The 16th Sunday Ride Classic, held from May 17 to 18, 2025 at Paul Ricard, promises to be exceptional, with a wonderful celebration in honor of Christian Sarron. This unmissable event for all motorcycle fans never fails to celebrate the jewels of motorcycling history, whether they are riders or competition machines. 40 years ago, Christian Sarron became a Grand Prix winner in the premier class, and it is this feat that he will come to celebrate at Le Castellet before your astonished eyes!
A crazy race
For the occasion, let’s look back at the 1985 German Grand Prix, held on May 19 – the birthday will therefore be celebrated to the day! –. Christian Sarron, 250 1984cc World Champion, is trying his hand at the 500cc class again, still with Sonauto-Yamaha, the team he has never betrayed throughout his world career. Contrary to what many people think, This was not his first season in 500cc, because he had already been promoted in 1979, then, relegated to the lower categories in 1982. However, it is like a rediscovery; everything evolves so quickly in the paddocks.
Christian Sarron is a regular on the SRC. Photo: SRC
Riding a Yamaha YZR500, his 1985 season started very badly in South Africa, at KyalamiThe "Little Prince" fell very heavily, fracturing three ribs. This did not prevent him from finishing sixth in the GP, in a category at the time dominated by the Americans. Then came the Spanish round, in Jarama. This time, a third place rewarded his efforts, but Freddie Spencer and Eddie Lawson, Without a doubt, the two best riders of the moment are untouchable. The first of them, also present at the SRC, had set his sights on winning both the 500cc and 250cc world championships during the same season. But we'll talk more about this magnificent story later in the week.
After Spain, it's Germany's turn with Hockenheim. This track, once much longer and faster than it is today, is unforgiving. In the history of motorsports, it is one of the most dangerous. Many legends have been seriously injured there. or, worse, perished thereAnd the worst part is, it's raining that day.
The fantastic comeback
This is an advantage for Sarron, whose driving is even better expressed when the skies are crying: he has always loved these conditions and it was in such weather that he already won at Hockenheim in 1977, for his very first success in 250ccAt the start – which was done on foot alongside the bike at the time – Sarron completely missed the mark. The others weren't waiting for him, of course. He was 20th at the end of the first corner, which suggested a difficult race.
Dantesque conditions. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
But he doesn't give up. On this legendary track, he wipes out his opponents one by one, never worrying about his position. He now catches up with a Honda official, whom he only spots late: "Fast" Freddie Spencer, already an icon. He tries as best he can to forget the identity of the man he's about to try to overtake. But the fateful moment arrives. In the sector commonly known as " stadium » – between the Sachs-kurve and the Südkurve, the last bends of the circuit, Sarron sticks an outside on Mr. SpencerThe latter is completely beaten, and the Auvergnat thus heads towards the first and only victory of his career in the premier category.
He thus completed an exceptional comeback that ended a series of 28 victories by American drivers. He is the first Frenchman to win the French Grand Prix since Pierre Monneret. 1954, and we had to wait 1999 and Régis Laconi for a new French triumph! Despite the absence of other victories, Sarron remained one of the most respected drivers in the world. He ranked third in this 1985 season, and also third in the outcome of the wonderful year 1989, in front of a monstrous Kevin Schwantz.
Don't miss the celebration of this blue-white-red achievement at Paul Ricard, from May 16 to 18!
To share this historic moment, the SRC offers you access to its ticket office at a reduced rate
https://www.sundayrideclassic.com/billetterie
May 17 & 18, 2025
---------
https://www.facebook.com/SundayRideClassic
Like the Marquez family, they too were brothers at the highest level! Here Christian (No. 4) with Dominique at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix.
![FSBK Pau Arnos J2: Kenny Foray enters the legend of French Superbike by winning a 4th title in a row! [CP]](https://www.paddock-gp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/foray3-150x150-40x40.jpg){kind=small}
