Easy rider rolls into Saint-Tropez next weekend

Between 10 and 15,000 Harley Davidsons are expected over the course of the festival

Speaking to the RT, Stéphane Sahakian, head of the Harley Owners Group France (HOG) andorganiser of the festival tells us the four day long giant party will not only please Harley fans. The Frenchman fell for the famous American bike about 20 years ago and has been to Saint-Tropez festival since it was created 7 years ago.

Riviera Times: What are you looking forward to most during this weekend?

Stéphane Sahakian: We are expecting a giant party with concerts every evening, especially the Louis Berignac concert on Saturday evening. But there are also exhibitions from Harley vendors and a BMX-Bike-Show on Friday. We are expecting around 2000 bikers for the big parade in and around Saint-Tropez on Saturday afternoon. Personally I’m looking forward to meeting many old friends I have made throughout the years.

RT: Do I need a Harley to take part?

SS: No absolutely not, although normally 90 to 95 per cent of participants will ride a Harley, but all weekend the event is open to everyone with or without a motorcycle.

RT: How many participants do you expect and where do they come from?

SS: Around 10,000 to 15,000 people. Many of them signed up online but you can just turn up and subscribe there and then. People come from all over the world for this, for example USA and Brazil, but mostly they come from Europe. France has the highest number of representatives followed by the UK and then the Eastern European states.

RT: Do you expect any VIPs this year? Rumours are that George Clooney has taken part before…

SS: Not that I know of, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t come!

RT: Are there similar Harley meetings around the world?

SS: Yes of course, but this one in Grimaud is one of the biggest ones. The biggest festival in Europe is the European Bike Week in Austria in September.

RT: What kind of machines can we expect to see next weekend in the gulf of Saint-Tropez?

SS: All that you can image, there old and new ones but the majority are new. Nearly everyone modifies their Harley to their own specifications. This multitude makes the festival and the atmosphere so special.

RT: Do you feel welcome in Saint-Tropez and the surroundings? From time to time people living there say that they feel invaded by all these Harley riders…

SS: We feel very welcome. It is simply a huge party, like a big family get together and all this in the wonderful early summer weather.