Bol d'Or Circuit Paul Ricard 1981

Created by Pierre-André Cousin and François Berthaud for the 1981 Bol d’Or, this original French motorsport poster promotes the famous 24-hour motorcycle endurance race held on September 19 and 20 at the Circuit Paul Ricard. The event had moved to the Le Castellet circuit in 1978, beginning an important period in the history of the Bol d’Or.

The composition brings together several defining moments from the competition. Two Sonauto Yamaha motorcycles in the blue-and-white colors of Gauloises lean dramatically into a corner, while a crowded victory celebration and a rider raising the golden trophy appear on the opposite side. Above them, illuminated roads trace the circuit through the darkness, evoking the challenge of racing throughout the night.

Monumental metallic lettering stretches diagonally across the sky, giving the title Bol d’Or both movement and visual weight. Midnight blue, white, yellow and red dominate the palette, while the motorcycle’s extreme angle creates an immediate sensation of speed. The lower section includes the logos of Radio Monte Carlo, Moto Revue, Total and Ricard, documenting the commercial identity surrounding French motorcycle racing during the early 1980s.

Pierre-André Cousin was a French painter, illustrator and graphic designer whose early career included this important Bol d’Or commission. He later became particularly admired for his aviation imagery, corporate graphics and postage-stamp designs, and was appointed an official Painter of the Air in 2009. His precise draftsmanship and interest in mechanical subjects are already clearly visible in this dynamic composition.

With its panoramic proportions, period racing liveries and unusual combination of competition, celebration and nocturnal atmosphere, this original 1981 poster is particularly appealing to collectors of motorcycle history, Yamaha racing, Circuit Paul Ricard memorabilia and French sporting graphics. It captures both the physical intensity and festive character of one of Europe’s most celebrated endurance races.

Original Poster

Automobile - Sports - Sarthe

Motorcycle Yamaha

S.n.i.l. Paris

Good condition, folds