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Barry Sheene (pictured top in Assen) and Walter Villa (pictured at the Nürburgring) became the 1976 500cc and 250cc world champion.

The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.

Season summary

1976 marked the beginning of the era of Suzuki domination with the Japanese firm taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class. [1] Angel Nieto would take his fifth world title in the 50cc division, this time aboard a Bultaco. [1] In the 125cc class, it was more of the same with Morbidelli taking another crown with Pier Paolo Bianchi claiming the championship. Walter Villa would claim double world championships in the 250cc and 350cc classes for Harley-Davidson fighting off a strong challenge from defending champion, Johnny Cecotto in the larger class. [1]

Barry Sheene came to the fore with a dominating championship season in the 500cc division, finishing ahead of his Suzuki teammate Teuvo Länsivuori. Newcomer Marco Lucchinelli impressed as well on a Suzuki but injuries curtailed his performance. [1] Pat Hennen became the first American rider to win a 500cc Grand Prix, when he triumphed at the Finnish Grand Prix. [1]

1976 marked the end of an era as it would be the last time the Isle of Man TT would appear on the Grand Prix calendar. [1] Once the most prestigious race of the year, the event had been increasingly boycotted by the top riders. [1] The TT finally succumbed to pressure for increased safety in racing events. [1] The season also marked the end of another era with 15 time world champion Giacomo Agostini winning his last Grand Prix at the season-ending round at the Nürburgring. [1] As Agostini had chosen the MV Agusta for this challenging track, this win was also the last for a 500cc four-stroke engine. [1]

1976 Grand Prix season calendar

Round Date Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report
1 April 25 France French Grand Prix Le Mans Bugatti West Germany Herbert Rittberger Italy Walter Villa Italy Walter Villa United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
2 May 2 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Venezuela Johnny Cecotto United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
3 May 16 Italy Nations Grand Prix Mugello Spain Angel Nieto Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Walter Villa Venezuela Johnny Cecotto United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
4 May 23 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavian Grand Prix Opatija Switzerland Ulrich Graf Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Germany Dieter Braun France Olivier Chevallier Report
5 June 12 United Kingdom Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain United Kingdom Tom Herron United Kingdom Chas Mortimer United Kingdom Tom Herron Report
6 June 26 Netherlands Dutch TT Assen Spain Angel Nieto Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Walter Villa Italy Giacomo Agostini United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
7 July 4 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps West Germany Herbert Rittberger Spain Angel Nieto Italy Walter Villa United Kingdom John Williams Report
8 July 25 Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp Spain Angel Nieto Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Japan Takazumi Katayama United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
9 August 1 Finland Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Belgium Julien van Zeebroeck Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Walter Villa Italy Walter Villa United States Pat Hennen Report
10 August 22 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Brno Italy Walter Villa Italy Walter Villa United Kingdom John Newbold Report
11 August 29 West Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Spain Angel Nieto West Germany Anton Mang Italy Walter Villa Italy Walter Villa Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
12 September 19 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Montjuich Spain Angel Nieto Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Franco Bonera South Africa Kork Ballington Report

Participants

500cc participants

Team Constructor Motorcycle No. Rider Rounds
Team Agostini-Marlboro MV Agusta/ Suzuki ???/??? 1 Italy Giacomo Agostini 1–3, 5–6, 8–10
Team Life International Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 2
9
United Kingdom Phil Read 1–3
Life Racing Team 4
2
3
Finland Teuvo Länsivuori 1–3, 6–9*
Danfay Yamaha ??? 4 Republic of Ireland Billie Guthrie 4
Texaco Heron Team Suzuki Suzuki ??? 5
2
30
United Kingdom John Williams 1–2, 4–6
Suzuki RG 500 7 United Kingdom Barry Sheene 1–3, 5–7
8
3
6
7
United Kingdom John Newbold 6–10
??? 14 United Kingdom Tom Herron 2, 4
Hermetite Various 6
8
3
United Kingdom Alex George 2, 5
Meuaui Racing Team Suzuki 10
6
5
Australia Jack Findlay 2–8
Team Sarome Yamaha/ Suzuki ???/??? 11
8
10
United Kingdom Chas Mortimer 1, 4, 6–7, 9–10
Yamaha ??? 41
17
Japan Takazumi Katayama 4, 6, 8
??? 12
8
9
11
Austria Karl Auer 1–2, 7–9
Boeri Dainese Racing Team Suzuki 13
14
30
10
12
West Germany Dieter Braun 1–3, 6, 8
Esso Yamaha 19
18
25
29
France Olivier Chevallier 9
Ecurie Elf Suzuki 21
20
France Michel Rougerie 1–2, 6
??? Yamaha 22
13
16
France Bernard Fau 5
Castrol/Jim Findlay Yamaha TZ??? 23
15
19
21
United Kingdom Tom Herron 6–7
Beale ??? 23 United Kingdom Roger Nichols 4
??? Suzuki 24
52
21
48
France Christian Estrosi 8
Yamaha 25 United Kingdom Ian Richards 4
26
41
31
24
Denmark Børge Nielsen 3
Suzuki 27
33
28
43
12
Netherlands Marcel Ankoné 3, 6, 10
Gallina Corse Suzuki RG 500 28
40
26
31
Italy Virginio Ferrari 3, 10
33
40
34
32
30
17
Italy Marco Lucchinelli 1–2, 7–10
??? 34 Italy Roberto Gallina ???
Riemersma Suzuki RG 500 34
31
48
Netherlands Wil Hartog 2, 5, 7
Padgett Yamaha ??? 38
26
South Africa Jon Ekerold 4
Frankonia Suzuki Suzuki 40
38
18
43
51
22
23
71
Switzerland Philippe Coulon 3, 7–9
??? 41
39
19
44
63
West Germany Helmut Kassner 5–6
Swaep Motor-Racing Yamaha 43
33
24
20
Spain Víctor Palomo 1–2, 7
Laponder Yamaha/ Suzuki ???/??? 51
43
32
27
39
14
29
Netherlands Boet van Dulmen 8–10
Colemans Suzuki ??? 54
45
25
40
28
22
66
United States Pat Hennen 1–3, 5–10
56
47
32
35
42
25
New Zealand Stuart Avant 1–3, 7
Team Venemotos Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 (OW29) 55
3
21
16
Venezuela Johnny Cecotto 1–3
??? ??? 57
28
44
27
Austria Max Wiener 9
Source: [2]
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider
Notes
  • * Länsivuori was disqualified for the second round of the season, the Austrian GP, for not stopping his engine during a refuelling stop.

Final standings

500cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 United Kingdom Barry Sheene 7 United Kingdom Suzuki 72 5
2 Finland Teuvo Lansivuori 4 Finland Suzuki 48 0
3 United States Pat Hennen 40 United States Suzuki 46 1
4 Italy Marco Lucchinelli Italy Suzuki 40 0
5 United Kingdom John Newbold 8 United Kingdom Suzuki 31 1
6 Switzerland Philippe Coulon Switzerland Suzuki 28 0
7 Italy Giacomo Agostini 1 Italy Suzuki / MV Agusta 26 1
8 Australia Jack Findlay 10 Australia Suzuki 25 0
9 United Kingdom John Williams 5 United Kingdom Suzuki 24 1
10 United Kingdom Phil Read 2 United Kingdom Suzuki 22 0
11 Marcel Ankone 21
12 Stuart Avant 20
13 Tom Herron 17 1
14 Chas Mortimer 16
15 Michel Rougerie 16
16 Karl Auer 16
17 Dieter Braun 15
18 Víctor Palomo 13
19 Ian Richards 12
20 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto 3 12
21 Wil Hartog 10
22 Virginio Ferrari 10
23 Billie Guthrie 10
24 Alex George 10
25 Boet Van Dulmen 9
26 Takazumi Katayama 8
27 Max Wiener 6
28 Roger Nichols 6
29 Olivier Chevallier 5
30 Jon Ekerold 5
31 Bernard Fau 4
32 Bernd Tungethal 4
33 Alan North 4
34 Gordon Pantall 3
35 Christian Estrosi 3
36 Rob Bron 3
37 Christian Bourgeois 3
38 Helmut Kassner 3
39 Pekka Nurmi 2
40 John Weeden 2
41 Dave Potter 1
42 G.Schwemmer 1
43 W.A. Smith 1
44 Edmar Ferreira 1
45 Borge W.Nielsen 1

350cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Walter Villa 42 Italy Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 76 4
2 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto 1 Venezuela Yamaha 65 2
3 United Kingdom Chas Mortimer 6 United Kingdom Yamaha 54 1
4 United Kingdom Tom Herron 9 United Kingdom Yamaha 47 0
5 Australia John Dodds 56 Australia Yamaha 34 0
6 Spain Víctor Palomo Spain Yamaha 29 0
7 Japan Takazumi Katayama Japan Yamaha 28 0
8 Switzerland Bruno Kneubühler Switzerland Yamaha 28 0
9 France Olivier Chevallier France Yamaha 27 1
10 Italy Franco Uncini Italy Yamaha 27 0
11 Dieter Braun 23
12 Kork Ballington 20
13 Pentti Korhonen 19
14 Patrick Pons 18
15 Gianfranco Bonera 15
16 Giacomo Agostini 15
17 Tony Rutter 12
18 Billie Guthrie 10
19 Gerard Choukroun 10
20 Alan North 10
21 Jean-François Baldé 10
22 Martin Sharpe 8
23 Leif Gustafsson 8
24 Boet Van Dulmen 6
25 John Weeden 5
26 Patrick Fernandez 5
27 Paolo Tordi 5
28 Derek Chatterton 5
29 Jon Ekerold 4
30 Neil Tuxworth 4
31 Philip Bouzanne 3
32 Karl Auer 3
33 Jack Findlay 3
34 Kjell Solberg 3
35 Bo Granath 2
36 Rudolf Kunz 2
37 Claudio Loigo 1
38 S.McClements 1

250cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Walter Villa 1 Italy Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 90 7
2 Japan Takazumi Katayama Japan Yamaha 73 1
3 Italy Franco Bonera Italy Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 61 1
4 United Kingdom Tom Herron United Kingdom Yamaha 47 1
5 Finland Pentti Korhonen Finland Yamaha 47 0
6 West Germany Dieter Braun West Germany Yamaha 42 1
7 United Kingdom Chas Mortimer 6 United Kingdom Yamaha 31 0
8 Switzerland Bruno Kneubühler 9 Switzerland Yamaha 29 0
9 France Olivier Chevallier France Yamaha 25 0
10 Spain Víctor Palomo Spain Yamaha 25 0
11 John Dodds 24
12 Patrick Fernandez 21
13 Kork Ballington 15
14 Paolo Pileri 12
15 Jon Ekerold 10
16 Alan North 10
17 Tony Rutter 8
18 Jean-François Baldé 8
19 Eddie Roberts 6
20 Gerard Choukroun 6
21 Franco Uncini 6
22 Patrick Pons 6
23 Philip Bouzanne 6
24 Pekka Nurmi 5
25 Alex George 5
26 Boet van Dulmen 4
27 John Weeden 4
28 Ian Richards 3
29 Leif Gustafsson 3
30 Dennis Casement 2
31 Jean Claude Hogrel 2
32 Tapio Virtanen 2
33 János Drapál 2
32 Harald Bartol 1
33 Eero Hyvärinen 1
34 Niel Tuxworth 1

125cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi 2 Italy Morbidelli 90 7
2 Spain Ángel Nieto Spain Bultaco 67 1
3 Italy Paolo Pileri 1 Italy Morbidelli 64 0
4 Netherlands Henk van Kessel 7 Netherlands Condor 46 0
5 West Germany Anton Mang West Germany Morbidelli 32 1
6 France Jean-Louis Guignabodet 2 France Morbidelli 27 0
7 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini 5 Italy Morbidelli 26 0
8 West Germany Gert Bender West Germany Bender 25 0
9 Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger Switzerland Morbidelli 23 0
10 Belgium Julien van Zeebroeck Belgium Morbidelli 18 0
11 Xaver Tschannen 14
12 Walter Koschine 12
13 Cees van Dongen 11
14 Otello Buscherini 10
15 Leif Gustafsson 10
16 Harald Bartol 9
17 Hans Müller 9
18 Horst Seel 8
19 Enrico Cereda 7
20 Pierluigi Conforti 7
21 Lennart Lundgren 6
22 Per Edward Carlsson 6
23 Johann Zemsauer 5
24 Matti Kinnunen 5
25 Rolf Blatter 4
26 Luigi Richetti 4
27 Hans Hummel 4
28 Peter Frohnmeyer 3
29 Ermanno Giuliano 2
30 Auno Hakala 2
31 Hans Hallberg 1
32 Lennart Lindell 1
33 Heinz Schmid 1
34 P.Cecchini 1

50cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Spain Ángel Nieto 1 Spain Bultaco 85 5
2 West Germany Herbert Rittberger 5 West Germany Kreidler 76 2
3 Switzerland Ulrich Graf Switzerland Kreidler 69 1
4 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini 2 Italy Morbidelli 53 0
5 West Germany Rudolf Kunz 4 West Germany Kreidler 34 0
6 Belgium Julien van Zeebroeck 9 Belgium Kreidler 26 1
7 Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger 6 Switzerland Kreidler 25 0
8 Switzerland Rolf Blatter Switzerland Kreidler 25 0
9 Austria Hans Hummel 9 Austria Kreidler 20 0
10 France Pierre Audry France ABF 15 0
11 Aldo Pero 13
12 Theo Timmer 12
13 Engelbert Kip 12
14 Gerrit Strikker 9
15 Cees van Dongen 9
16 Benjamin Laurent 8
17 Günter Schirnhofer 7
18 Theo Van Geffen 6
19 Ricardo Tormo 5
20 Robert Laver 5
21 Claudio Lusuardi 4
22 Yves Le Tourmelin 4
23 E.Mischiatti 4
24 B.Stopp 4
25 Wolfgang Müller 3
26 Ramon Gali 3
27 Ermanno Giuliano 1

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN  1-874557-83-7
  2. ^ "Motorcycle Racing Online - 500cc Grand Prix entry lists for 1976 to 1978". f1network.net. 2006-10-13.