Bol d'or
Encyclopedia
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
endurance race, held annually in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Originally, it was an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
as well as motorcycle race. The automobiles were limited to 1100cc engine capacity until the 1950s when the limit was raised to 1500cc, and later to 2000cc. The original organizer was Eugene Mauve.
The race, traditionally taking place on the second weekend of September, lasts for 24 hours and each motorcycle has a team of 3 riders taking turns. The teams originally comprised just 2 riders, with each rider having to do an exhausting 12 hours apiece; but in about 1977 (?), and in the interests of safety, the rules changed to 3 riders per team. Until 1970 the race was held at various circuits, mainly Montlhéry
Montlhéry
Montlhéry is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located from Paris.Inhabitants of Montlhéry are known as Montlhériens.-History:...
and Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
. From 1971-1977 the Bol D'Or was held at Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
. For the next 22 years the event took place at Paul Ricard
Circuit Paul Ricard
The Paul Ricard Circuit is a motorsport race track built at Le Castellet, near Marseille, France, in 1969 with finance from the eccentric drinks magnate Paul Ricard, who created what essentially became Pernod Ricard...
, after which it moved to Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km from Paris...
. The Le Mans Bugatti Circuit is often reckoned to have been the finest venue of the Bol D'Or; and after the race moved south, a successor event was established, the "24 Heures Du Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans (motorcycle race)
The 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto is a motorcycle endurance race held annually since 1978 on the Bugatti Circuit Le Mans, Sarthe, France...
".
24-hour motorcycle endurance racing has a strong Francophone fan-base, with the three main events held in France (Le Mans & Magny-Cours) and French-speaking Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps). Not surprisingly, the most successful teams and riders are French, but there are occasional British successes. In 1992 an all-British team of riders won the race; and British rider Terry Rymer
Terry Rymer
Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer....
has had consistent results. In the 1970s Phil Read
Phil Read
Phillip William Read is an English former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer nicknamed "The Prince of Speed." Although he would often be overshadowed by his contemporary, Mike Hailwood, he would become the first man to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.-Biography:In 1964,...
famously took part; and the Hereford-based Mead & Tomkinson racing
Mead & Tomkinson racing
Mead & Tomkinson was a car and motorcycle dealership in Hereford and Tewkesbury. Three of the Tomkinsons, sons Chris and Patrick, and their father, Mike, successfully built and fielded racing motorcycles. They concentrated on the Isle of Man TT and on 24-hour and 8-hour endurance races at Spa,...
team made an impact with "Nessie", a revolutionary bike with hub-center steering
Hub-center steering
Hub-center steering is one of several different types of front end suspension/steering mechanisms used in motorcycles. Hub-center steering is characterized by a swingarm that extends from the bottom of the engine/frame to the centre of the front wheel instead of two forks.The advantages of using a...
. (Two other motorcycle endurance events are the Suzuka 8-hours and the Thruxton 8-hours).
History
- 1922: clay track located in VaujoursVaujoursVaujours is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris, in the département of Seine-Saint-Denis. Known for its wines and fruit until the end of the 19th century, Vaujours is now one of the world's premier producers of plaster of Paris.-History...
, Clichy-sous-BoisClichy-sous-BoisClichy-sous-Bois is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. The vast majority of its population is made up of Muslims of North African heritage . It is located from the centre of Paris.-Geography:The commune has an area of with of woods...
and Livry-GarganLivry-GarganLivry-Gargan is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Twin towns:Livry-Gargan is twinned with the communities of:* Almuñécar, Spain* Cerveteri, Italy* Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany...
, 5.126 km (3.2 mi) long. One rider per motorcycle. - 1923-1936: Loges track in Saint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
- 1927: FontainebleauFontainebleauFontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
- 1937-1939: Linas-Montlhéry
- 1938-1946: No race
- 1947-1948: Saint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
- 1949-1950: Montlhéry
- 1951: Saint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
- 1952-1960: Montlhéry
- 1961-1968: No race
- 1969-1970: Montlhéry
- 1971-1977: Le MansCircuit de la SartheThe Circuit des 24 Heures, also known as Circuit de la Sarthe, located near Le Mans, France, is a semi-permanent race course most famous as the venue for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. The track uses local roads that remain open to the public most of the year...
- 1978-1999: Paul RicardCircuit Paul RicardThe Paul Ricard Circuit is a motorsport race track built at Le Castellet, near Marseille, France, in 1969 with finance from the eccentric drinks magnate Paul Ricard, who created what essentially became Pernod Ricard...
- 2000- : Magny-CoursCircuit de Nevers Magny-CoursCircuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km from Paris...
The race is part of the a part of the Endurance FIM World Championship. The 2006 edition was the 70th edition of the race.
The race is an opportunity for a giant motorcycle rally, a carnival, a motorcycle show, and other motorcycle related events.
The 2007 race saw Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
's supremacy (with Suzuki GSX-R1000
Suzuki GSX-R1000
The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:...
finishing 1st and 2nd) since 2001 coming to an end with the victory of GMT94 team with the Yamaha R1 and riders David Checa
David Checa
David Checa born on April 20, 1980 in Sant Fruitós de Bages, Barcelona, Spain is the 2004 Endurance World Champion. He then competed for two years in the Superbike World Championship.-Early years:...
, Sébastien Gimbert
Sébastien Gimbert
Sébastien Gimbert is a professional motorcycle road racer. He currently competes in the Superbike World Championship...
and Olivier Four.
Results
| Year | Riders | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 |  Alex Vieira Gérard Coudray Patrick Igoa |
Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... |
| 1986 | Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from France. His best year was in 1986 when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix and finished in third place in the 250cc world championship behind Carlos Lavado and Sito Pons...  Pierre Bolle Jean-Louis Battistini |
Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... |
| 1987 | Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from France. His best year was in 1986 when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix and finished in third place in the 250cc world championship behind Carlos Lavado and Sito Pons... Jean-Michel Mattioli Jean-Louis Battistini |
Honda |
| 1988 | Alex Vieira Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from France. His best year was in 1986 when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix and finished in third place in the 250cc world championship behind Carlos Lavado and Sito Pons... Christophe Bouheben |
Honda |
| 1989 | Alex Vieira Jean-Michel Mattioli Roger Burnett |
Honda |
| 1990 | Alex Vieira Jean-Michel Mattioli Stéphane MertensStéphane Mertens Stéphane Mertens is a Belgian motorcycle road racer.He made his Grand Prix debut in 1984, racing in the 250cc class. He also won the 1984 250cc Belgian Road Racing National Championship. He continued racing in the 250cc Grands Prix in 1985, 1986 and 1987... |
Honda |
| 1991 | Alex Vieira Miguel DuhamelMiguel Duhamel Miguel Duhamel is a Canadian motorcycle racer, the son of Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer Yvon Duhamel. He is the second winningest rider in the AMA Superbike series at 32 wins and most wins in the with AMA SuperSport series... Jean-Louis Battistini |
Kawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa.... |
| 1992 | Terry Rymer Terry Rymer Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer.... Carl FogartyCarl Fogarty Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty is the most successful World Superbike racer of all time in terms of the number of championships and number of race wins... Steve HislopSteve Hislop Steven 'Hizzy' Hislop was a Scottish motorcycle racer. Hislop won the Isle of Man TT eleven times and also the British 250cc Championship and British Superbike championship .... |
Kawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa.... |
| 1993 | Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from France. His best year was in 1986 when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix and finished in third place in the 250cc world championship behind Carlos Lavado and Sito Pons... Jean-Marc Deletang Bruno Bonhuil |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 1994 | Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron Dominique Sarron is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from France. His best year was in 1986 when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix and finished in third place in the 250cc world championship behind Carlos Lavado and Sito Pons... Christian SarronChristian Sarron Christian Sarron is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.He began his career on a Kawasaki when he met French Grand Prix racer Patrick Pons. Pons helped him get his start in the international racing circuit. His first victory came in the rain in the 1977 German Grand Prix...  Yasutomo NagaiYasutomo Nagai was a motorcycle road racer, born in Koshigaya, Japan.Nagai raced in Japan's All-Japan Road Racing Championship for many years, spending seven of them with Yamaha. He was also a member of the 1994 Bol d'or winning Yamaha France team, with Dominique and Christian Sarron.Nagai took two pole positions... |
Yamaha Yamaha Motor Company , is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized... |
| 1995 | Terry Rymer Terry Rymer Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer.... Jean-Louis Battistini Jéhan D'Orgeix |
Kawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa.... |
| 1996 | Alex Vieira William Costes Christian Lavieille |
Honda |
| 1997 | Terry Rymer Terry Rymer Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer.... Brian Morrison Jéhan D'Orgeix |
Kawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa.... |
| 1998 | Terry Rymer Terry Rymer Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer.... Brian Morrison Peter GoddardPeter Goddard (motorcycle racer) Peter Goddard was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He resides in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Riding motorcycles since the age of 5, Goddard started his racing career on dirt tracks before making his debut on road circuits at Oran Park Raceway in 1984.- Dirt Track Racing Career... |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 1999 | Terry Rymer Terry Rymer Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer.... Jéhan D'Orgeix Christian Lavieille |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2000 | Jean-Marc Deletang Fabien Foret Fabien Foret Fabien Foret born in Angoulême, France, is a professional motorcycle racer currently competing in the Supersport World Championship. As of the end of 2008, he has had 24 podium finishes including 11 wins, and 12 pole positions... Mark Willis |
Yamaha Yamaha Motor Company , is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized... |
| 2001 | Brian Morrison Christian Lavieille Laurent Brian |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2002 | Jean-Michel Bayle Jean-Michel Bayle Jean-Michel Bayle is a semi-retired French professional motorcycle racer. He was one of the most successful riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross and road racing.... Sébastien GimbertSébastien Gimbert Sébastien Gimbert is a professional motorcycle road racer. He currently competes in the Superbike World Championship... Nicolas Dussauge |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2003 | Jean-Michel Bayle Jean-Michel Bayle Jean-Michel Bayle is a semi-retired French professional motorcycle racer. He was one of the most successful riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross and road racing.... Sébastien GimbertSébastien Gimbert Sébastien Gimbert is a professional motorcycle road racer. He currently competes in the Superbike World Championship... Nicolas Dussauge |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2004 | Vincent Philippe Keiichi Kitagawa Keiichi Kitagawa is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan. He was runner-up in the 1993 F1 All-Japan Road Racing Championship. He won the Superbike World Championship round at Sugo as a wild card rider for Suzuki. Kitagawa coming 16th in the season's overall standings. He was a semi-regular in the... Matthieu Lagrive |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2005 | Vincent Philippe Keiichi Kitagawa Keiichi Kitagawa is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan. He was runner-up in the 1993 F1 All-Japan Road Racing Championship. He won the Superbike World Championship round at Sugo as a wild card rider for Suzuki. Kitagawa coming 16th in the season's overall standings. He was a semi-regular in the... Matthieu Lagrive |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2006 | Vincent Philippe Keiichi Kitagawa Keiichi Kitagawa is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan. He was runner-up in the 1993 F1 All-Japan Road Racing Championship. He won the Superbike World Championship round at Sugo as a wild card rider for Suzuki. Kitagawa coming 16th in the season's overall standings. He was a semi-regular in the... Matthieu Lagrive |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2007 |  David ChecaDavid Checa David Checa born on April 20, 1980 in Sant Fruitós de Bages, Barcelona, Spain is the 2004 Endurance World Champion. He then competed for two years in the Superbike World Championship.-Early years:... Sébastien GimbertSébastien Gimbert Sébastien Gimbert is a professional motorcycle road racer. He currently competes in the Superbike World Championship... Olivier Four |
Yamaha |
| 2008 | Vincent Philippe Julien Da Costa Matthieu Lagrive |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2009 | Vincent Philippe Freddy Foray Olivier Four |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2010 | Vincent Philippe Freddy Foray Guillaume Dietrich |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
| 2011 | Vincent Philippe Freddy Foray Anthony Delhalle |
Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines... |
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.
External links
- boldor.fr Official website