Bol d'Or

The Bol d’Or is a 24-hour motorcycle endurance race, held annually in France. The riding of each bike is now shared by a team of three riders.

For the endurance bicycle race, see Bol d'Or cycle race.
24 hours of endurance racing on a tough track: the 'Bol d’Or'

History

The Bol d’Or, first organized by Eugene Mauve, in 1922, was a race for motorcycles, and automobiles limited to 1100cc engine capacity (in the 1950s the limit was raised to 1500cc, and later to 2000cc). Today, the Bol d’Or is exclusively a race for motorcycles, although there are a number of side "attractions", such as races for amateur riders and for classic bikes.[1][2]

Prior to 1953 only one rider per machine was permitted. The record holder with seven victories, Frenchman Gustave Lefèvre, won with an average speed of 107 kilometers/hour riding his Norton Manx for the whole 24 hours.[3] From 1954 to 1977 the teams comprised two riders, and then, in the interests of safety, this was increased to three.

Until 1970 the race was held at various circuits, mainly Linas-Montlhéry and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. From 1971 to 1977 the Bol d’Or was held at the permanent Le Mans Bugatti circuit, which excludes the temporary street circuit section, exiting before the Tertre Rouge esses and rejoining at the Ford Chicane, excluding the section from the Tertre Rouge, Mulsanne, and Porsche Curves. For the next 22 years the event took place at Paul Ricard, after which it moved to Magny-Cours. When the race left Le Mans the 24 Heures du Mans was established, so that when the Bol d'Or returned to Le Mans, there were for a time two annual 24-hour motorcycle endurance events on the Bugatti circuit. Until 2015, the Bol d’Or was held in the spring, while the 24 Heures du Mans was in the early September slot formerly used by the Bol d’Or. In 2016 things changed again: the "24 Heures du Mans" moved to the spring, while the Bol d’Or moved to Circuit Paul Ricard In September.[4]

24-hour motorcycle endurance racing has a strong Francophone base, with the three main events held in France (Le Mans & Magny-Cours) and French-speaking Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps), and the most successful teams and riders are French. In 1970, 1971 and 1992 all-British teams of riders won the races. British rider Terry Rymer has had consistent results. In the 1970s the competitors included Phil Read and Neil Tuxworth, who later headed Honda Racing UK. On occasion, the Mead & Tomkinson racing team fielded "Nessie", a revolutionary bike with hub-center steering.[5]

Circuits

The race is part of the Endurance FIM World Championship. The 2016 edition was the 80th edition of the race.

The race is accompanied by a motorcycle rally, carnival and other motorcycle related events.

Results
Rider 1 Rider 2 Rider 3 Manufacturer
1922 Tony Zind--Motosacoche
1923 Tony Zind--Motosacoche
1924 René Francisquet--Sunbeam
1925 René Francisquet--Sunbeam
1926 Damitio--Sunbeam
1927 Lempereur--FN Herstal
1928 Victor Vroonen--Gillet Herstal
1929 Victor Vroonen--Gillet Herstal
1930 Paul Debaisieux--Monet-Goyon
1931 Patural--Velocette
1932 Louis Jeannin--Jonghi
1933 René Boura--Velocette
1934 Willing--Velocette
1935 René Boura--Norton
1936 Edgar Craët--Gillet Herstal
1937 Tabart--Norton
1938 Robert Tinoco--Harley-Davidson
1939 Edouard Hordelalay--Motobécane
1940 - 1946: not held - World War II
1947 Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1948 Jacques Lenglet--BMW
1949 Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1950 Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1951 Gustave Lefèvre--Norton Manx
1952 Pierre Collignon--Moto Guzzi
1953 Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1954 Johann Weingartmann Helmut Volzwinkler-Puch
1955 Oldrich Hameršmid Saša Klimt-Jawa
1956 Gustave Lefèvre Georges Briand-Norton
1957 Gustave Lefèvre Georges Briand-Norton
1958 Inizan Mutel-Triumph Engineering
1959 Jean-Claude Bargetzi Georges Briand-Norton
1960 René Maucherat René Vasseur-BMW
1961 - 1968: Not held
1969 Michel Rougerie Daniel UrdichHonda
1970 Tom Dickie Paul Smart-Triumph Trident
1971 Percy Tait Ray Pickrell-Triumph Engineering
1972 Gérard Debrock Roger Ruiz-Honda
1973 Gérard Debrock Thierry Tchernine-Honda
1974 Alain Genoud Georges Godier-Kawasaki
1975 Alain Genoud Georges Godier-Kawasaki
1976 Alex George Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1977 Christian Léon Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1978 Christian Léon Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1979 Christian Léon Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1980 Pierre-Étienne Samin Frank Gross-Suzuki
1981 Dominique Sarron Jean-Claude Jaubert-Honda
1982 Jean Lafond Hervé Guilleux Patrick IgoaKawasaki
1983 Dominique Sarron Raymond Roche Guy BertinHonda
1984 Jean-Pierre Oudin Patrick de Radiguès-Suzuki
1985 Alex Vieira Gérard Coudray Patrick IgoaHonda
1986 Dominique Sarron Pierre Bolle Jean-Louis BattistiniHonda
1987 Dominique Sarron Jean-Michel Mattioli Jean-Louis BattistiniHonda
1988 Alex Vieira Dominique Sarron Christophe BouhebenHonda
1989 Alex Vieira Jean-Michel Mattioli Roger BurnettHonda
1990 Alex Vieira Jean-Michel Mattioli Stéphane MertensHonda
1991 Alex Vieira Miguel Duhamel Jean-Louis BattistiniKawasaki
1992 Terry Rymer Carl Fogarty Steve HislopKawasaki
1993 Dominique Sarron Jean-Marc Deletang Bruno BonhuilSuzuki
1994 Dominique Sarron Christian Sarron Yasutomo NagaiYamaha
1995 Terry Rymer Jean-Louis Battistini Jéhan D'OrgeixKawasaki
1996 Alex Vieira William Costes Christian LavieilleHonda
1997 Terry Rymer Brian Morrison Jéhan D'OrgeixKawasaki
1998 Terry Rymer Brian Morrison Peter GoddardSuzuki
1999 Terry Rymer Jéhan D'Orgeix Christian LavieilleSuzuki
2000 Jean-Marc Deletang Fabien Foret Mark WillisYamaha
2001 Brian Morrison Christian Lavieille Laurent BrianSuzuki
2002 Jean-Michel Bayle Sébastien Gimbert Nicolas DussaugeSuzuki
2003 Jean-Michel Bayle Sébastien Gimbert Nicolas DussaugeSuzuki
2004 Vincent Philippe Keiichi Kitagawa Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2005 Vincent Philippe Keiichi Kitagawa Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2006 Vincent Philippe Keiichi Kitagawa Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2007 David Checa Sébastien Gimbert Olivier FourYamaha
2008 Vincent Philippe Julien Da Costa Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2009 Vincent Philippe Freddy Foray Olivier FourSuzuki
2010 Vincent Philippe Guillaume Dietrich Freddy ForaySuzuki
2011 Vincent Philippe Freddy Foray Anthony DelhalleSuzuki
2012 Julien Da Costa Gregory Leblanc Olivier FourKawasaki
2013 Jeremy Guarnoni Gregory Leblanc Loris BazKawasaki
2014 Gregory Leblanc Matthieu Lagrive Nicolas SalchaudKawasaki
2015 Gregory Leblanc Matthieu Lagrive Fabien ForetKawasaki SRC
2016 Anthony Delhalle Vincent Philippe Étienne MassonSuzuki
2017 David Checa Niccolò Canepa Mike Di MeglioYamaha
2018 Freddy Foray Josh Hook Mike Di MeglioHonda
2019 Vincent Philippe Étienne Masson Gregg BlackSuzuki
Manufacturer No. of Wins Wins
Honda172018,1996,1990,1989,1988,1987,1986,1985,1983,1981,1979,1978,1977,1976,1973,1972,1969
Suzuki172019,2016,2011,2010,2009,2008,2006,2005,2004,2003,2002,2001,1999,1998,1993,1984,1980
Kawasaki112015,2014,2013,2012,1997,1995,1992,1991,1982,1975,1974
Norton91959,1957,1956,1953,1949,1950,1947,1937,1935
Gillet Herstal41936,1929,1928,1927
Yamaha42017,2007,2000,1994
Triumph31971,1970,1958
Velocette31934,1933,1931
Sunbeam31926,1925,1924
Motosacoche21923,1922
BMW21948,1960
Harley-Davidson11938
Monet-Goyon11930
Motobecane11939
Moto Guzzi11952
Jawa11955
Puch11954
Jonghi11932

Side races
  • La Tasse d'or (the golden cup), reserved for motorcycle of less than 50cc (known as the coffee cup: "tasses à café")
  • Le Bol d’Or classic (the classic golden bowl): reserved for classic motorcycles
  • Le Bol d'argent (the silver bowl): amateur competition taking place before main competition.

References
  1. Eugene Mauve was the president of a French Club, Association motocyclecariste de France, but also a driver. After, Maurice Vimont managed the race for motorcycles : Marcel Delaherche and Luc Melua were technical marshals. Today, if the AMCF Club is always existing, Larivière Editions leads the manifestation.
  2. "Bol d'Or site". Archived from the original on 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  3. The winners of Bol d’Or.
  4. "Bol d'Or site". Archived from the original on 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  5. Bonham's

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