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 Yamaha may refer to: * Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below). ** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...

to take their second consecutive 500cc crown.

Angel Nieto In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...

made it three 50cc titles in a row on a

Bultaco Bultaco was a Spanish manufacturer of two-stroke motorcycles from 1958 to 1983. In May 2014, a new Bultaco was announced. Origins The origin of the Bultaco motorcycle company dates from May 1958. Francesc "Paco" Bultó was a director of the ...

while

Morbidelli Morbidelli was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded by Giancarlo Morbidelli in Pesaro. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company was particularly successful in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The team won the 125 cc world champi ...

would win an impressive double world championship in the 125cc and 250cc divisions.

Pier Paolo Bianchi Pier Paolo Bianchi (born 11 March 1952) is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion. He won consecutive FIM 125 cc world championships in 1976 and 1977. He won one more 125 championship in 1980 Events January ...

successfully defended his 125cc title while fellow countryman

Mario Lega Mario Lega (born 20 February 1949 in Lugo) is an Italian former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He won the FIM 250cc world championship in 1977 as a member of the Morbidelli Morbidelli was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer f ...

captured the 250cc championship for the tiny Italian concern. The 350cc crown went to

Takazumi Katayama Takazumi Katayama (片山敬済, born April 16, 1951) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world champion. Motorcycle racing career Born in Kobe, Japan, he was the first Japanese rider to win a motorcycle road racing world ch ...

on a special three cylinder Yamaha built in Holland, making him the first-ever Japanese

world champion A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

Barry Sheene Barry Steven Frank Sheene (11 September 1950 – 10 March 2003) was a British professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing and was a two-time world champion, winning consecutive 500cc titles in 1976 and 1977 ...

made it two premier titles in a row, winning from two Americans, Steve Baker and

Pat Hennen Pat Hennen (born April 27, 1953 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is notable for being the first American to win a 500 cc World Championship race, the 1976 500cc Finnish Grand Prix. Competing ...

. 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 Hans Stadelmann (24 October 1941 - 1 May 1977) was a Swiss professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Stadelmann had his most successful season in 1975 when he finished the season in 15th place in the 350cc world championship. He was kille ...

and seriously injuring

Johnny Cecotto Johnny Alberto Cecotto Persello (born 25 January 1956), better known as Johnny Cecotto, is a Venezuelan former professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer and auto racer. He rose to prominence as a teenage prodigy in 1975 when he became the you ...

Patrick Fernandez Patrick Fernandez (born 4 March 1952) is a French former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His best year was in 1979 when he rode a Yamaha to finish second to Kork Ballington Hugh Neville "Kork" Ballington (born 10 April 1951) is a South ...

Dieter Braun Dieter Braun (born 2 February 1943 in Ulm, Bavaria) is a former road racer of Grand Prix solo motorcycles from Germany. He won the 1970 FIM 125cc World Championship for Suzuki. In 1973, he rode a Yamaha TZ 250 to the 250 cc FIM world ch ...

and

Franco Uncini Franco Uncini (born 9 March 1955) is an Italian former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racing. He was 1982 FIM Road Racing World Champion with Suzuki. He was inducted into the F.I.M. MotoGP Hall of Fame in 2016. __TOC__ Career Uncini ...

. The accident led to a rider's strike in the 500 class, although organizers pressed on with

Jack Findlay Cyril John Findlay (5 February 1935 – 19 May 2007) was an Australian professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is noted for having one of the longest racing careers in Grand Prix history spanning 20 years, as well as one of four rid ...

winning from a reduced field of competitors. Braun decided to end his riding career after recovering from his injuries.Yamaha Classic Racing Team commit to TT Centenary celebrations
Isle of Man TT.com News (20 March 2007). Retrieved on 15 December 2015. 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. The event was a disaster with Italian rider, Giovanni Ziggiotto, crashing during practice for the 250cc race when his motorcycle's

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power ...

seized and he was hit from behind by Per-Edward Carlson. He died four days later in a hospital. During the 50 cc race, Ulrich Graf crashed when his bike developed a rear tire puncture and he was thrown into a stone wall. He suffered serious head injuries and died later in a hospital. 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 Formula 750 was a FIM motorcycle road racing series based on a 750 cubic centimeter engine capacity. History The series began in 1971 as a collaboration between the American Motorcyclist Association and the Auto Cycle Union. The FIM adopt ...

title, Baker would be released by Yamaha at the end of the year. Giacomo Agostini would retire after the season, ending his seventeen-year career with a record 122 Grand Prix victories and 15

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

1977 Grand Prix season calendar

Participants

500cc participants

Final standings

500cc standings

350cc standings

250cc standings

125cc standings

50cc standings

Notes

References

Sources

* Büla, Maurice & Schertenleib, Jean-Claude (2001). ''Continental Circus 1949–2000''. Chronosports S.A. * {{DEFAULTSORT:1977 Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing Season Grand Prix motorcycle racing seasons