cost only CZK 350 (€13.50), so if you want to see a competition of Max Biaggi, Noriyuki Haga, Michel Fabrizio, Ben Spies and Jakub Smrž, you just have to spare one dinner in a restaurant.

These concerts, festivals and sport events will be just great.

Bonjour Brno

March and April

www.bonjourbrno.cz

Belive it or not, even the French culture needs to be advertised. That’s the point of this festival, bringing French movies, music and even sports like pétanque to Brno.

Ignis Brunensis

May 23rd – June 6th

www.ignisbrunensis.cz

If you like fireworks, be there. Period. The competition attracts the best performers from Europe every year, and also some 200,000 visitors. Don’t be afraid: the banks of Brno dam are large enough.

Ignis Brunensis also means many other events – concerts, exhibitions, parades. It is a huge two-week celebration and I love it. Check out the complete programme!

Autosalon Motor Show

June 6th – June 14th

www.bvv.cz

You’ll be able to see the future of the automotive industry right at the Exhibition Centre.

Concert of Lenny Kravitz

June 19th

ticketpro.cz

American Woman will stay away from the pop icon at the Velodrome.

World Superbike Championship Race

July 24th – July 27th

automotodrombrno.cz

Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa, Yukio Kagayama – ever heard of them? Some people prefer Superbikes to Moto GP because of the not-so-official feel of the races. And the tickets are also cheaper.

10th International Musical Festival Špilberk

August

filharmonie-brno.cz

Famous works of classical music, played by great interprets at the Špilberk castle – this is one of the unforgettable things you can experience in Brno.

Grand Prix of the Czech republic

August 14th – August 16th

automotodrombrno.cz

The biggest sport event in the Czech republic in the terms of visitors: 240,000 fans came to the Masaryk Circuit last year, despite rain. The atmosphere is just fantastic every year, so if you like motorcycles, give the event a chance.

Czech Internetional Air Show

September 5th – September 6th

airshow.cz

If you can tell a reverse half cuban eight from an inside loop, you will love this show.

The wonderful headline photo was taken by Adam Pniak last year. Visit his gallery!

If you are a fan of motorcycle racing, don’t miss the first presale period of tickets to the Cardion ab Grand Prix 2009 (held on 8/16 at Automotodrom Brno, aka Masaryk Circuit or Masarykring).

Until 2/28, the tickets for the whole racing weekend can be bought for the lowest possible prices. A great place on the finishing straight is worth €100, low-budget ticket to the banked areas is worth €42. I think the most interesting thing is it the price of a junior card for kids born between 1995 and 2002, which is only €7.

Check the complete price list (the tickets can be ordered online at the same site) and a detailed map of the circuit.