En 2023, the Sunday Ride Classic returns the table to Paul Ricard May 6 and 7 ! Like every year since the first edition,
Jean-François Baldé, one of the best drivers of his generation, will be present for the unmissable event.
The opportunity to look back on a career marked by greatness, too often forgotten when mentioning the French in Grands Prix.
Born in 1950 in Mulhouse, he moved to the Var sun at the age of 13. The young Jean-François developed a passion for mechanics and competition, which he started at the age of 18 on a 250cc Suzuki. Before fully devoting yourself to speed, he takes a detour through endurance. It didn’t take long to detect his immense talent. Now on Kawasaki, he scours the slopes of France and builds up a very serious track record.
In 1973, he triumphed at the 1000 kilometers of Le Mans
next to Christian Leon, a feat he repeated in 1976 this time with Gilles Husson. Moreover, he almost won the Bol d'Or (at the time contested on the Bugatti circuit) in the same year 1976. In a race mourned by the disappearance of Gilbert Lavelle during testing, Jean-François and his ( late) Canadian teammate
Yvon Duhamel make a strong impression.
Don’t miss Jean-François at the Sunday Ride Classic 2023! Photo: SRC
A three-crew battle emerges before the 130 000 spectators gathered for the occasion. On the one hand,
Christian Sarron et Denis Boulom, on Kawasaki, from another, the terrible duo Alex George/Jean-Claude Chemarin on Honda and finally, our hero of the day, also on Kawa'. The lead was disputed in the early morning but a long pit stop at around 11 a.m. cost Baldé/Duhamel dearly. Denis Boulom, despite a small fall, holds on to the bar but cannot challenge the Honda for victory.
Whatever the case, the three groups delivered a classic of the genre.
Despite his performances, his international career had not yet got off to a good start. Of course, like the others, we could see him at the start of the French Grand Prix as a wildcard from 1973 to 1975, but during this year 1976, Le Mans smiled on him again. On Yamaha, he appeared on the podium in the 350cc category, his only good result of the season.
Now regularly present at the highest level, he has made numerous notable appearances since this successful season. Still on Kawasaki, he never misses an opportunity to shine in 250cc, 350cc, but also in 750cc. Despite his already advanced age, his progress is remarkable. In 1980, he reached the summits and finished 3rd in the 350cc championship behind Anton Mang et
Kork Ballington, sorry. In quarter liter, he is third again, proof of his versatility.
Expectations are high for 1981. Now at the very top of the basket, Jean-François does not entertain the field and imposes himself from the start Argentina, confirming its favorite status. Unfortunately, his colleague Anton Mang benefited from better intrinsic speed and won the title with five victories in seven races. Baldé, very consistent, is vice-world champion. In 350cc, same problem. A series of three consecutive retirements excludes him from the title race. He finished 3rd for the second consecutive year, again ahead of Mang.
Jean-François is even sharper in 1982. Very far from the mark in 250cc, he is in the title race in 350cc, and can now compete with the speed of Anton Mang. He won the French Grand Prix at Nogaro, boycotted by the officials, then continued its momentum with two other successes Assen and
Silverstone. But nothing works. Anton Mang, with a single success, wins the overall. Didier de RagiduèsOn Knight, also precedes it.
The Kawasaki driven by Jean-François Baldé and Kork Ballington at the 1979 Bol d'Or. Photo: Matti Blume
The Kawasaki adventure is over. The 350cc category disappears, which pushes Jean-François to enter 250cc riding a Knight with Yamaha engine. The Frenchman surprises the motorcycle world by winning the opening Grand Prix at Kyalami, the first race organized on African soil. A hat trick (pole, best lap in the race and victory) which leaves one wondering about the title chances.
Unfortunately, this is his last Grand Prix success.
Despite impressive speed, results do not follow and, worse, serious ligament injury ends his season. The return is more complicated on Pernod – Yamaha. At age 36 in 1986, he found impressive form on a Honda NSR250 entered by the former world champion Takazumi Katayama. Facing fierce competition, he climbed onto the podium four times and finished 5th overall. Ironically, the 4th is none other than…
Anton Mang.
The rest is much less happy. On the Yamaha-powered Defi, Baldé was relegated to the back of the grid, before retiring at the end of 1989. With five Grand Prix victories, 26 podiums and seven poles, this is one of the finest French records all time. He will be present at the Sunday Ride Classic 2023; don't miss this event on May 6 and 7 at Le Castellet!
Cover photo: SRC
Sunday Ride
May 6 & 7, 2023
Paul Ricard Circuit
Ticket presale: https://www.sundayrideclassic.com/billetterie
Pre-sale rate €18/day instead of €25 and on weekends €22 instead of €30 to see everything!
https://www.sundayrideclassic.com/
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