1983 French motorcycle Grand Prix

France  1983 French Grand Prix
Race details
Race 2 of 12 races in the
1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Date3 April 1983
Official nameGrand Prix de France[1][2][3]
LocationBugatti Circuit
Course
  • Permanent racing facility
  • 4.240 km (2.635 mi)
500cc
Pole position
Rider United States Kenny Roberts
Time 1:36.800
Fastest lap
Rider United States Freddie Spencer
Time 1:37.500
Podium
First United States Freddie Spencer
Second Italy Marco Lucchinelli
Third United Kingdom Ron Haslam
250cc
Pole position
Rider France Christian Sarron
Time 1:42.970
Fastest lap
Rider United Kingdom Alan Carter
Time 1:43.850
Podium
First United Kingdom Alan Carter
Second Switzerland Jacques Cornu
Third France Thierry Rapicault
125cc
Pole position
Rider Spain Ricardo Tormo
Time 1:51.240
Fastest lap
Rider Italy Pierluigi Aldrovandi
Time 2:00.250
Podium
First Spain Ricardo Tormo
Second France Jean-Claude Selini
Third Italy Maurizio Vitali
50cc
Pole position
Rider Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger
Fastest lap
Rider Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger
Podium
First Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger
Second Italy Eugenio Lazzarini
Third West Germany Hagen Klein
Sidecar (B2A)
Pole position
Rider Switzerland Rolf Biland
Fastest lap
Rider Switzerland Rolf Biland
Podium
First Switzerland Rolf Biland
Second United Kingdom Mick Barton
Third West Germany Werner Schwärzel

The 1983 French motorcycle Grand Prix was the second round of the 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 2–3 April 1983 at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans.

This race was remembered for two fatal accidents that occurred over the weekend in the 500cc class. The first occurred during Friday practice when Italian rider Loris Reggiani collided with Japanese rider Iwao Ishikawa. Ishikawa died shortly after from severe injuries.[4] In the race itself, defending winner Michel Frutschi crashed heavily and was taken to hospital, but later died.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ "Grand Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden 1983". 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Malcolm. "1983 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes - The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  3. ^ Mitchell, Malcolm. "Le Mans - The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Second Le Mans death". The Glasgow Herald. 4 April 1983. p. 16.
  5. ^ "Michel Frutschi career profile". ozebook.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Motorcycle Racing Memorium". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 5 December 2012.