With sympathy, we report the passing of Bernard Cordonnier, Belgian Trials Champion 1987 on Fantic, former world championship contender and rider of Bultaco; Fantic; SWM & JCM on Saturday 17th December 2016 aged 56 years.

Bernard’s best position was 7th in the 1983 World Championship on an Italian SWM machine.

Former World Trials Champion 1981 and three times French National Champion, Gilles Burgat sent Trials Guru these words in memory of his friend: “On 17th December, the trial family lost a great rider and I lost a great friend. I met Bernard when I was eighteen years of age and he was a little older. This was in 1980 for my first season at the world championships. We rapidly became good friends as we were speaking the same language. Bernard was the most French of the Belgian riders and he was always hanging out with the French riders. He became my team-mate at Fantic Motor a couple years later”.

“He was such a great person and a great rider. We frequently travelled together for the world championships or to go to the SSDT. When we stopped riding, we lost contact but a couple of years ago we met again for a trial classic in the Mont Ventoux in France. He was the same Bernard, always in a good mood and always very nice. Last year he was my team-mate along with Fred Michaud for the 2015 VTC classic trial in Mont Ventoux”.

“This was probably the last time he rode a trial competition. Bernard leaves behind two children. They can be very proud of their Dad. I present my sincere condolences to his family”. – Gilles Burgat

Our sincere condolences go to the Cordonnier family at this difficult time.

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