ICGP – prize giving – CAFE LE VIADUC, PARIS

An animated evening was attended by many ICGP riders and relatives in Paris on February 4th. Eric Saul presented the new calendar for the new 2012 Championship ICGP at the Viaduc Cafe, close to the Bastille in Paris.Each trophy was given whilst a four piece jazz band played in the background. During the evening the magician Didier Gourci entertained everybody with his magic acts, culminating in a magic show at the front.

A slide show of music and photographs from the 2011 season was played out on the giant stone wall at the back of the restaurant. With Jean Claude from the Flying Gaskets making a surprise appearance at the end of the evening, who sang with Georges Asseo on bass, Serge Mosselmans on guitar and Sandrine Dufils on the drums.The minus temperatures of the Paris weather was put aside by the heat of the restaurant and the ICGP troupe enjoying themselves. The three categories of the races were well represented, with the 250 class being won by Yves Hecq who had come with Veronique from Guadeloupe for the occasion, with Veronique assisting the magician on stage and entertaining the room.2nd place went to Eric Saul, and third to Andre Gouin.The fastest category, the 350 class was very anglo french, with Guy Bertin as the overall winner, on a bike prepared by Jean-Paul Mestre.Then in second place the ex-victorious triple TT winner Ian Simpson, and in third place english rookie Christopher Bishop.Finally the Masters category was represented with dignity by the over 55's, but also exceptionally effective bike handling.Guy Bertin took the top position, Walter Hoffman 2nd and Eric Saul 3rd.

Some special trophies were also distributed with great surprise by the recipients, Stuart Melen, Jean-Paul Mestre and Mike Edwards, who's birthday was also celebrated with a surprise 50th birthday cake and a song to accompany the presentation of it to him. The first event of the 2012 Championship will begin as last year in the sun at the prestigious MotoGP circuit of Catalunya in Spain and is scheduled to finish also in the sunshine on the new to ICGP circuit of Motorland Aragon also in Spain, one month after the MotoGP is there.Eric Saul plans to introduce a new sponsor to the series with the champagne producer "Dautel-Cadot" whose prestigious champagne will be presented to all the podium winners in 2012.

The use of Avon tyres for the serie was there CONFIRMED AND ALL RIDERS MUST USE THE AVON TIRES DURING THE WHOLE SEASON The riders now impatient to commence the new season, said farewell to each other with ACDC, Highway to Hell playing in the background and looked forward to new adventures on the european circuits. The new sponsor Dautel-Cadot Champagnes join the existing sponsors of the series: GMM (Yves Hecq), Robert Burns, and the CIC.

Paris prize giving 2011