Mario Lega and Gianfranco Bonera return to Spa-Francorchamps
The Bikers' Classics entry list is getting increasingly interesting for this year's event on the 12th and 13th of June.
Italian Mario Lega and his countryman Franco Bonera are the two latest spectacular additions to the list. Lega was a surprise 250 world champion in 1977 riding a Morbidelli. Up until that year the Italian constructor had only been successful in the 125 class, but Lega presented the factory its first and last 250 title. The fact that outsider Lega beat world champion Walter Villa and his young Harley-Davidson team-mate Franco Uncini was a feat not to be underestimated. At 61 Lega returns to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit where he finished third in his championship year. The Italian will ride a Morbidelli 250 of Team Luciano Battisti. Team owner Battista himself will lap the Ardennes circuit on a wonderfully loud 350/4 Benneli.
Although Gianfranco Bonera never managed to clinch a world title he was a well respected and technical racer in the Seventies. Bonera also proved to be an excellent back up rider capable of winning Grands Prix. He teamed up with Phil Read in the MV Agusta squad in 1974 and finished runner up to Read in the 500 cc championship that year. Two years later he claimed third in the 250 class, sporting the Harley-Davidson colours with legendary Walter Villa. Bonera managed a win and four additional rostrum finishes in the 250 class and then signed for the Gallina/Suzuki Team to ride a 500 two-stroke Suzuki. The Italian allrounder also showed his skills in the F750 championship on a Yamaha, but in Francorchamps he will ride a MV Agusta 500/3. Bonera just might run into his former MV team-mate Read on the track. The Englishman intends to mount one of collector Steve Wheatman's Suzukis.
