Locations change, years are passing, but what remains the same: 30,000 spectators and 900 bikes registered of every factory and age for riding this track.
The Coupes Moto Legende was held on 22/23 May and had reached its 12° edition. Also this year the event has not disappointed the expectations, despite having moved from the historical circuit of Monthléry, at the outskirts of Paris, to the more modern race track of Dijon-Prenois, in the Borgogne.
There were not as many real big names present as in previous years, when Agostini, Roberts and Sheene were present (although Phil Read, Tuevo Länsivuori, Christian Sarron, Kent Anderson and others were there), but this has not prevented the public from arriving in mass, which was a sign of true passion.
Dijon is a modern circuit: built in the early 70ies, perfect tarmac, going up and down the Borgogne hills, with a long straight, where Arnoux and Villenevue had a 'car to car' fight for 3 laps in 1979…. a true track indeed!!!
Difficult to make a comparison with Monthléry, that for sure with its rich history brought back great memories with his high banking, but technically and facility-wise it was getting very old.
As in the last four years, the Laverda Corse team brought several Laverda racers to this event (500 Endurance 1979, 600 TT2, 1000 RGS TT1, 1000 V6) driven in the track by Piero and Giovanni Laverda, Augusto Brettoni, Fernando Cappellotto, Simone Vianello Laverda (cousin of Giovanni), Giuliano Cogo and Marnix van der Schalk (on a "singing" 750 SFC Elettronica), also joined by Massimo Borghesi (Laverda Club Italia president) with his 1976 SFC.
In the paddock the always present Laverda France Club could also be found, and it was possible to admire many other "oranges", between which large group of "Laverdisti" from Tuscany, the Swiss Christian Meier (collector) with a special 1000 and the Dutch Gijs van Dijk with one of three existing 1000 Endurance "Space frame" racers.
During all of the weekend it was very crowded in front of the Laverda pit box. Next door, the MV Agustas of the Italian team Elly could be admired, as could the three Honda 350cc 6 cylinders replica built by Gorge Beale : so… in three boxes some like 50 cylinders could be counted! Incredible, what a sound, what music!!
Friday did not promise much good with continuous rain in the afternoon, but already on Saturday morning the sky was clear, with a light wind. There was very much a "once upon a time "GP atmosphere (like being in a time machine with a 30 years jump in the past), and it's exactly this atmosphere that makes the French meeting unique, where the public is allowed to come in the paddock, to "touch" the racing bikes with their hands and to meet the riders personally.
There were 12 categories, with track sessions of 20 minutes each; naturally the 70's bikes classes were literally invaded by Breganze's motorcycles. All in all it was a very successful meeting , that seems to be destined to repeat itself for many years.