Jean-François Baldé

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Jean-François Baldé (born November 29, 1950 in Mulhouse ) is a former French motorcycle racer .

During his exceptionally long career, Baldé competed  in the motorcycle world championship for 17 years - between 1973 and 1989 .

Career

Jean-François Baldé started his playing career in 1968 on a 250- cc - Suzuki . From 1970 he was supported by the Guignabodet racing team, from which he received racing machines.

In 1973 Baldé made his debut on a Kawasaki in the motorcycle world championship with eighth place in the French Grand Prix , which was held in Le Castellet , in the 500 cm class. Until 1977 , the French competed only sporadically in the World Cup. In 1976 he achieved his first podium in the World Championship on a Yamaha with third place in his home race in the 350cc class.

In the 1980 season the most successful period in Jean-François Baldes began career. He was regularly in the top three in both the 250 and 350 cm³ class and finished both championships in third place overall.

In 1981 Baldé achieved the first Grand Prix victory of his career. He won the season opener in Argentina in the 250cc class. In this category, the Frenchman achieved the title of vice world champion behind his Kawasaki brand colleague Toni Mang , who was superior world champion, in the same year the best world championship position of his career. In the 350s he was third behind Toni Mang and the South African Jon Ekerold .

In the 1982 season , Baldé won three 350 Grand Prix. In the first half of the season he led the overall standings, but since he only took part in five of the total of nine races, he again had to give way to Toni Mang and the Belgian Didier de Radiguès in the world championship .

In 1983 Jean-François Baldé achieved the last of his five victories in the World Cup in a Chevallier- Yamaha at the 250cc Grand Prix of South Africa , which helped him once again to eighth place in the quarter-liter class. A mid-season accident in which he tore his ligament and which put him out of action for the rest of the year prevented a better placement.

The French competed in the World Cup until 1989 , but was unable to match the performance of the early 1980s , with the exception of 1986 when he finished fifth in the 250s.

In his career, Jean-François Baldé contested 129 world championship races. He achieved five wins, a total of 26 podium positions, seven pole positions and four fastest laps . He was also able to win the French motorcycle championship three times, once in the endurance category, once in the 250cc and once in the half-liter class.

After the end of his career, Baldé worked, among other things, for a US oil company and as a commentator on the motorcycle World Cup broadcasts on French television.

successes

  • 1981 - 250 cc vice world champion on a Kawasaki
  • 5 Grand Prix victories

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Baldé, Jean-François
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French motorcycle racer
DATE OF BIRTH November 29, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH Mulhouse