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 and he was hit from behind by Per-Edward Carlson.[6] He died four days later in a hospital.[7] During the 50 cc race, Ulrich Graf crashed when his bike developed a rear tire puncture and he was thrown into a stone wall.[6] 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.[6]
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]
"The Official MotoGP website". Retrieved 2010-07-06.
December 19, 2023
1977, grand, prix, motorcycle, racing, season, 1977, grand, prix, motorcycle, racing, season, previous, 1976, next, 19781977, world, champions500cc, barry, sheene, suzuki, 350cc, takazumi, katayama, yamaha, 250cc, mario, lega, morbidelli, 125cc, pier, paolo, b. 1977 F I M Grand Prix motorcycle racing season Previous 1976 Next 19781977 World Champions500cc Barry Sheene Suzuki 350cc Takazumi Katayama Yamaha 250cc Mario Lega Morbidelli 125cc Pier Paolo Bianchi Morbidelli 50cc Angel Nieto Bultaco The 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 29th F I M Road Racing World Championship season Barry Sheene pictured in Assen next to Wil Hartog became the 1977 500cc world champion Contents 1 Season summary 2 1977 Grand Prix season calendar 3 Participants 3 1 500cc participants 4 Final standings 4 1 500cc standings 4 2 350cc standings 4 3 250cc standings 4 4 125cc standings 4 5 50cc standings 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 7 1 SourcesSeason summary editSuzuki 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 and he was hit from behind by Per Edward Carlson 6 He died four days later in a hospital 7 During the 50 cc race Ulrich Graf crashed when his bike developed a rear tire puncture and he was thrown into a stone wall 6 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 6 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 editRound Date Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report1 March 20 nbsp Venezuelan Grand Prix San Carlos nbsp Angel Nieto nbsp Walter Villa nbsp Johnny Cecotto nbsp Barry Sheene Report2 May 1 nbsp Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring nbsp Eugenio Lazzarini Race cancelled N 1 nbsp Jack Findlay Report3 May 8 nbsp German Grand Prix Hockenheim nbsp Herbert Rittberger nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi nbsp Christian Sarron nbsp Takazumi Katayama nbsp Barry Sheene Report4 May 15 nbsp Nations Grand Prix Imola nbsp Eugenio Lazzarini nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi nbsp Franco Uncini nbsp Alan North nbsp Barry Sheene Report5 May 22 nbsp Spanish Grand Prix Jarama nbsp Angel Nieto nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi nbsp Takazumi Katayama nbsp Michel Rougerie Report6 May 29 nbsp French Grand Prix Paul Ricard nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi nbsp Jon Ekerold nbsp Takazumi Katayama nbsp Barry Sheene Report7 June 19 nbsp Yugoslavian Grand Prix Opatija nbsp Angel Nieto nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi nbsp Mario Lega nbsp Takazumi Katayama Report8 June 25 nbsp Dutch TT Assen nbsp Angel Nieto nbsp Angel Nieto nbsp Mick Grant nbsp Kork Ballington nbsp Wil Hartog Report9 July 3 nbsp Belgian Grand Prix Spa nbsp Eugenio Lazzarini nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi nbsp Walter Villa nbsp Barry Sheene Report10 July 24 nbsp Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp nbsp Ricardo Tormo nbsp Angel Nieto nbsp Mick Grant nbsp Takazumi Katayama nbsp Barry Sheene Report11 July 31 nbsp Finnish Grand Prix Imatra nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi nbsp Walter Villa nbsp Takazumi Katayama nbsp Johnny Cecotto Report12 August 7 nbsp Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Brno nbsp Franco Uncini nbsp Johnny Cecotto nbsp Johnny Cecotto Report13 August 14 nbsp British Grand Prix Silverstone nbsp Pierluigi Conforti nbsp Kork Ballington nbsp Kork Ballington nbsp Pat Hennen ReportParticipants edit500cc participants edit Team Constructor Motorcycle No Rider RoundsYamoto Marlboro Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 OW35 110 nbsp Giacomo Agostini 4 11Life Racing Team Suzuki 2 nbsp Teuvo Lansivuori 4 7 9 11419 nbsp Marco Lucchinelli 4 7 9 11Texaco Heron Team Suzuki Suzuki RGA500 3 nbsp Pat Hennen 1 3 117 nbsp Barry Sheene 1 3 9 11211 nbsp Steve Parrish 1 3 11 Suzuki RG 500 6 nbsp Philippe Coulon 1 3 7Hermetite Racing International 8 nbsp Jack Findlay 2 4 7 8 1124 nbsp Alex George 2 11Elf 1216 nbsp Michel Rougerie 6 8 10Team Nava Olio Fiat 1214 nbsp Virginio Ferrari 1 4 6Suzuki RG 500 2213 nbsp Gianfranco Bonera 3 5 8 11Venemotos Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 OW35 1419 nbsp Johnny Cecotto 1 10 13Ceramiche Della Robbia Suzuki 15 nbsp Armando Toracca 4 6 8 9Riemersma 22 nbsp Wil Hartog 3 11Yamaha International Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 OW35 2532 nbsp Steve Baker 1 3 11Boeri Dainese Guidici Racing Team Suzuki 37 nbsp Helmut Kassner 2 10MSC Rottenegg 46 nbsp Max Wiener 2 3 10 11Source 8 KeyRegular RiderWildcard RiderReplacement RiderFinal standings edit500cc standings edit Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 nbsp Barry Sheene 7 United Kingdom Suzuki 107 62 nbsp Steve Baker 32 United States Yamaha 80 03 nbsp Pat Hennen 40 United States Suzuki 67 14 nbsp Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Yamaha 50 25 nbsp Steve Parrish United Kingdom Suzuki 39 06 nbsp Giacomo Agostini 1 Italy Yamaha 37 07 nbsp Franco Bonera Italy Suzuki 37 08 nbsp Philippe Coulon 6 Switzerland Suzuki 36 09 nbsp Teuvo Lansivuori 2 Finland Suzuki 35 010 nbsp Wil Hartog Netherlands Suzuki 30 111 Marco Lucchinelli Italy 2512 Virginio Ferrari Italy 2113 Michel Rougerie France 2114 Armando Toracca Italy 2115 Max Wiener Austria 2016 nbsp Jack Findlay Australia 17 117 Alex George 1518 Helmut Kassner 919 Steve Wright 620 Franz Heller 621 Christian Estrosi France 622 Michael Schmid Austria 523 John Newbold 424 Derek Chatterton 425 Anton Mang 426 Charlie Williams 427 Boet Van Dulmen Netherlands 328 Jean Philippe Orban Belgium 229 Franz Rau 230 Kevin Wrettom 131 Alan North 132 Karl Auer 1350cc standings edit Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 nbsp Takazumi Katayama 7 Japan Yamaha 95 52 nbsp Tom Herron 4 United Kingdom Yamaha 56 03 nbsp Jon Ekerold South Africa Yamaha 54 04 nbsp Michel Rougerie France Yamaha 50 15 nbsp Kork Ballington South Africa Yamaha 46 26 nbsp Olivier Chevallier 9 France Yamaha 39 07 nbsp Christian Sarron France Yamaha 38 08 nbsp Patrick Fernandez France Yamaha 34 09 nbsp Johnny Cecotto 2 Venezuela Yamaha 30 210 nbsp Alan North South Africa Yamaha 30 111 Bruno Kneubuhler 2412 Victor Soussan 2113 Penti Korhonen 2014 Pekka Nurmi 1815 Victor Palomo 1816 Giacomo Agostini 1617 Patrick Pons 1518 Walter Villa 1419 Mario Lega 1220 Franco Uncini 1121 John Dodds 1122 John Williams 1023 Eero Hyvarinen 1024 Eddie Roberts 825 Philip Bouzanne 626 Alan Stewart 627 P Mezerhane 428 Seppo Rossi 429 Helmut Kassner 430 Michel Frutschi 431 Jean Claude Hogrel 332 C Bellon 333 Tapio Virtanen 334 Eduardo Aleman 235 D Boulom 236 A Hockley 137 R Tausani 138 John Newbold 139 Karl Auer 140 Chas Mortimer 1250cc standings edit Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 nbsp Mario Lega Italy Morbidelli 85 12 nbsp Franco Uncini Italy Harley Davidson 72 23 nbsp Walter Villa 1 Italy Harley Davidson 67 34 nbsp Takazumi Katayama Japan Yamaha 58 15 nbsp Tom Herron 4 United Kingdom Yamaha 54 06 nbsp Kork Ballington South Africa Yamaha 49 17 nbsp Alan North 6 South Africa Yamaha 43 08 nbsp Mick Grant United Kingdom Kawasaki 42 29 nbsp Jon Ekerold South Africa Yamaha 42 110 nbsp Patrick Fernandez France Yamaha 28 011 Barry Ditchburn 2712 Victor Soussan 2513 Olivier Chevallier 2514 Christian Sarron 2315 Aldo Nannini 1916 Penti Korhonen 1517 Akihiko Kiyohara 1418 Guy Bertin 1119 Pekka Nurmi 1120 Victor Palomo 1021 Eric Saul 1022 John Dodds 923 Vinicio Salmi 824 Masahiro Wada 825 Pierluigi Conforti 626 Bruno Kneubuhler 627 Michel Rougerie 628 Chas Mortimer 529 Jean Francois Balde 430 Eero Hyvarinen 331 Philip Bouzanne 232 Paolo Pileri 233 Patrick Pons 234 M Corradini 135 Vanes Francini 1125cc standings edit Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 nbsp Pier Paolo Bianchi 1 Italy Morbidelli 131 72 nbsp Eugenio Lazzarini 7 Italy Morbidelli 105 13 nbsp Angel Nieto 2 Spain Bultaco 80 34 nbsp Jean Louis Guignabodet 6 France Morbidelli 62 05 nbsp Anton Mang 5 West Germany Morbidelli 55 06 nbsp Gert Bender West Germany Bender 38 07 nbsp Harald Bartol Austria Morbidelli 32 08 nbsp Hans Muller Switzerland Morbidelli 32 09 nbsp Stefan Dorflinger Switzerland Morbidelli 32 010 nbsp Pierluigi Conforti Italy Morbidelli 30 111 Maurizio Massimiani 2212 Giuseppe Zigiotto 2113 Julien Van Zeebroeck 2014 Ivan Carlsson 1415 Ermanno Giuliano 1116 Ivan Palazzase 1017 Sauro Pazzaglia 918 Rino Pretelli 819 Claudio Lusuardi 820 Matti Kinnunen 721 Thierry Noblesse 622 Willy Perez 523 Johann Parzer 524 Rolf Blatter 525 B Johansson 526 Cees Van Dongen 527 Horst Seel 428 Rafael Olavarria 429 Janos Drapal 430 Thierry Espie 431 Werner Schmied 332 G Willi 233 Jan Huberts 234 Patrick Plisson 235 Enrico Cereda 136 Paolo Cipriani 137 J Novarrete 150cc standings edit Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 nbsp Angel Nieto 1 Spain Bultaco 87 32 nbsp Eugenio Lazzarini 4 Italy Kreidler 72 23 nbsp Ricardo Tormo Spain Bultaco 69 14 nbsp Herbert Rittberger 2 West Germany Kreidler 53 15 nbsp Patrick Plisson France ABF 26 06 nbsp Stefan Dorflinger 7 Switzerland Kreidler 26 07 nbsp Jean Louis Guignabodet France Morbidelli 14 08 nbsp Hans Hummel 9 Austria Kreidler 11 09 nbsp Julien van Zeebroeck 6 Belgium Kreidler 10 010 nbsp Ramon Gali Spain Derbi 10 011 Ulrich Graf 912 Hagen Klein 913 Cees Van Dongen 814 Theo Timmer 815 Aldo Pero 716 Gunter Schirnhofer 717 Rolf Blatter 618 Rudolf Kunz 519 Claudio Lusuardi 520 Wolfgang Muller 421 Engelbert Kip 322 Adrijan Bernetic 323 Lennart Lundgren 224 Ingo Emmerich 225 C Dumont 226 E Mischiatti 227 Juup Bosman 128 J Novarrete 129 Peter Looijensteijn 130 Jacques Hutteau 1See also edit1977 Formula 750 seasonNotes edit The 350cc race was abandoned after eight laps following Hans Stadelmann s fatal accident References edit a b c d Noyes Dennis Scott Michael 1999 Motocourse 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix Hazleton Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 874557 83 7 Cyclist Killed In Prix Race The Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press 2 May 1977 p 2 Archived from the original on 23 December 2015 Retrieved 4 December 2011 Motorsport Memorial www motorsportmemorial org Yamaha Classic Racing Team commit to TT Centenary celebrations Isle of Man TT com News 20 March 2007 Retrieved on 15 December 2015 a b Ulrich Graf motorsportmemorial org Archived from the original on 1 October 2018 Retrieved 16 December 2011 a b c Preluk Opatija racingcircuits info Retrieved 11 April 2017 Carter Chris ed Motocourse 1977 1978 Hazleton Securities Ltd p 86 ISBN 0 905138 04 X 500cc Grand Prix entry lists for 1976 to 1978 Motorcycle Racing Online Sources edit Bula Maurice amp Schertenleib Jean Claude 2001 Continental Circus 1949 2000 Chronosports S A ISBN 2 940125 32 5 The Official MotoGP website Retrieved 2010 07 06 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season amp oldid 1159288974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,