1949 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix explained

Grand Prix:Belgian
Flag:Belgium
Location:Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Course Mi:8.774
Course Km:14.120
Race No:4
Season No:6
Date:17 July
Year:1949
Fast Rider 500:Arciso Artesiani
Fast Rider 500 Country:Italy
Fast Rider 500 Bike:Gilera
Fast Time 500:96.3mph
First Rider 500:Bill Doran
First Rider 500 Country:United Kingdom
First Rider 500 Bike:AJS
Second Rider 500:Arciso Artesiani
Second Rider 500 Country:Italy
Second Rider 500 Bike:Gilera
Third Rider 500:Enrico Lorenzetti
Third Rider 500 Country:Italy
Third Rider 500 Bike:Moto Guzzi
Fast Rider 350:Freddie Frith
Bob Foster
Fast Rider 350 Country:UK
Fast Rider 350 Bike:Velocette
Velocette
Fast Time 350:90.8mph
First Rider 350:Freddie Frith
First Rider 350 Country:United Kingdom
First Rider 350 Bike:Velocette
Second Rider 350:Bob Foster
Second Rider 350 Country:United Kingdom
Second Rider 350 Bike:Velocette
Third Rider 350:Johnny Lockett
Third Rider 350 Country:United Kingdom
Third Rider 350 Bike:Norton
Fast Rider Sidecar:Eric Oliver
Fast Rider Sidecar Country:UK
Fast Rider Sidecar Bike:Norton
Fast Passenger Sidecar:Denis Jenkinson
Fast Passenger Sidecar Country:UK
First Rider Sidecar:Eric Oliver
First Rider Sidecar Country:United Kingdom
First Passenger Sidecar:Denis Jenkinson
First Passenger Sidecar Country:United Kingdom
First Rider Sidecar Bike:Norton
Second Rider Sidecar:Frans Vanderschrick
Second Rider Sidecar Country:Belgium
Second Passenger Sidecar:Martin Whitney
Second Passenger Sidecar Country:United Kingdom
Second Rider Sidecar Bike:Norton
Third Rider Sidecar:Ernesto Merlo
Third Rider Sidecar Country:Italy
Third Passenger Sidecar:Aldo Veglio
Third Passenger Sidecar Country:Italy
Third Rider Sidecar Bike:Gilera

The 1949 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth round of the 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

British rider Bill Doran won the 500cc race riding his AJS from Arciso Artesiani and Enrico Lorenzetti.

By winning their second race of the 600 cc Sidecar of the season British Norton rider Eric Oliver and his swinger Denis Jenkinson wrapped up the first Sidecar championship before the third and final round to be held at the Nations Grand Prix. In the same race, Belgian sidecar rider Edouard Bruylant and his British passenger known as "Hurst" were killed.

500 cc classification

PosRiderManufacturerTimePoints
1 Bill DoranAJS1:19:56.010
2 Arciso ArtesianiGilera+0.29
3 Enrico LorenzettiMoto Guzzi+1.37
4 Artie BellNorton+50.06
5 Nello PaganiGilera+1:08.05
6 Guido LeoniMoto Guzzi+1:14.0
7 Harold DaniellNorton
8 George MorrisonNorton
9 Syd JensenTriumph
10 Ken BillsVelocette
16 finishers
[1] [2]

350 cc classification

PosRiderManufacturerTimePoints
1 Freddie FrithVelocette1h 06m 14s10.5
2 Bob FosterVelocette+16s8.5
3 Johnny LockettNorton+33s7
4 David WhitworthVelocette+1m 39s6
5 Eric McPhersonAJS+2m 01s5
6 Reg ArmstrongAJS+2m 01s
7 Eric OliverVelocette
8 Enrico LorenzettiMoto Guzzi
9 Louis van RijswijkVelocette
10 Tommy WoodVelocette
22 finishers
[3]

Sidecar Classification

PosRiderPassengerManufacturerTimePoints
1 Eric Oliver Denis JenkinsonNorton50m 07s11
2 Frans Vanderschrick Martin WhitneyNorton+25s8
3 Ernesto Merlo Dino MagriGilera+1m 33s7
4 Roland Benz Max HirzelBMW+1m 54s6
5 Pip Harris Neil SmithNorton+2m 31s5
6 Raymond Rorsvort Louis van LeemputBMW+4m 33s
7 Alphonse Vervroegen ?FN
8 Jean Debotze ?Norton
8 finishers
[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bula, Maurice . Grand Prix Motorcycle Championships of the World . Haynes Publications Inc. . 1949–500 cc . y . 0-85429-208-X.
  2. Book: The Racing Year . Davison, G. S. . 1950 . W. W. Curtis, Ltd. . 52–57.
  3. Book: Bula, Maurice . Grand Prix Motorcycle Championships of the World . Haynes Publications Inc. . 1949–350 cc . y . 0-85429-208-X.
  4. Book: Bula, Maurice . Grand Prix Motorcycle Championships of the World . Haynes Publications Inc. . Championnat du monde de side-cars 1949 . y . 0-85429-208-X.