1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

Giacomo Agostini became the 1975 500cc world champion

The 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 27th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.

Season summary

1975 represented a changing of the guard in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, both for riders as well as machines. Giacomo Agostini would claim his final 500cc World Championship aboard a Yamaha two-stroke machine. This would also mark the first time a two-stroke machine had won the premier division.

Angel Nieto claimed his fourth world title for Kreidler in the 50cc class. In the 125cc division, the Morbidellis of Pileri and Bianchi dominated, finishing first and second in six of the ten events. Despite Michel Rougerie scoring more points, his Harley-Davidson teammate Walter Villa would take the 250cc title because of the "best of six finishes" rule. Nineteen-year-old newcomer Johnny Cecotto made an impressive debut at the season opening French Grand Prix where, he won the 250cc and 350cc races. He went on to claim the 350cc title, becoming the youngest-ever FIM World Champion at the time.

In the premier division, MV Agusta with Phil Read aboard, refused to go down easily. The Championship was not resolved until the tenth and final round in Czechoslovakia, when Agostini emerged triumphant to claim his fifteenth world title and the first in the premier 500cc class for a two-stroke motorcycle. Barry Sheene would also serve notice that he was an up and comer with victories at Assen and Sweden. The writing was on the wall for four-stroke machinery as eight of the top ten riders in the points standings were aboard two-stroke machines.

1975 Grand Prix season calendar

Round Date Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report
1 March 30 France French Grand Prix Paul Ricard Sweden Kent Andersson Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
2 April 20 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Jarama Spain Angel Nieto Italy Paolo Pileri Italy Walter Villa Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
3 May 4 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Italy Paolo Pileri Japan Hideo Kanaya Japan Hideo Kanaya Report
4 May 11 West Germany German Grand Prix Hockenheimring Spain Angel Nieto Italy Paolo Pileri Italy Walter Villa Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
5 May 18 Italy Nations Grand Prix Imola Spain Angel Nieto Italy Paolo Pileri Italy Walter Villa Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
6 June 6 United Kingdom Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain United Kingdom Chas Mortimer United Kingdom Charlie Williams United Kingdom Mick Grant Report
7 June 28 Netherlands Dutch TT Assen Spain Angel Nieto Italy Paolo Pileri Italy Walter Villa West Germany Dieter Braun United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
8 July 6 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa Belgium Julien van Zeebroeck Italy Paolo Pileri Venezuela Johnny Cecotto United Kingdom Phil Read Report
9 July 20 Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Italy Paolo Pileri Italy Walter Villa United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
10 July 27 Finland Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Spain Angel Nieto France Michel Rougerie Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
11 August 24 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Brno Sweden Leif Gustafsson France Michel Rougerie Italy Otello Buscherini United Kingdom Phil Read Report
12 September 21 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavian Grand Prix Opatija Spain Angel Nieto West Germany Dieter Braun West Germany Dieter Braun Finland Pentti Korhonen Report

Participants

500cc participants

Team Constructor Motorcycle No. Rider Rounds
MV Agusta MV Agusta ??? 0
1
2
United Kingdom Phil Read 1–4, 6–8, 10
2
4
Italy Gianfranco Bonera 6, 8–9
41
18
20
Italy Armando Toracca 1-2
Suzuki Suzuki 1
3
6
5
8
Finland Teuvo Länsivuori 1–3, 6, 9–10
Heron Suzuki GB Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 7
6
9
12
United Kingdom Barry Sheene 6–8
??? 90
14
27
United Kingdom John Newbold 4, 6–7
Yamaha Yamaha 2
4
8
Italy Giacomo Agostini 1–4, 6–10
3
22
11
Japan Hideo Kanaya 1–4
Arwidson 5
22
7
Finland Pentti Korhonen 8
??? 5
10
52
Australia Jack Findlay 2–4, 6–9
6 United Kingdom Charlie Williams 5
Suzuki 9
75
United Kingdom Stan Woods 3–4
Yamaha 10
12
7
26
9
10
Austria Karl Auer 1–2, 6, 10
Gerald Brown 10
28
8
United Kingdom John Williams 5–8
Kawasaki/GB Kawasaki 10
29
88
11
United Kingdom Mick Grant 5
??? Suzuki 18 Italy Armando Toracca 4
Yamaha 19
24
11
United Kingdom Chas Mortimer 5, 9–10
Hermetite Ltd 20
63
12
46
14
15
United Kingdom Alex George 1–4, 7, 10
??? Harley-Davidson 21 France Michel Rougerie 1
Yamaha 23 United Kingdom Peter McKinley 1
26 France Christian Léon 3
König 38
10
28
36
West Germany Horst Lahfeld 2, 9
Yamaha 44
12
27
United Kingdom Steve Ellis 9
Gauloises 46
38
France Olivier Chevallier 10
64
51
10
France Patrick Pons 1
??? 48
14
6
West Germany Dieter Braun 2–3, 8
König König 69 France Christian Léon 7
??? Yamaha 93 France Thierry Tchernine 2, 4, 7
??? Republic of Ireland Billie Guthrie 5
??? United Kingdom Steve Tonkin 5
Source:
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider

Final standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top ten finishers in each race. Only the best of five races were counted on 50cc and Sidecars championships, while in the 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc championships, the best of six races were counted.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

500cc standings

Pos Rider Bike FRA
France
AUT
Austria
GER
Germany
NAC
Italy
MAN
United Kingdom
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
FIN
Finland
CZE
Czech Republic
Pts
1 Italy Giacomo Agostini Yamaha 1 Ret 1 1 2 Ret Ret 1 2 84
2 United Kingdom Phil Read MV Agusta 3 3 2 2 3 1 2 Ret 1 76
3 Japan Hideo Kanaya Yamaha 2 1 4 3 45
4 Finland Teuvo Länsivuori Suzuki Ret 2 3 5 2 Ret 40
5 United Kingdom John Williams Yamaha Ret Ret 2 7 5 3 Ret Ret 36
6 United Kingdom Barry Sheene Suzuki Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 Ret Ret 30
7 United Kingdom Alex George Yamaha 9 9 8 6 Ret Ret 4 11 Ret 3 30
8 United Kingdom John Newbold Suzuki Ret 12 7 4 2 Ret 24
9 Italy Armando Toracca MV Agusta 4 4 Ret 4 24
10 Australia Jack Findlay Suzuki Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret 3 9 3 Ret 23
11 United Kingdom Chas Mortimer Yamaha Ret DNS 3 Ret Ret 4 6 23
12 Austria Karl Auer Yamaha 8 7 Ret 9 Ret 4 17
13 Germany Dieter Braun Yamaha Ret 6 6 Ret 5 16
14 United Kingdom Mick Grant Kawasaki 1 15
15 Italy Gianfranco Bonera MV Agusta 6 Ret 4 Ret 13
16 United Kingdom Stan Woods Suzuki Ret 5 5 12
17 Germany Horst Lahfeld König Ret 5 Ret Ret 6 Ret 11
18 France Christian Leon König 7 Ret Ret 5 9
19 Republic of Ireland Billie Guthrie Yamaha 4 8
20 France Olivier Chevallier Yamaha Ret 14 5 6
21 France Patrick Pons Yamaha 5 Ret 16 Ret Ret 6
22 United Kingdom Steve Tonkin Yamaha 5 6
23 United Kingdom Steve Ellis Yamaha 14 Ret Ret 16 5 6
24 Belgium Tierry Tchernine Yamaha 10 8 Ret 9 6
25 Finland Pentti Korhonen Yamaha Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 5
26 United Kingdom Pete McKinley Yamaha 6 5
27 United Kingdom Geoff Barry Yamsel Ret 6 5
28 Belgium Thierry Van Der Veken Yamaha 7 4
29 United Kingdom Charlie Williams Yamaha 11 Ret 7 18 Ret Ret 4
30 France Michel Rougerie Harley Davidson 7 Ret Ret 4
31 France Gerard Choukroun Yamaha 7 4
32 Netherlands Marcel Ankone Suzuki 11 11 7 4
33 South Africa Alan North Harley Davidson Ret Ret 7 4
34 Brazil Edmar Ferreira Yamaha 8 Ret 3
35 United Kingdom Tom Herron Yamaha 8 21 Ret 14 3
36 United Kingdom Tony Rutter Yamaha 8 14 3
37 Belgium Francis Holleberg Yamaha 8 3
38 Switzerland Hans Stadelmann Yamaha Ret 8 3
39 Sweden Johnny Bengtsson Yamaha 8 3
40 Austria Hans Braumandl Yamaha 15 8 3
41 Norway Bjorn Hasli Yamaha 17 9 2
42 Germany Helmut Kassner Yamaha 13 13 13 9 11 Ret Ret 2
43 Denmark Borge W.Nielsen Yamaha Ret 9 2
44 France Bernard Fau Yamaha Ret 9 Ret 2
45 Brazil Adu Celso Yamaha 12 Ret 9 2
46 Finland Seppo Kangasniemi Yamaha 10 1
47 Finland Pekka Nurmi Yamaha 20 10 1
48 Norway Kjell Solberg Yamaha 10 1
49 France Jean-François Baldé Yamaha 10 1
50 Finland Anssi Resko Yamaha 10 1
51 Netherlands Peter Van Der Wal Yamaha 10 1
52 Switzerland Rudolph Keller Yamaha DNS 10 1
53 Australia Les Kenny Yamaha 17 Ret 10 1
Pos Rider Bike FRA
France
AUT
Austria
GER
Germany
NAC
Italy
MAN
United Kingdom
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
FIN
Finland
CZE
Czech Republic
Pts

350cc standings

Pos Rider Bike FRA
France
SPA
Spain
AUT
Austria
GER
Germany
NAC
Italy
MAN
United Kingdom
HOL
Netherlands
FIN
Finland
CZE
Czech Republic
YUG
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Pts
1 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Yamaha 1 2 Ret 1 1 5 1 Ret 78
2 Italy Giacomo Agostini Yamaha 2 1 Ret Ret 2 4 2 Ret 59
3 Finland Pentti Korhonen Yamaha 7 6 9 3 Ret 2 Ret 10 1 48
4 West Germany Dieter Braun Yamaha 5 Ret 2 4 1 5 Ret Ret 47
5 France Patrick Pons Yamaha Ret Ret 5 3 Ret 3 5 32
6 United Kingdom Chas Mortimer Yamaha Ret Ret 7 8 2 9 Ret 3 31
7 France Gerard Choukroun Yamaha 3 7 7 Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 28
8 Italy Otello Buscherini Yamaha 1 2 27
9 United Kingdom Tom Herron Yamaha 11 Ret Ret 3 Ret 4 4 26
10 Japan Hideo Kanaya Yamaha Ret 3 1 Ret Ret 25
11 Spain Víctor Palomo Yamaha 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 3 Ret 22
12 United Kingdom Alex George Yamaha Ret 8 Ret Ret 3 9 6 Ret 20
13 Switzerland Philippe Coulon Yamaha 17 4 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 16
14 United Kingdom Charlie Williams Yamaha Ret 1 Ret 15
15 Switzerland Hans Stadelmann Yamaha 14 8 5 10 7 14
16 South Africa Jon Ekerold Yamaha 2 10 13
17 France Olivier Chevallier Yamaha Ret Ret Ret 2 Ret 12
18 Brazil Adu Celso Yamaha 9 3 12
19 Austria Karl Auer Yamaha Ret 6 Ret 6 9 Ret 12
20 France Jean-Louis Guignabodet Yamaha 4 17 Ret 8
21 Switzerland Bruno Kneubühler Yamaha Ret 4 Ret 8
22 United Kingdom Steve Tonkin Yamaha 4 8
23 France Christian Huguet Yamaha 5 6
24 Germany Rudolf Kunz Yamaha 6
25 United Kingdom Derek Chatterton Yamaha 5 6
26 Republic of Ireland Billie Guthrie Yamaha 6 5
27 Germany Anton Mang Schloegl Mang Zender 6 5
28 France Jean-François Baldé Yamaha 6 Ret 17 13 5
29 Netherlands Wil Hartog Yamaha 6 5
30 United Kingdom Bill Henderson Yamaha 14 6 5
31 Italy Giovanni Proni Yamaha 6 5
32 Italy Marco Lucchinelli Yamaha 7 4
33 Italy Mario Lega Yamaha 7 4
34 Republic of Ireland Gerry Mateer Yamaha 7 4
35 Austria Max Wiener Yamaha 10 8 4
36 United Kingdom Tony Rutter Yamaha 8 3
37 Italy Walter Villa Harley Davidson 8 3
38 Netherlands Boet van Dulmen Yamaha 8 3
39 Finland Tapio Virtanen Yamaha 8 3
40 United Kingdom Geoff Barry Yamaha 8 3
41 United Kingdom Pete McKinley Yamaha 9 10 3
42 Australia Les Kenny Yamaha 9 2
43 United Kingdom Noel Clegg Yamaha 9 2
44 Italy Guido Mandracci Yamaha 9 2
45 Hungary Janos Reisz Yamaha 9 2
46 Czechoslovakia Titer Balaz Yamaha 10 1
47 Australia John Dodds Yamaha 10 1
48 United Kingdom Martin Sharpe Yamaha 10 1
49 United Kingdom John Williams Dugdale 10 1
50 Norway Kjell Solberg Yamaha 10 1

250cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Walter Villa 1 Italy Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 85 5
2 France Michel Rougerie 9 France Harley-Davidson 76 2
3 West Germany Dieter Braun 2 West Germany Yamaha 56 1
4 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto 19 Venezuela Yamaha 54 2
5 France Patrick Pons 3 France Yamaha 48 0
6 United Kingdom Chas Mortimer United Kingdom Yamaha 46 0
7 Italy Otello Buscherini Italy Yamaha 40 0
8 Sweden Leif Gustafsson Sweden Yamaha 33 0
9 Switzerland Bruno Kneubühler 5 Switzerland Yamaha 22 0
10 Finland Tapio Virtanen Finland Yamaha 20 0
11 Víctor Palomo 18
12 Harald Bartol 18
13 Tom Herron 16
14 John Williams 15
15 Derek Chatterton 12
16 Ikujiro Takai 12
17 Benjamin Grau 10
18 Alex George 9
19 John Dodds 9
20 Pentti Korhonen 9
21 Tony Rutter 8
22 Rolf Minhoff 8
23 Edmar Ferreira 8
24 Paolo Pileri 6
25 Yvon Duhamel 6
26 Mario Lega 5
27 Gerard Choukroun 5
28 Bill Henderson 5
29 Neil Tuxworth 4
30 Olivier Chevallier 3
31 Duilio Agostini 3
32 Helmut Kassner 3
33 Nico Van Der Zanden 3
34 Pete McKinley 3
35 Jean Louis Guignabodet 2
36 Eddie Roberts 2
37 Horst Lahfeld 2
38 Vincenzo Cascino 1
39 Philippe Bouzanne 1
40 Clive Horton 1
41 Jean-François Baldé 1

125cc standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Paolo Pileri Italy Morbidelli 90 7
2 Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Morbidelli 72 0
3 Sweden Kent Andersson 1 Sweden Yamaha 67 1
4 Sweden Leif Gustafsson 8 Sweden Yamaha 57 1
5 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Italy Piovaticci 47 0
6 Switzerland Bruno Kneubühler 2 Switzerland Yamaha 43 0
7 Netherlands Henk van Kessel Netherlands Condor 38 0
8 Austria Harald Bartol 7 Austria Suzuki 21 0
9 Austria Johan Zemzauer Austria Rotax 21 0
10 Italy Pierluigi Conforti Italy Morbidelli 18 0
11 Dieter Braun 15
12 Hans Müller 14
13 Cees van Dongen 9
14 Peter Frohnmeyer 8
15 Jos Schurgers 6
16 Horst Seel 6
17 Maurice Maingret 5
18 Otello Buscherini 5
19 Matti Kinnunen 5
20 Oriol Fernandez 4
21 Gert Bender 4
22 Hans Hallberg 4
23 Matti Salonen 4
24 V.Novella 2
25 R.Cornelis 2
26 Alberto Ieva 2
27 J.Lazo 2
28 J.Svensson 2
29 Tierry Tchernine 2
30 R.Thiele 2
31 Xaver Tschannen 1
32 P.Van Niel 1
33 Ulrich Graf 1
34 Ivan Carlsson 1
35 Zbynek Havrda 1
36 Hans Hummel 1
37 M.Arias 1

50cc standings

Pos Rider Bike SPA
Spain
GER
Germany
NAC
Italy
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
FIN
Finland
YUG
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Pts
1 Spain Angel Nieto Kreidler 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 75
2 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Piovaticci 4 2 2 3 3 1 2 Ret 61
3 Belgium Julien van Zeebroeck Kreidler 2 3 Ret 5 1 Ret 43
4 West Germany Rudolf Kunz Kreidler 9 5 6 7 3 2 37
5 West Germany Herbert Rittberger Kreidler 6 4 5 2 Ret 31
6 Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger Kreidler 3 6 3 Ret 11 Ret 5 31
7 Netherlands Nico Polane Kreidler 28
8 West Germany Gerhard Thurow Kreidler 21
9 Austria Hans Hummel Kreidler 20
10 Italy Claudio Lusuardi Derbi 16
11 Netherlands Theo Timmer Jamathi 13
12 Netherlands Henk van Kessel Kreidler 12
13 Italy Aldo Pero Kreidler 10
14 Switzerland Ulrich Graf Kreidler 10
15 Netherlands Gerrit Strikker Kreidler 8
16 Netherlands Cees Van Dongen Kreidler 8
17 Netherlands Jan Huberts Kreidler 5
18 Switzerland Rolf Blatter Kreidler 4
19 Spain Ramon Gali Derbi 4
20 Austria Walter Werner Kreidler 4
21 Spain Jaime Alguersuari Sr. Derbi 4
22 Netherlands Theo Van Geffen D.R.M. 3
23 Sweden Karl Gotesson Kreidler 3
24 Netherlands Jan Bruins Kreidler 3
25 France Robert Laver Kreidler 3
26 Italy Cesare Guerrini Ringhini 2
27 Germany Ingo Emmerich Kreidler 2
28 Spain Joaquim Gali Derbi 1
29 France Pierre Audry ABF 1
30 Italy Germano Zanetti Kreidler 1
31 Germany Günter Schirnhofer Kreidler 1
Pos Rider Bike SPA
Spain
GER
Germany
NAC
Italy
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
FIN
Finland
YUG
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Pts

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