1978 FIM Motocross World Championship

1978 Motocross World Championship
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The 1978 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 22nd F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.

Summary

Heikki Mikkola successfully defended his 500cc world championship for Yamaha, finishing ahead of Honda's Brad Lackey. Mikkola dominated the season with 14 moto victories in 24 outings. Roger De Coster had a serious accident during pre-season training and ended up having his spleen removed but, recovered to finish the season in third place.[1]

Guennady Moisseev was also successful in defending his title despite a strong challenge from Kawasaki's Torleif Hansen. In the 125cc championship, Akira Watanabe ended the three-year reign of his Suzuki teammate, Gaston Rahier. Watanabe's championship marks the first and only motocross world championship for a Japanese competitor. Gérard Rond won four Grand Prix overall victories for Yamaha and finished in third place, one point behind Rahier.

Grands Prix

500cc[2][3]

Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 April 9 Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Payerne Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
2 April 16 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Sittendorf United States Brad Lackey Belgium Roger De Coster United States Brad Lackey Report
3 April 30 France French Grand Prix Gaillefontaine United States Brad Lackey Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
4 May 7 Denmark Danish Grand Prix Næstved Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
5 May 21 Finland Finnish Grand Prix Ruskeasanta Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
6 May 28 Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Västerås Germany Herbert Schmitz Finland Heikki Mikkola Belgium Roger De Coster Report
7 June 4 United States United States Grand Prix Carlsbad Germany Herbert Schmitz Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
8 June 11 Italy Italian Grand Prix Gallarate United States Brad Lackey Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
9 July 2 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Farleigh Castle Finland Heikki Mikkola United States Brad Lackey United States Brad Lackey Report
10 August 6 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Namur Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
11 August 13 Luxembourg Luxembourg Grand Prix Ettelbruck Belgium Roger De Coster Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
12 August 27 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Sint Anthonis Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Report

250cc[4]

Round Date Grand Prix Location Winner Team Report
1 April 9 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Sabadell Belgium Harry Everts Bultaco Report
2 May 7 Italy Italian Grand Prix Serramazzoni Germany Fritz Schneider KTM Report
3 May 21 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Holice Sweden Torleif Hansen Kawasaki Report
4 May 28 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavian Grand Prix Tržič Sweden Torleif Hansen Kawasaki Report
5 June 4 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Schwanenstadt Czechoslovakia Jaroslav Falta ČZ Report
6 June 11 Germany West German Grand Prix Beuern Sweden Torleif Hansen Kawasaki Report
7 June 18 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Kilmartin Soviet Union Guennady Moisseev KTM Report
8 July 2 France French Grand Prix Ahun Soviet Union Vladimir Kavinov KTM Report
9 July 30 United States United States Grand Prix Unadilla United States Marty Tripes Honda Report
10 August 13 Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Barkarby United Kingdom Neil Hudson Maico Report
11 August 20 Finland Finnish Grand Prix Hyvinkää Sweden Torleif Hansen Kawasaki Report
12 August 27 Soviet Union Russian Grand Prix Leningrad Sweden Torleif Hansen Kawasaki Report

125cc[5]

Round Date Grand Prix Location Winner Team Report
1 April 9 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Launsdorf Belgium Gaston Rahier Suzuki Report
2 April 16 Italy Italian Grand Prix San Severino Belgium Gaston Rahier Suzuki Report
3 April 23 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Lanklaar-Dilsen Netherlands Gérard Rond Yamaha Report
4 April 30 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Apeldoorn Netherlands Gérard Rond Yamaha Report
5 May 7 France French Grand Prix Vesoul Belgium Gaston Rahier Suzuki Report
6 May 21 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavian Grand Prix Orehova vas Netherlands Gérard Rond Yamaha Report
7 May 28 Germany West German Grand Prix Laubus-Eschbach Japan Akira Watanabe Suzuki Report
8 June 4 Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Meyrin Netherlands Gérard Rond Yamaha Report
9 June 11 Poland Polish Grand Prix Szczecin Japan Akira Watanabe Suzuki Report
10 July 27 United States United States Grand Prix Lexington United States Broc Glover Yamaha Report
11 August 13 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Montgai Japan Akira Watanabe Suzuki Report
12 August 27 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Stříbro Belgium Gaston Rahier Suzuki Report

Final Standings

500cc[6][7]
Pos Rider Team Points
1 Finland Heikki Mikkola Yamaha 299
2 United States Brad Lackey Honda 214
3 Belgium Roger De Coster Suzuki 172
4 Germany Herbert Schmitz Maico 127
5 Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Suzuki 124
6 Belgium André Malherbe KTM 109
7 United Kingdom Graham Noyce Honda 92
8 Belgium Jaak van Velthoven KTM 78
9 France Jean-Jacques Bruno KTM 41
10 Belgium Yvan van den Broeck Maico 40
11 Belgium André Vromans Suzuki 38
12 Sweden Håkan Andersson Husqvarna 36
13 Sweden Bengt Åberg Yamaha 33
14 Germany Fritz Köbele Maico 21
15 United States Mike Bell Yamaha 14
15 Netherlands Frans Sigmans Maico 14
17 Germany Adolf Weil Maico 14
18 Denmark Frank Svendsen Husqvarna 10
19 Netherlands Peter Herlings Maico 9
19 Sweden Arne Lindfors Yamaha 9
21 Netherlands Mat Ghielen Maico 8
22 United States Rick Burgett Yamaha 8
23 United Kingdom Bob Wright CCM 8
24 Sweden Lars Axelsson Maico 5
24 United States Terry Clark Maico 5
24 United States Danny LaPorte Suzuki 5
24 Italy Afro Rustignoli Maico 5
28 United States Rex Staten Yamaha 4
28 Italy Franco Perfini Montesa 4
30 United States Gary Semics Can-Am 4
30 Sweden Torbjörn Winzell Maico 4
30 United Kingdom Robert Wilkinson Maico 4
33 Sweden Åke Jonsson Kramer-Rotax 4
34 Netherlands Ad Verstegen Yamaha 3
34 Italy Italo Forni Montesa 3
34 Belgium Raymond Heeren Maico 3
37 United States Tommy Croft Honda 3
37 Belgium Francois Wellens Yamaha 3
39 Denmark Søren Mortensen Kramer-Rotax 2
39 Italy Franco Picco Montesa 2
39 Netherlands Johan Scheele Maico 2
42 Netherlands Toon Karsmakers Husqvarna 1

250cc[8]
Pos Rider Team Points
1 Soviet Union Guennady Moisseev KTM 183
2 Sweden Torleif Hansen Kawasaki 153
3 Germany Hans Maisch Maico 152
4 Soviet Union Vladimir Kavinov KTM 151
5 United Kingdom Neil Hudson Maico 130
6 Belgium Harry Everts Bultaco 126
7 Sweden Håkan Carlqvist Husqvarna 88
8 Japan Torao Suzuki Montesa 63
9 Czechoslovakia Jaroslav Falta ČZ 61
10 Belgium Jean-Claude Laquaye Bultaco 43
11 Belgium Raymond Boven Montesa 42
12 Germany Fritz Schneider KTM 38
13 United States Chuck Sun Husqvarna 35
14 Soviet Union Valéry Korneev KTM 33
15 Belgium Jean-Paul Mingels Montesa 32
16 Germany Rolf Dieffenbach Kawasaki 26
16 France Daniel Péan Maico 26
18 United States Jimmy Ellis Honda 25
19 United States Marty Tripes Honda 24
20 Finland Erkki Sundström Husqvarna 24
21 United States Bob Hannah Yamaha 21
22 Germany Willy Bauer Sachs 21
23 United Kingdom Rob Hooper Maico 21
24 France Patrick Boniface KTM 11
25 United States Kent Howerton Suzuki 8
26 Spain Fernando Munoz Montesa 6
27 Finland Matti Tarkkonenn Honda 6
28 Belgium Guy Huynen Sachs 5
28 Netherlands Kees van der Ven Maico 5
30 Norway Jan Kristoffersen Husqvarna 5
31 Denmark Arne Lodal Husqvarna 5
32 Italy Dario Nani Gilera 3
32 Czechoslovakia Zdenek Velky ČZ 3
34 Spain Alberto Ribo Montesa 2
34 United States John Savitski Yamaha 2
36 United States Tony DiStefano Suzuki 1
36 Spain Tony Elias Bultaco 1
36 Sweden Magnus Nyberg KTM 1
36 Bulgaria Dimitar Rangelov Husqvarna 1
36 Czechoslovakia Jaroslav Vojtech ČZ 1

125cc[9]
Pos Rider Team Points
1 Japan Akira Watanabe Suzuki 267
2 Belgium Gaston Rahier Suzuki 249
3 Netherlands Gérard Rond Yamaha 248
4 Austria Siegfried Lerner KTM 90
5 Finland Matti Autio Suzuki 81
6 Italy Ivan Alborghetti Aprilia 78
7 Finland Göte Liljegren Aprilia 78
8 Belgium André Massant Honda 76
9 Czechoslovakia Jiry Churavy ČZ 70
10 Italy Corrado Maddi Beta 53
11 Soviet Union Yuri Khudiakov ČZ 41
12 Italy Michele Rinaldi TGM 31
13 United States Broc Glover Yamaha 30
14 United Kingdom Roger Harvey Suzuki 19
15 Finland Pauli Piippola Husqvarna 17
16 United States Marty Moates Suzuki 14
17 Netherlands Peter Groeneveld Suzuki 14
18 United States Gaylon Mosier Kawasaki 12
19 Belgium Robert Greisch Yamaha 12
20 United States Warren Reid Honda 10
21 Czechoslovakia Miroslav Jirka ČZ 9
21 Netherlands Henk Van Mierlo Kawasaki 9
23 United States Steve Wise Honda 8
24 United States Mark Gregson Suzuki 8
25 Soviet Union Anatoly Ovchinikov ČZ 8
26 United States Mike Guerra Yamaha 7
27 Netherlands Dinand Ziljlstra Kawasaki 5
27 United States Dan Turner Yamaha 5
29 United Kingdom Geoff Mayes Kawasaki 5
30 Belgium Marc Velkeneers Yamaha 4
31 Belgium François Minne Aprilia 4
32 Belgium Michel Leclerq KTM 3
32 Czechoslovakia Miroslav Novacek ČZ 3
32 United States Ron Turner Yamaha 3
35 Germany Bernd Betzelbacher Maico 2
35 Soviet Union Victor Popenko ČZ 2
35 Germany Emil Schwarz Suzuki 2
35 United States David Taylor Suzuki 2
39 Sweden Jonny Bjurström Suzuki 1
39 France Michel Fischer Portal 1
39 France Alain Fura Yamaha 1
39 Czechoslovakia Antonin Gorus ČZ 1
39 Denmark Ole Svendson KTM 1

References

  1. "Roger Decoster Interview, covering 1971 thru 2001". supercross.com. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. "1978 500cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  3. "1978 500cc motocross world championship". jwvanessen.com. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  4. "1978 250cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  5. "1978 125cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  6. "1978 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  7. "1978 500cc motocross world championship final standings". jwvanessen.com. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  8. "1978 250cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  9. "1978 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
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