1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

1977 F.I.M. Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
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The 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 29th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.

Contents

Season summary

Suzuki saw off a strong challenge from Yamaha to take their second consecutive 500cc crown. Angel Nieto made it three 50cc titles in a row on a Bultaco while Morbidelli would win an impressive double world championship in the 125cc and 250cc divisions. Pier Paolo Bianchi successfully defended his 125cc title while fellow countryman Mario Lega captured the 250cc championship for the tiny Italian concern. The 350cc crown went to Takazumi Katayama on a factory Yamaha, making him the first-ever Japanese world champion. Barry Sheene made it two premier titles in a row, winning from two Americans, Steve Baker and Pat Hennen.[1]

The season was marred by a terrible crash at the 350cc Austrian Grand Prix that claimed the life of Swiss rider, Hans Stadelmann and seriously injuring Johnny Cecotto, Patrick Fernandez, Dieter Braun and Franco Uncini.[1][2] The accident led to a rider's strike in the 500 class, although organizers pressed on with Jack Findlay winning from a reduced field of competitors.[3] Despite finishing second and winning the Formula 750 title, Baker would be released by Yamaha at the end of the year. Giacomo Agostini would retire after the season, ending his seventeen year career with a record 122 Grand Prix victories and 15 World Championships.[1]

Grands Prix

Round Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report
1 Venezuelan Grand Prix San Carlos Angel Nieto Walter Villa Johnny Cecotto Barry Sheene Report
2 Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Eugenio Lazzarini Jack Findlay Report
3 German Grand Prix Hockenheim Herbert Rittberger Pier Paolo Bianchi Christian Sarron Takazumi Katayama Barry Sheene Report
4 Nations Grand Prix Imola Eugenio Lazzarini Pier Paolo Bianchi Franco Uncini Alan North Barry Sheene Report
5 Spanish Grand Prix Jarama Angel Nieto Pier Paolo Bianchi Takazumi Katayama Michel Rougerie Report
6 French Grand Prix Paul Ricard Pier Paolo Bianchi Jon Ekerold Takazumi Katayama Barry Sheene Report
7 Yugoslavian Grand Prix Opatija Angel Nieto Pier Paolo Bianchi Mario Lega Takazumi Katayama Report
8 Dutch TT Assen Angel Nieto Angel Nieto Mick Grant Kork Ballington Wil Hartog Report
9 Belgian Grand Prix Spa Eugenio Lazzarini Pier Paolo Bianchi Walter Villa Report
10 Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp Ricardo Tormo Angel Nieto Mick Grant Takazumi Katayama Barry Sheene Report
11 Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Pier Paolo Bianchi Walter Villa Takazumi Katayama Johnny Cecotto Report
12 Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Brno Franco Uncini Johnny Cecotto Johnny Cecotto Report
13 British Grand Prix Silverstone Pierluigi Conforti Kork Ballington Kork Ballington Pat Hennen Report

Final standings

500cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Barry Sheene 1 United Kingdom Suzuki 107 6
2 Steve Baker 32 United States Yamaha 80 0
3 Pat Hennen 40 United States Suzuki 67 1
4 Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Yamaha 50 2
5 Steve Parrish United Kingdom Suzuki 39 0
6 Giacomo Agostini 7 Italy Yamaha 37 0
7 Franco Bonera Italy Suzuki 37 0
8 Philippe Coulon 6 Switzerland Suzuki 36 0
9 Teuvo Lansivuori 2 Finland Suzuki 35 0
10 Wil Hartog Netherlands Suzuki 30 1

350cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Takazumi Katayama 7 Japan Yamaha 95 5
2 Tom Herron 4 United Kingdom Yamaha 56 0
3 Jon Ekerold South Africa Yamaha 54 0
4 Michel Rougerie France Yamaha 50 1
5 Kork Ballington South Africa Yamaha 46 2
6 Olivier Chevallier 9 France Yamaha 39 0
7 Christian Sarron France Yamaha 38 0
8 Patrick Fernandez France Yamaha 34 0
9 Johnny Cecotto 2 Venezuela Yamaha 30 2
10 Alan North South Africa Yamaha 30 1

250cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Mario Lega Italy Morbidelli 85 1
2 Franco Uncini Italy Harley-Davidson 72 2
3 Walter Villa 1 Italy Harley-Davidson 67 3
4 Takazumi Katayama Japan Yamaha 58 1
5 Tom Herron 4 United Kingdom Yamaha 54 0
6 Kork Ballington South Africa Yamaha 49 1
7 Alan North 6 South Africa Yamaha 43 0
8 Mick Grant United Kingdom Kawasaki 42 2
9 Jon Ekerold South Africa Yamaha 42 1
10 Patrick Fernandez France Yamaha 28 0

125cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Pier Paolo Bianchi 1 Italy Morbidelli 131 7
2 Eugenio Lazzarini 7 Italy Morbidelli 105 1
3 Angel Nieto 2 Spain Bultaco 80 3
4 Jean-Louis Guignabodet 6 France Morbidelli 62 0
5 Anton Mang 5 West Germany Morbidelli 55 0
6 Gert Bender West Germany Bender 38 0
7 Harald Bartol Austria Morbidelli 32 0
8 Hans Müller Switzerland Morbidelli 32 0
9 Stefan Dörflinger Switzerland Morbidelli 32 0
10 Pierluigi Conforti Italy Morbidelli 30 1

50cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Angel Nieto 1 Spain Bultaco 87 3
2 Eugenio Lazzarini 4 Italy Kreidler 72 2
3 Ricardo Tormo Spain Bultaco 69 1
4 Herbert Rittberger 2 West Germany Kreidler 53 1
5 Patrick Plisson France ABF 26 0
6 Stefan Dörflinger 7 Switzerland Kreidler 26 0
7 Jean-Louis Guignabodet France Morbidelli 14 0
8 Hans Hummel 9 Austria Kreidler 11 0
9 Julien van Zeebroeck 6 Belgium Kreidler 10 0
10 Ramon Gali Spain Derbi 10 0

References

  1. ^ a b c Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1874557837 
  2. ^ "Cyclist Killed In Prix Race". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press: p. 2. 2 May 1977. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2MUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6xEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4828,101306&dq=johnny+cecotto&hl=en. Retrieved 4 December 2011. 
  3. ^ Hans Stadelmann at Motorsport Memorial
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