24 hours of endurance racing on a tough track: the 'Bol d’Or'

The Bol d’Or is a 24-hour endurance race for motorcycles, held annually in France. The race is part of the FIM Endurance World Championship. The riding of each bike is now shared by a team of three riders.

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.[2]

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.[4]

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
1922Switzerland Tony Zind--Motosacoche
1923Switzerland Tony Zind--Motosacoche
1924France René Francisquet--Sunbeam
1925France René Francisquet--Sunbeam
1926France Damitio--Sunbeam
1927Belgium Lempereur--FN Herstal
1928Belgium Victor Vroonen--Gillet Herstal
1929Belgium Victor Vroonen--Gillet Herstal
1930France Paul Debaisieux--Monet-Goyon
1931France Patural--Velocette
1932France Louis Jeannin--Jonghi
1933France René Boura--Velocette
1934France Willing--Velocette
1935France René Boura--Norton
1936Belgium Edgar Craët--Gillet Herstal
1937France Tabart--Norton
1938France Robert Tinoco--Harley-Davidson
1939France Edouard Hordelalay--Motobécane
1940 - 1946: not held - World War II
1947France Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1948France Jacques Lenglet--BMW
1949France Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1950France Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1951France Gustave Lefèvre--Norton Manx
1952France Pierre Collignon--Moto Guzzi
1953France Gustave Lefèvre--Norton
1954Austria Johann WeingartmannAustria Helmut Volzwinkler-Puch
1955Czech Republic Oldrich HameršmidCzech Republic Saša Klimt-Jawa
1956France Gustave LefèvreFrance Georges Briand-Norton
1957France Gustave LefèvreFrance Georges Briand-Norton
1958France InizanFrance Mutel-Triumph Engineering
1959France Jean-Claude BargetziFrance Georges Briand-Norton
1960France René MaucheratFrance René Vasseur-BMW
1961 - 1968: Not held
1969France Michel RougerieFrance Daniel UrdichHonda
1970United Kingdom Tom DickieUnited Kingdom Paul Smart-Triumph Trident
1971United Kingdom Percy TaitUnited Kingdom Ray Pickrell-Triumph Engineering
1972France Gérard DebrockFrance Roger Ruiz-Honda
1973France Gérard DebrockFrance Thierry Tchernine-Honda
1974France Alain GenoudFrance Georges Godier-Kawasaki
1975France Alain GenoudFrance Georges Godier-Kawasaki
1976United Kingdom Alex GeorgeFrance Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1977France Christian LéonFrance Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1978France Christian LéonFrance Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1979France Christian LéonFrance Jean-Claude Chemarin-Honda
1980France Pierre-Étienne SaminFrance Frank Gross-Suzuki
1981France Dominique SarronFrance Jean-Claude Jaubert-Honda
1982France Jean LafondFrance Hervé GuilleuxFrance Patrick IgoaKawasaki
1983France Dominique SarronFrance Raymond RocheFrance Guy BertinHonda
1984France Jean-Pierre OudinBelgium Patrick de Radiguès-Suzuki
1985France Alex VieiraFrance Gérard CoudrayFrance Patrick IgoaHonda
1986France Dominique SarronSwitzerland Pierre BolleFrance Jean-Louis BattistiniHonda
1987France Dominique SarronFrance Jean-Michel MattioliFrance Jean-Louis BattistiniHonda
1988France Alex VieiraFrance Dominique SarronFrance Christophe BouhebenHonda
1989France Alex VieiraFrance Jean-Michel MattioliUnited Kingdom Roger BurnettHonda
1990France Alex VieiraFrance Jean-Michel MattioliBelgium Stéphane MertensHonda
1991France Alex VieiraCanada Miguel DuhamelFrance Jean-Louis BattistiniKawasaki
1992United Kingdom Terry RymerUnited Kingdom Carl FogartyUnited Kingdom Steve HislopKawasaki
1993France Dominique SarronFrance Jean-Marc DeletangFrance Bruno BonhuilSuzuki
1994France Dominique SarronFrance Christian SarronJapan Yasutomo NagaiYamaha
1995United Kingdom Terry RymerFrance Jean-Louis BattistiniFrance Jéhan D'OrgeixKawasaki
1996France Alex VieiraFrance William CostesFrance Christian LavieilleHonda
1997United Kingdom Terry RymerUnited Kingdom Brian MorrisonFrance Jéhan D'OrgeixKawasaki
1998United Kingdom Terry RymerUnited Kingdom Brian MorrisonAustralia Peter GoddardSuzuki
1999United Kingdom Terry RymerFrance Jéhan D'OrgeixFrance Christian LavieilleSuzuki
2000France Jean-Marc DeletangFrance Fabien ForetAustralia Mark WillisYamaha
2001United Kingdom Brian MorrisonFrance Christian LavieilleFrance Laurent BrianSuzuki
2002France Jean-Michel BayleFrance Sébastien GimbertFrance Nicolas DussaugeSuzuki
2003France Jean-Michel BayleFrance Sébastien GimbertFrance Nicolas DussaugeSuzuki
2004France Vincent PhilippeJapan Keiichi KitagawaFrance Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2005France Vincent PhilippeJapan Keiichi KitagawaFrance Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2006France Vincent PhilippeJapan Keiichi KitagawaFrance Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2007Spain David ChecaFrance Sébastien GimbertFrance Olivier FourYamaha
2008France Vincent PhilippeFrance Julien Da CostaFrance Matthieu LagriveSuzuki
2009France Vincent PhilippeFrance Freddy ForayFrance Olivier FourSuzuki
2010France Vincent PhilippeFrance Guillaume DietrichFrance Freddy ForaySuzuki
2011France Vincent PhilippeFrance Freddy ForayFrance Anthony DelhalleSuzuki
2012France Julien Da CostaFrance Gregory LeblancFrance Olivier FourKawasaki
2013France Jeremy GuarnoniFrance Gregory LeblancFrance Loris BazKawasaki
2014France Gregory LeblancFrance Matthieu LagriveFrance Nicolas SalchaudKawasaki
2015France Gregory LeblancFrance Matthieu LagriveFrance Fabien ForetKawasaki SRC
2016France Anthony DelhalleFrance Vincent PhilippeFrance Étienne MassonSuzuki
2017Spain David ChecaItaly Niccolò CanepaFrance Mike Di MeglioYamaha
2018France Freddy ForayAustralia Josh HookFrance Mike Di MeglioHonda
2019France Vincent PhilippeFrance Étienne MassonFrance Gregg BlackSuzuki
2020: not held - COVID-19 pandemic
2021France Gregg BlackBelgium Xavier SimeonFrance Sylvain GuintoliSuzuki
2022Germany Florian AltFrance Erwan NigonSouth Africa Steven OdendaalYamaha
2023France Gregg BlackFrance Sylvain GuintoliFrance Etienne MassonSuzuki
Manufacturer No. of Wins Wins
Suzuki191980, 1984, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023
Honda171969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2018
Kawasaki111974, 1975, 1982, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Norton91935, 1937, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959
Yamaha51994, 2000, 2007, 2017, 2022
Gillet Herstal41927, 1928, 1929, 1936
Triumph31958, 1970, 1971
Velocette31931, 1933, 1934
Sunbeam31924, 1925, 1926
Motosacoche21922, 1923
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. 1 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. ↑ Bonham's

46°51′48″N 3°09′57″E / 46.86333°N 3.16583°E / 46.86333; 3.16583

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