1. GV PAN Riders running to motorcycles, start of race 0.21
2. GV PAN Riders around bend, down home straight 0.40
3. CU Riders negotiating bend 0.43
4. GV PAN Riders on home straight 0.50
5. GV PAN Winner surrounded by spectators running on track at finish 1.10
6. GV Frenchmen Dominique Sharron and Jean Claude Jaubert celebrate 1.22
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SPORT: MOTORCYCLINGCHECK COMMERCIAL ACCESS WITH SPORTS EDITOR
Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CASTELLET, FRANCE

INTRODUCTION: Two Frenchmen riding Hondas won one of the world's toughest motorcycle races on home soil last Sunday (20 September). The race was the 45th Bol d'Or on the famous Castellet Paul-Ricard circuit in France, a test of endurance over 24 hours for riders and their machines.

SYNOPSIS: A total of 72 teams were in at the stampede start of this classic in the motorcycle racing calendar. And favourites were the Kawasaki riders, who have dominated races this season to convincingly win the official world championships.

Honours in the early stages went to the United States duo Mike Baldwyn and Dave Aldana. They led for most of Saturday night. But a fall and mechanical trouble saw them overtaken in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Through the field came France's Dominique Sarron and Jean Claude Jaubert to lead as the lap totals built up.

At the end they had completed 610 laps at an average speed of 147-point-75 kilometres per hour. In second place was another French pair, Christian Berthod and Jean Monin on a Kawasaki.

As the champagne flowed, Honda reflected happily on their decision a few weeks back to change their team completely after a string of poor results.

Source: REUTERS - HUBERT PIERNET