The Sunday Ride Classic, the 9th of its name, deserves the consecrated name of “Motorcycle Festival”. She was queen in all her forms this weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard. With its competitions on the 5,8 km route, its open-air show, its road tests and its demonstrations, its driving school at the Driving Center, its exhibitions, its track debuts, its pilots and its legendary motorcycles which make relive the atmosphere of the Motorcycle Grands Prix on the Plateau du Castellet. 24 passionate spectators enjoyed it under the already summer sun.
Giacomo Agostini, 75 years old, the most successful driver in motor sports, came to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the end of his career, but not to say goodbye: " I am very happy, he told us. I like Paul Ricard which is a fantastic circuit and its organization, I have good memories there with my victories on the MV Agusta and Yamaha. There are always a lot of people here, and I enjoy meeting friends.
Physically I feel good, and I still enjoy driving, I will have to stop one day but I don't know when... When I started racing, I didn't know that I was going to become 15 times champion world champion and 18 times Italian champion, sign 311 victories and win 123 Grand Prix. If I were a magician? I would have the same life…”
As for Estrosi, it was not in his capacity as President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Council that he was also at the Sunday Ride Classic, but rather as a pilot, overflowing with happiness to be back within the BOX team the handlebars of one of its 750 Yamaha OW31.
“I competed in my first motorcycle race at the Circuit Paul Ricard when I was 16 on a stock 250 Kawasaki. Riding the Yamaha 750 again is nothing but happiness, because it is undoubtedly the bike that has given me the most satisfaction in competition. I felt the same sensations without forcing. »
Then President Estrosi said, not without malice: “I got the French F1 Grand Prix to return to us at the Circuit Paul Ricard, on the most beautiful circuit in the world. We have signed with the Region for the next five years. Let's not forget that the Bol d'Or has already returned... Come on, I would definitely see the return of the French motorcycle Grand Prix to Paul Ricard! »
From Ago to Steve Baker, via Freddie Spencer, Christian Sarron, Jean-François Baldé, Hubert Rigal, Jean-Michel Bayle, Loris Baz, Régis Laconi, Johann Zarco and Alain Michel in particular, riders who have written beautiful pages in the great history of motorcycling made the success of the 9th SRC celebration – 30 world crowns were there -, where manufacturers and importers, dealers and equipment manufacturers also responded present.
Ducati, Aprilia, Harley-Davidson, KTM, Honda, Indian, Husqvarna, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, Royal Enfield, Yamaha
were at the heart of the open-air show, and its famous road tests for which many bikers sometimes came from far away to test their future bikes.
The Clubs Suzuki, Voxan, Yamaha TZ France, Café Racer, and the now essential
Moto Club Circuit Paul Ricard were not left out in attracting enthusiasts, all generations combined.
And the SRC even had the feel of a book fair, since three works were presented there: “My friend Ago” by Aldo Wittemberg; “Feel, my story” the autobiography of Freddie Spencer, and “They won on the Paul Ricard circuit” by Marseille’s Eric Barthélemy.
To Jean-Pierre Bonato, happy inventor and boss of the SRC, one thing is certain: “The 2018 Sunday Ride Classic is already in orbit. The return of the French F1 Grand Prix will restore its true international dimension to the Paul Ricard circuit, and this will benefit all the events organized here.
“We have already studied quite a few themes for the future, and we are going to develop the SRC so that it grows while still bringing as much pleasure to its visitors, to the pilots and to all those who make it successful! »
When to Stephane Clair, the General Director of Circuit Paul Ricard, he concludes: “Just like at the Bol d'Or, the passion for motorcycling is intact at the Sunday Ride Classic on the public side, but also among the riders and all the participants. So much has happened here since 1970 that it is not surprising to see the Circuit Paul Ricard regain the rhythm of its great legendary moments. »
All podiums
Race 1 Sidecars: Race 1 Ducati Club de France: 1. Philippe Teissier (Ducati 888) and lap record at 140,721km/h; 2. Frédéric Gramon (Moto-Guzzi 980) at 14''; 3. Gérald Smet (Ducati 1038) at 22''.
C1 Protwin : 1. Jérémy McWilliams (KTM Superduke); 2. Michael Fudala (KTMS) at 2''; 3. Sébastien Serra (Ducati 996) at 7''. Lap record, Michael Brillault (Aprilia RSV4) at 153,504 km/h.
C1 ProClassic : 1. Denis Pignatel (Ducati 916) and lap record at 145,402 km/h; 2. Cédric Louvel (Suzuki GSXR 750) at 0”864/1000th; 3. Laurent Villerégnier (Ducati 916) at 1''.
C1 ICGP (International Classic Grand Prix) : 1. Mike Edwards (Great Britain, BSR 350) and lap record at 142,791km/h; 2. Jean-Paul Lecointe (France, TZ G 350) at 11''; 3. Ian Simpson (Great Britain, BSR 350) at 14''.
C1 Sidecar Classic : 1. Dormal-Szendroï (MR Equipe-BMW 750) and lap record at 124,929km/h; 2. Martineau-Denis (JCM-Honda 970) at 35''; 3. Bigot-Davoust (MR Equioe-Honda 836) at 1'10''.
Race 2 ICGP (International Classic Grand Prix) : 1. Mike Edwards (Great Britain, BSR 350) and lap record at 142,683km/h; 2. Ian Simpson (Great Britain, BSR 350) at 6''; 3. George Hogton-Rusling (Gourlay TZ) at 18''.
C2 Class 250 GP : 1. Jarno Ronzoni (Aprilia 250 GP) and lap record at 149,709km/h; 2. Guy Bertin (Aprilia 250 GP) at 8''; 3. Alessandro Pozzo (Yamaha 250 GP) at 20''.
C2 Ducati Club de France : 1. Philippe Teissier (Ducati 888) and lap record at 139,934km/h; 2. Cédrick Tirton (Ducati 750) at 12''; 3. Frédéric Gramon (Moto Guzzi 980) at 16''.
C2 Protwin: 1. Michael Brillault (Aprilia RSV4) and lap record at 154,099kmh; 2. Jérémy McWilliams (KTM Superduke) at 2”; 3. Stéphane Bovin (Proto KTM Track) at 4''.
C2 Sidecars Open : 1. Chustrac-Vias (OP2) and lap record at 132,042km/h; 2. Bajus-Herman (OP2) at 10''; 3. Lancelle-Lamarque (NC In) at 25''.
C2 ProClassic : 1. Denis Pignatel (Ducati 916) and lap record at 147,807km/h; 2. Charlie Corner (Kawasaki ZX7R) at 2”; 3. Laurent Villerégnier (Ducati 916) at 3”.
C2 Sidecars Classic : 1. Dormal-Szendroï (MR Equipe-BMW 750) and lap record at 122,033km/h; 2. Martineau-Denis (JCM-Honda 750); 3. Bigot-Davous (MR Equipe-Honda 836).
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Copyright: Morgan Mathurin
The next big events at the Circuit Paul Ricard:
May 6-7: Hankook 24H Series
May 27-28: V de V Endurance Series
June 3-4: Grand Prix Camions du Castellet
