D-10 before the Sunday Ride Classic, the most complete motorcycle weekend!
Nearly 20 spectators attended the 000th Sunday Ride Classic at the Circuit Paul Ricard in 2016, and everything suggests that this edition will reach this visitor milestone on April 8 and 15.
Under the Pascal sun, Jean-Pierre Bonato, the creator of the event, and the SRC team will be duly rewarded for having brought the bikers back to the gates of the site in December 2007, then two years later to the heart of the circuit as soon as it reopens to the public.
With its motorcycle show, its presentations and tests, its driving sessions and its competitions on the 5,8km route, this 2017 edition of the SRC will be historic in more than one way!
Faithful among the faithful of the Sunday Ride Classic and the Circuit Paul Ricard, the Italian Giacomo Agostini, the most successful motorcycle and car driver, will be the star of this 9th SRC. His 15 world crowns were acquired in 350cc consecutively from 3 to 1968, in 1974cc from 500 to 3, then in 1966; for a total of 1972 podiums, 1975 Grand Prix victories and one in Formula 159.
We will see him, of course, on the track surrounded by the only double French speed world champion, Johann zarco, successfully moved from Moto2 to MotoGP – exclusively present on Saturday riding a Yamaha 500 V4 2-stroke –, as well as the American Steve baker the first Yankee world champion, notably succeeded by Freddie Spencer.
This moment when, from Ago (75 years old next June) to Zarco, the champions of the Speed Grand Prix – from A to Z, that is to say – will be in action will be truly exceptional, for the simple and good reason that this may be the last time we see them driving simultaneously.
They will compete in the heart of a field of star drivers from the last five decades, among whom we can already mention: Baker, Philippe Coulon, Eric Saul and Bernard Fau especially for the 70s; Christian Sarron and Freddie Spencer for 80s; Regis Laconi and Jeremy McWilliams for the last decade of the century; Zarco and Loris Baz for the rising generation of the 21st century.
Jean-Pierre Bonato: “7 races, 5 collection grids, and a Show for the most complete motorcycle weekend there is! »
Jean-Pierre Bonato, inventor and boss of the Sunday Ride Classic, is very enthusiastic. And for good reason : “In addition to the presence of legendary drivers, the program will include several centers of interest: the seven races will take place on the 5,8km Paul Ricard circuit with the northern chicane, GP 250, ICGP, Pro Twin, Pro Classic, Trophy Ducati, as well as the Open Racing Side Car Mania divided into two groups “Classic” and “Open”.
“There will also be five sets of collectible motorcycles, an ever-growing Motorcycle Show, with manufacturers – Ducati, Harley Davidson, Honda, Indian, KTM, Royal Enfield and Yamaha, showcasing their ranges and latest products. new products, and will also offer around fifty motorcycles for testing – and dealers who will exhibit the new Aprilia, Husqvarna, Moto-Guzzi and MV Agusta. With this Sunday Ride Classic, the Plateau du Castellet will host the most complete motorcycle weekend ever! »
Everything you need to know about the 9th SRC:
A hundred Yamaha TZs for 40 years of the “King Ago”
1977 was the last year of competition for Giacomo Agostini. Forty years later, the Sunday Ride Classic will bid farewell to Roi Ago at the Circuit Paul Ricard with fanfare, notably with a huge parade of around a hundred Yamaha TZs, which will surround his Yamaha 750 TZ Cantilever kited OW31 on Sunday.
Exclusive farewells, since Ago reserved this anniversary date for the SRC. And this year it should be its only outing in France, two others being planned at Goodwood in England and at Imatra in Finland, and it will possibly be accompanied by another at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
Steve Baker's roaring 40th too
Steve Baker, the first American motorcycle world champion, also experienced his roaring 40th since he won the 200 Miles (320km) race of the Moto Journal 200 on the Paul Ricard circuit in 1977. Exactly on the same spring dates. He will ride his famous factory Yamaha 750 OW 31 adorned with the No. 32.
Thematic exhibitions
Yamaha : 12 factory Yamaha machines will be presented, 700 TZ, 750 OW and 500 YZR, up to an ex-Wayne Rainey 500 V4.
Ducati : Valentino Rossi's Ducati Desmosedici will be on display, and that of Casey Stoner will liven up the festivities on the track.
Alain Chevallier-Voxan : a retrospective of the French Voxan range will be offered, and there will also be a parade of around forty Voxans in the presence of Jasmine, Alain Chevallier's daughter.
Italian Grand Prix Motorcycles : 32 machines covering the history of GPs from 1960 to 2000 are expected, from the first Linto to the Aermacchi 2-Stroke and 4T; Aprilia 125 and 250; Paton; Morbidelli 125; MBA 125; Garelli; Itom and… MV Agusta.
Ducati Club of France : from the 750 SS to the Panigale, an exhibition of all generations of sports Ducati.
MotoGP demonstrations and on display: RCV 213 ex-Scott Redding, Avintia Open, and Ducati GP10 Casey Stoner.
Competitions : two new features among the trays
Class 250 Ipone, an authentic GP 250 2 Stroke chainring
This race will bring together the last 2-stroke Grand Prix machines before they are banned; Aprilias, Hondas and Yamaha V2s, some of which are ex-factory. With some 50 motorcycles on the starting grid, the sharpest of which reach a top speed of 270 km/h, it will be an authentic GP 250 field with 50 motorcycles on the grid.
This Klass 250 Ipone championship has existed for four years in Italy and the 15 best drivers in the series will be there. It promises to be scorching hot!
Other competitions : GP 250, ICGP, Pro Twin, Pro Classic, Ducati Trophy, as well as the Open Racing Side Car Mania divided into two groups “Classic” and “Open”.
Rombo Ducati Club of France : Speed trophy from monos to 888s.
Demonstrations : five platforms will bring together original machines up to the Café Racers which bring together all the prepared machines.
4GMoto track debuts : with Régis Laconi and the 4Gmoto-Ducati-LS2 team of Bernard Garcia and Freddie Spencer. To feel from the inside the sensations you experience when taking a corner on the asphalt ribbon of the Circuit Paul Ricard as a passenger on a Ducati Panigale...
Three books will be featured at the Sunday Ride Classic : that of Aldo Wittenberg on Giacomo Agostini; “Feel, my stoy” the autobiography of Freddie Spencer, and “They won on the Paul Ricard circuit” by Marseille’s Eric Barthélemy.
The program :
Friday April 14 (no public access)
Additional free practice:
9 a.m. 9:20 a.m. Pro Classic
9:25 a.m. 9:45 a.m. ICGP
9:50 a.m. 10:10 a.m. Ducati Club de France
10:15 a.m. 10:35 a.m. Pro Twin
10:40 a.m. 11 a.m. Klass GP
11:05 a.m. 11:25 a.m. sides 1
11:30 a.m. 11:50 a.m. Sides 2
Free practice:
13:30 a.m. 13:50 a.m. Ducati Club de France
13:55 p.m. 14:15 p.m. Klass 250
Time trials
14:20 a.m. 14:45 a.m. ICGP
14:50 p.m. 15:10 p.m. Pro Classic
15:20 a.m. 15:40 a.m. Pro Twin
15:45 a.m. 16:05 a.m. sides 1
16:15 a.m. 16:35 a.m. Ducati Club de France
16:40 a.m. 17:00 a.m. sides 2
17:10 a.m. 17:30 a.m. Pro Twin
Group 1 demos:
17:35 p.m. 17:55 p.m. group A
18:00 p.m. 17:20 p.m. group B
18:25 p.m. 18:45 p.m. group C
18:50 p.m. 19:10 p.m. GP group
19:15 p.m. 19:35 p.m. SBK group
Saturday April 15
Series 2 demonstrations:
8:30 a.m.: VFR 3 laps opening track
8:50 a.m. 9:10 a.m.: Group A: 4-Stroke Touring
9:15 a.m. 9:35 a.m.: Group B: 2-Stroke Touring
9:40 a.m. 10:00 a.m.: Group C: Café racers and prepared
10:05 a.m. 10:25 a.m.: GP Group: GP motorcycles
10:30 a.m. 10:50 a.m.: SBK Group: Superbike and Endurance Motorcycles
11:00 a.m. 11:20 a.m.: Chronos 1 Klass 250 GP
11:25 a.m. 11:50 a.m.: ICGP Chronos
12:00 p.m.: Ducati Qualif (20 mins)
12:25 p.m.: Sides 1 race 1 (7 laps)
13:00 p.m. 13:30 p.m. Lunch break + 4G introductions
13:30 p.m. 13:50 p.m. ZF school stand demo
14:00 p.m. 14:20 p.m.: Klass 250 GP times
Races:
14:30 p.m. DCF (20 mins)
15:15 p.m. PROTWIN (8 laps)
16 p.m. PROCLASSIC (7 laps)
16:45 p.m. ICGP (8 laps)
17:30 p.m. Sides 2 (7 rounds)
Series 3 demos
18:05 p.m. 18:15 p.m. HONDA & VFR Parade
18:20 p.m. 18:40 p.m. GP group
18:45 p.m. 19:05 p.m. SBK group
19:10 p.m. 19:30 p.m. group A
19:35 p.m. 19:55 p.m. group B
20:00 p.m. 20:20 p.m. group C
20:30 p.m.: INDIAN Parade
Sunday, April 16
Series 4 demonstrations:
8:30 a.m. 8:50 a.m.: Group A
8:55 a.m. 9:15 a.m.: Group B
9:20 a.m. 9:40 a.m.: Group C
9:45 a.m. 10:05 a.m.: SBK Group
10:10 a.m. 10:30 a.m.: GP group
10:35 a.m. 10:45 a.m.: 3 VFR parade laps
Series 5 demonstrations:
10:50 a.m. 11:10 a.m.: Group A
11:15 a.m. 11:35 a.m.: Group B
11:40 a.m. 12:00 a.m.: Group C
12:05 a.m. 12:25 a.m.: SBK Group
12:30 a.m. 12:50 a.m.: GP group
12:55 p.m. 13:05 p.m.: Warm up Klass 250
Entertainment
13:08 p.m. Voxan Parade Alain Chevallier
13:15 p.m. 13:30 p.m.: 4G baptism
13:30 p.m. 13:50 p.m. TZ GENERATION Parade
2 races:
14:00 p.m. ICGP (8 laps)
14:45 p.m. Klass 250 (9 laps)
15:30 p.m. Ducati (20 mins)
16:15 p.m. PROTWIN (8 laps)
17:00 p.m. Sides 1 (7 rounds)
17:45 p.m. PROCLASSIC (7 laps)
18:30 p.m. Sides 2 (7 rounds)
Ticketing :
On site €20/day or €30 for a weekend pass (Paddock included)
Free entry for children under 16, accompanied by an adult with an access ticket.
Subscribers: Free entry on presentation of the 2017 Club pass.
Official website: www.sundayrideclassic.com
