After the success of the of last year’s exhibition “The 2 time Golden Age” during the 2016 French Motorcycle Grand Prix, Claude Michy, promoter of the French event and Bernard Girardot, president of the “Spirit of Speed” club have re-embarked on the organisation of yet another exhibition during this year’s event “The History of the 500cc from 1949 – 2002”.
A journey in time during the showpiece event A grand exhibition of these legendary motorcycles will be located in the heart of the 2017 Grand Prix commercial village, 25 machines dating over 53 years will be on show together for the very first time.
In addition:
- In the exhibition zone, a group workshop will allow all those present to see what goes on behind the streamlining scenes with the new chassis innovation and prototype engines. During the three days there will be a possibility of a close up view enabling one to listen to the roaring engines whilst they are running.
- possibility of approaching and hearing the roar of these machines which will be put into operation during the 3 days of the event.
The exhibition centrepieces The complete list of the motorbikes exposed will be announced later. However, just to whet your appetite, some bikes already registered are listed below:
- The 1949 Triumph GP from the first GP to the Isle of Man TT,
- Kiyama’s only 1972 Honda CB500R,
- A 1974 MV 500cc – 4, formerly ridden by Phil Read and a 1972 500cc -3 both of which hum their magical, musical engine sounds.
- The 1975 Suzuki XR14, the first win for Barry Sheene was on a 500cc Suzuki RG.
- A 1989 Honda NSR V4, formerly ridden by Eddie Lawson, a top world master machine one of the rare Honda factory bikes which is not in the Motegi Museum.
- The 1986 Yamaha OW81 ridden by Eddie Lawson, a top world master machine.
- Not forgetting the French bikes such as the Fior 500cc – 4, a Kawasaki 500cc – 2 Offenstadt, a 1988 Elf 5 and Patrick Pons & Christian Bourgeois’s Moraco Droulhiole 352.
