1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

1977 F.I.M. Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Previous: 1976 Next: 1978

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

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 special three cylinder Yamaha built in Holland, 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 numerous fatal accidents, including 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] Braun decided to end his riding career after recovering from his injuries.[4]

In addition to this incident, the Yugoslavian Grand Prix at the notorious Opatija Circuit was also stricken by tragedy. After having been issued an ultimatum by the FIM, the Yugoslavian race organizers failed to take action to improve the safety of the circuit - which was notorious for its numerous road-side hazards including solid rock walls and steep, barely protected drop offs.[5] The event was a disaster with Italian rider, Giovanni Ziggiotto, crashing during practice for the 250cc race when his motorcycle's engine seized. He was hit by another rider and died four days later in a hospital.[6] During the 50 cc race, Ulrich Graf crashed when his bike developed a rear tire puncture. He suffered serious head injuries and died later in a hospital.[5] The Opatija Circuit was never used again for any kind of racing and, the Yugoslavian Grand Prix was moved to the nearby Rijeka permanent circuit.

Despite finishing second in the 500cc championship and winning the Formula 750 title, Baker would be released by Yamaha at the end of the year.[1] Giacomo Agostini would retire after the season, ending his seventeen-year career with a record 122 Grand Prix victories and 15 World Championships.[1]

1977 Grand Prix season calendar

Round Date Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report
1 March 20 Venezuela Venezuelan Grand Prix San Carlos Spain Angel Nieto Italy Walter Villa Venezuela Johnny Cecotto United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
2 May 1 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Australia Jack Findlay Report
3 May 8 West Germany German Grand Prix Hockenheim West Germany Herbert Rittberger Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi France Christian Sarron Japan Takazumi Katayama United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
4 May 15 Italy Nations Grand Prix Imola Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Franco Uncini South Africa Alan North United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
5 May 22 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Jarama Spain Angel Nieto Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Japan Takazumi Katayama France Michel Rougerie Report
6 May 29 France French Grand Prix Paul Ricard Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi South Africa Jon Ekerold Japan Takazumi Katayama United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
7 June 19 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavian Grand Prix Opatija Spain Angel Nieto Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Mario Lega Japan Takazumi Katayama Report
8 June 25 Netherlands Dutch TT Assen Spain Angel Nieto Spain Angel Nieto United Kingdom Mick Grant South Africa Kork Ballington Netherlands Wil Hartog Report
9 July 3 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Walter Villa United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
10 July 24 Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp Spain Ricardo Tormo Spain Angel Nieto United Kingdom Mick Grant Japan Takazumi Katayama United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
11 July 31 Finland Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Walter Villa Japan Takazumi Katayama Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Report
12 August 7 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Brno Italy Franco Uncini Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Report
13 August 14 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone Italy Pierluigi Conforti South Africa Kork Ballington South Africa Kork Ballington United States Pat Hennen Report

Final standings

500cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 United Kingdom Barry Sheene 7 United Kingdom Suzuki 107 6
2 United States Steve Baker 32 United States Yamaha 80 0
3 United States Pat Hennen 40 United States Suzuki 67 1
4 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Yamaha 50 2
5 United Kingdom Steve Parrish United Kingdom Suzuki 39 0
6 Italy Giacomo Agostini 1 Italy Yamaha 37 0
7 Italy Franco Bonera Italy Suzuki 37 0
8 Switzerland Philippe Coulon 6 Switzerland Suzuki 36 0
9 Finland Teuvo Lansivuori 2 Finland Suzuki 35 0
10 Netherlands Wil Hartog Netherlands Suzuki 30 1
11 Marco Lucchinelli 25
12 Virginio Ferrari 21
13 Michel Rougerie 21
14 Armando Toracca 21
15 Max Wiener 20
16 Jack Findlay 17
17 Alex George 15
18 Helmut Kassner 9
19 Steve Wright 6
20 Franz Heller 6
21 Christian Estrosi 6
22 Micheal Schmid 5
23 John Newbold 4
24 Derek Chatterton 4
25 Anton Mang 4
26 Charlie Williams 4
27 Boet Van Dulmen 3
28 Jean Philippe Orban 2
29 Franz Rau 2
30 Kevin Wrettom 1
31 Alan North 1
32 Karl Auer 1

350cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Japan Takazumi Katayama 7 Japan Yamaha 95 5
2 United Kingdom Tom Herron 4 United Kingdom Yamaha 56 0
3 South Africa Jon Ekerold South Africa Yamaha 54 0
4 France Michel Rougerie France Yamaha 50 1
5 South Africa Kork Ballington South Africa Yamaha 46 2
6 France Olivier Chevallier 9 France Yamaha 39 0
7 France Christian Sarron France Yamaha 38 0
8 France Patrick Fernandez France Yamaha 34 0
9 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto 2 Venezuela Yamaha 30 2
10 South Africa Alan North South Africa Yamaha 30 1
11 Bruno Kneubühler 24
12 Victor Soussan 21
13 Penti Korhonen 20
14 Pekka Nurmi 18
15 Victor Palomo 18
16 Giacomo Agostini 16
17 Patrick Pons 15
18 Walter Villa 14
19 Mario Lega 12
20 Franco Uncini 11
21 John Dodds 11
22 John Williams 10
23 Eero Hyvärinen 10
24 Eddie Roberts 8
25 Philip Bouzanne 6
26 Alan Stewart 6
27 P.Mezerhane 4
28 Seppo Rossi 4
29 Helmut Kassner 4
30 Michel Frutschi 4
31 Jean Claude Hogrel 3
32 C.Bellon 3
33 Tapio Virtanen 3
34 Eduardo Aleman 2
35 D.Boulom 2
36 A.Hockley 1
37 R.Tausani 1
38 John Newbold 1
39 Karl Auer 1
40 Chas Mortimer 1

250cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Mario Lega Italy Morbidelli 85 1
2 Italy Franco Uncini Italy Harley-Davidson 72 2
3 Italy Walter Villa 1 Italy Harley-Davidson 67 3
4 Japan Takazumi Katayama Japan Yamaha 58 1
5 United Kingdom Tom Herron 4 United Kingdom Yamaha 54 0
6 South Africa Kork Ballington South Africa Yamaha 49 1
7 South Africa Alan North 6 South Africa Yamaha 43 0
8 United Kingdom Mick Grant United Kingdom Kawasaki 42 2
9 South Africa Jon Ekerold South Africa Yamaha 42 1
10 France Patrick Fernandez France Yamaha 28 0
11 Barry Ditchburn 27
12 Victor Soussan 25
13 Olivier Chevallier 25
14 Christian Sarron 23
15 Aldo Nannini 19
16 Penti Korhonen 15
17 Akihiko Kiyohara 14
18 Guy Bertin 11
19 Pekka Nurmi 11
20 Victor Palomo 10
21 Eric Saul 10
22 John Dodds 9
23 Vinicio Salmi 8
24 Masahiro Wada 8
25 Pierluigi Conforti 6
26 Bruno Kneubühler 6
27 Michel Rougerie 6
28 Chas Mortimer 5
29 Jean-François Baldé 4
30 Eero Hyvärinen 3
31 Philip Bouzanne 2
32 Paolo Pileri 2
33 Patrick Pons 2
34 M.Corradini 1
35 Vanes Francini 1

125cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi 1 Italy Morbidelli 131 7
2 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini 7 Italy Morbidelli 105 1
3 Spain Angel Nieto 2 Spain Bultaco 80 3
4 France Jean-Louis Guignabodet 6 France Morbidelli 62 0
5 West Germany Anton Mang 5 West Germany Morbidelli 55 0
6 West Germany Gert Bender West Germany Bender 38 0
7 Austria Harald Bartol Austria Morbidelli 32 0
8 Switzerland Hans Müller Switzerland Morbidelli 32 0
9 Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger Switzerland Morbidelli 32 0
10 Italy Pierluigi Conforti Italy Morbidelli 30 1
11 Maurizio Massimiani 22
12 Giuseppe Zigiotto 21
13 Julien Van Zeebroeck 20
14 Ivan Carlsson 14
15 Ermanno Giuliano 11
16 Ivan Palazzase 10
17 Sauro Pazzaglia 9
18 Rino Pretelli 8
19 Claudio Lusuardi 8
20 Matti Kinnunen 7
21 Thierry Noblesse 6
22 Willy Perez 5
23 Johann Parzer 5
24 Rolf Blatter 5
25 B.Johansson 5
26 Cees Van Dongen 5
27 Horst Seel 4
28 Rafael Olavarria 4
29 Janos Drapal 4
30 Thierry Espié 4
31 Werner Schmied 3
32 G.Willi 2
33 Jan Huberts 2
34 Patrick Plisson 2
35 Enrico Cereda 1
36 Paolo Cipriani 1
37 J.Novarrete 1

50cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Spain Angel Nieto 1 Spain Bultaco 87 3
2 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini 4 Italy Kreidler 72 2
3 Spain Ricardo Tormo Spain Bultaco 69 1
4 West Germany Herbert Rittberger 2 West Germany Kreidler 53 1
5 France Patrick Plisson France ABF 26 0
6 Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger 7 Switzerland Kreidler 26 0
7 France Jean-Louis Guignabodet France Morbidelli 14 0
8 Austria Hans Hummel 9 Austria Kreidler 11 0
9 Belgium Julien van Zeebroeck 6 Belgium Kreidler 10 0
10 Spain Ramon Gali Spain Derbi 10 0
11 Ulrich Graf 9
12 Hagen Klein 9
13 Cees Van Dongen 8
14 Theo Timmer 8
15 Aldo Pero 7
16 Günter Schirnhofer 7
17 Rolf Blatter 6
18 Rudolf Kunz 5
19 Claudio Lusuardi 5
20 Wolfgang Müller 4
21 Engelbert Kip 3
22 Adrijan Bernetic 3
23 Lennart Lundgren 2
24 Ingo Emmerich 2
25 C.Dumont 2
26 E.Mischiatti 2
27 Juup Bosman 1
28 J.Novarrete 1
29 Peter Looijensteijn 1
30 Jacques Hutteau 1

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-874557-83-7
  2. ↑ "Cyclist Killed In Prix Race". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. 2 May 1977. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  3. ↑ Hans Stadelmann at Motorsport Memorial
  4. ↑ Yamaha Classic Racing Team commit to TT Centenary celebrations. Isle of Man TT.com News (20 March 2007). Retrieved on 15 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Ulrich Graf". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Carter, Chris (ed.). Motocourse 1977-1978. Hazleton Securities Ltd. p. 86. ISBN 0-905138-04-X.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.