1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

Sports season Grand Prix motorcycle racing F.I.M. Grand Prix motorcycle racing season Grand Prix motorcycle racing season 1978 1978 World Champions500cc – Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)350cc - Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)250cc – Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)125cc – Eugenio Lazzarini (MBA)50cc – Ricardo Tormo (Bultaco) thumb|Kenny Roberts (pictured in Assen) became the 1978 500cc world champion The 1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 30th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Season summary Yamaha rider Kenny Roberts became the first American competitor to win the 500cc World Championship.Dennis Noyes 1999 Michael Scott Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix Hazleton Publishing Ltd 1-874557-83-7 Roberts and Suzuki's defending champion Barry Sheene engaged in a season-long battle for the title that was not decided until the final race of the season. Roberts' victory came in only his first season of international competition after an impressive dirt track racing career in the AMA Grand National Championship. Roberts introduced a new riding style of sliding the rear tire that was bred on the dirt tracks of America.https://global.yamaha-motor.com/race/wgp-50th/race_archive/riders/kenny_roberts/ Kenny Roberts Profile yamaha-motor.com 19 October 2026 His riding style revolutionized motorcycle road racing and was widely adopted by other racers to become the new standard. Roberts' arrival Roberts rose to prominence by winning two consecutive AMA Grand National Championships in 1973 and 1974, but by 1976, Yamaha had failed to keep pace with the Harley-Davidson XR-750 that dominated AMA dirt track competitions. Without a competitive dirt track motorcycle, Yamaha's American importer (Yamaha USA) made the decision to enter Roberts into the 1978 FIM 500cc World Championship with former 250cc World Champion Kel Carruthers in dual roles as his team manager and mechanic.https://books.google.com/books?id=SvgDAAAAMBAJ&q=cycle+cecotto&pg=PA30 The daring young man whips the heroes with ease Moses, Sam March 1979 American Motorcyclist 19 October 2026 Although Roberts considered himself primarily as a dirt track racer, he had developed a solid reputation as a road racer based on his performances at the Transatlantic Trophy match races as well as his victory at the prestigious 1977 Imola 200 pre-season race. Roberts arrival came at a time when motorcycle engine development rapidly outpaced chassis and tire technology.https://www.scribd.com/document/262077260/Grand-Prix-Motorcycle-Engine-Development-over-last-60-years Grand Prix Motorcycle Engine Evolution scribd.com 19 October 2026 As two-stroke engine technology continued to improve, tire manufacturers began producing wider tires to manage the increasing horsepower being developed.https://www.motogp.com/fr/news/2026/09/08/why-do-motogp-bikes-use-slick-tyres-the-science-behind-racing-rubber/1089039 MotoGP Slick Tire History motogp.com 19 October 2026 The wider tires created forces that made the motorcycle try to stand itself upright while leaned into a corner, which made it necessary for riders to hang off their motorcycles. Roberts developed his riding style after observing 1972 250cc World Champion Jarno Saarinen riding at the 1972 Champion Spark Plug Classic held at the Ontario Motor Speedway.Paul Carruthers 2000 Rider of the Century - Kenny Roberts Cycle News Cycle News, Inc. He adopted Saarinen's cornering style and exaggerated the body shift further by extending his knee out until it skimmed the track surface. Roberts' riding style eventually led to the invention of knee protectors known as sliders.https://www.dainese.com/us/en/demonerosso/demons/the-evolution-of-the-knee-slider/653283376.html The evolution of the knee slider dainese.com 19 October 2026https://www.motogp.com/en/blog-articles/why-do-motogp-riders-use-knee-sliders/823659 Why Do MotoGP Riders Use Knee Sliders? motogp.com 19 October 2026 Prior to Roberts' arrival in Europe, motorcycle racers focused on attaining high entry speeds into corners, leaving braking until the last possible moment, then carving graceful arcs through the corners with both wheels in line.Mat Oxley 2010 An Age Of Superheroes Haynes Publishing 978-1-84425-583-2 https://books.google.com/books?id=tvgwQwAACAAJ&q=an+age+of+superheroes Roberts did just the opposite, braking early, then quickly applying the throttle which resulted in the rear tire breaking traction and spinning. The resulting tire spin caused the motorcycle to buck and shake as it continually lost then regained traction, creating a brutal, violent riding style that was reminiscent of dirt track riding, where sliding the rear tire to one side is used as a method to steer the motorcycle around a corner. Because of his early application of the throttle, he was able to attain top speed faster than his competitors. Roberts' riding style astonished European motorsport journalists who had never witnessed a road racing motorcycle ridden in such a manner. He was given the nickname "Il Marciano," or The Martian, because, as Italian sports photographer Franco Villani stated, he was a small man dressed all in yellow and clearly from another world. Despite Roberts' previous achievements, motorsports journalists expected him to need one season of Grand Prix competition to become familiar with the European racetracks before challenging for the title. Participants The British-based Heron-Suzuki team continued to serve as the de facto factory team in the 500 Class with Sheene and Pat Hennen as their riders.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/barry-sheene-36333.html Barry Sheene obituary at The Independent Mac McDiarmid independent.co.uk 19 October 2026 11 March 2003 The Suzuki factory also provided assistance for several privateer riders including Wil Hartog, Marco Lucchinelli and Teuvo Länsivuori. When the Yamaha team did not renew Steve Baker's contract after he finished second in the 1977 championship, he joined Virginio Ferrari on the Suzuki of Italy team operated by former Grand Prix racer Roberto Gallina.https://books.google.com/books?id=q25p0M_Zm7QC&q=u.s.+suzuki%27s+factory+road+race+team+1975&pg=PA20 Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes DeWitt Norm 2010-09-16 MBI Publishing Company 9781610600453 en The Yamaha factory supported the 1975 350cc World Champion Johnny Cecotto riding for the Venezuelan Yamaha satellite team, Venemotos and 1977 350cc World Champion Takazumi Katayama riding for the Sarome & Motul Team based out of Yamaha International's Amsterdam headquarters. Kenny Roberts rode for the Yamaha USA team. In order to gain more track time to learn the circuits, Roberts was also entered into the 250cc World Championship as well as the FIM Formula 750 championship. Roberts secured the financial backing of the Goodyear tire company, as well as exclusive use of their tires for the 1978 season. There was a sense of anticipation before the start of the 1978 Grand Prix season. The popularity of reigning World Champion Barry Sheene had boosted the appeal of motorcycle racing beyond the specialty motorcycle press and into the realm of the mass media. He was the first motorcycle racer to gain commercial endorsements from outside the sport, including television advertisements for Brut cologne.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/mar/10/motorcycling1 The Guardian Barry Sheene 19 October 2026 Sheene's popularity helped attract renewed interest to Grand Prix motorcycle racing which had stagnated under the dominance of the MV Agusta team.http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2004/May/040525a.htm The Best Ever--Super Seventies superbikeplanet.com 19 October 2026 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101221033204/http://superbikeplanet.com/2004/May/040525a.htm 21 December 2010 The arrival of American champion Kenny Roberts added to the anticipation. Roberts had initially stated that he was indifferent about competing for the World Championships, but when he read that Sheene had labeled him as "No threat", he made up his mind to compete. 500 class Sheene opened the season with a win in the Venezuelan Grand Prix.http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/VEN/500cc 1978 500cc Venezuelan Grand Prix Results motogp.com 29 December 2013 29 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129101934/https://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/VEN/500cc dead Roberts won the 250 cc Grand Prix in Venezuela but then suffered a mechanical failure in the 500 cc race.http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/VEN/250cc 1978 250cc Venezuelan Grand Prix Results motogp.com 29 December 2013 28 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201128121324/https://www.motogp.com/en/Results%20Statistics/1978/VEN/250cc dead American Pat Hennen won the second round at the Spanish Grand Prix with Roberts finishing in second place and Sheene some distance back in fifth place.http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/SPA/500cc 1978 500cc Spanish Grand Prix Results motogp.com 29 December 2013 28 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200828210926/https://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/SPA/500cc dead Roberts then won his first-ever 500 cc Grand Prix with a win at the Austrian Grand Prix, quickly followed by two more victories in France and Italy to take the championship points lead.http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/AUT/500cc 1978 500cc Austrian Grand Prix Results motogp.com 29 December 2013 28 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200828215646/https://www.motogp.com/en/Results%20Statistics/1978/AUT/500cc dead http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/FRA/500cc 1978 500cc French Grand Prix Results motogp.com 29 December 2013 27 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201127221408/https://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/FRA/500cc dead https://www.motogp.com/en/gp-results/1978/nat/500cc/rac/classification 1978 500cc Nations Grand Prix Results motogp.com 28 February 2026 Hennen's promising career was cut short when he suffered head injuries while competing in the Isle of Man TT at the midpoint of the season. He trailed Roberts by only a couple of points in the point standings, with Sheene some distance behind.http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=388&lpos=-615px&letter=H&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 Pat Hennen at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame motorcyclemuseum.org 29 December 2013 300px|thumb|left|Johnny Cecotto (4) leads Barry Sheene (7) and Kenny Roberts (1) during the 1978 500cc Dutch TT race Cecotto won the Dutch TT with Roberts finishing ahead of a resurgent Sheene in third place.https://www.motogp.com/en/gp-results/1978/ned/500cc/rac/classification 1978 500cc Dutch TT Results motogp.com 28 February 2026 Hartog would claim the Belgian Grand Prix for Suzuki with Roberts and Sheene once again finishing in second and third places respectively.https://www.motogp.com/en/gp-results/1978/bel/500cc/rac/classification 1978 500cc Belgian Grand Prix Results motogp.com 28 February 2026 At the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix, Roberts crashed during practice for the 250 cc race, sustaining a concussion and a thumb injury.Roberts makes the right dream come true Bee News Services The Modesto Bee 1 23 August 1978 15 January 2011 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C9FJAAAAIBAJ&pg=1516,2797467&dq=kenny+roberts&hl=en May 2022 InternetArchiveBot yes Shaken up by the accident, he could do no better than seventh place in the 500 cc race, while Sheene won the race to close the points gap on championship points leader Roberts.https://www.motogp.com/en/gp-results/1978/swe/500cc/rac/classification 1978 500cc Swedish Grand Prix Results motogp.com 28 February 2026 Hartog won his second Grand Prix of the season with a victory at the Finnish Grand Prix, while the two championship leaders, Roberts and Sheene failed to finish the race.https://www.motogp.com/en/gp-results/1978/fin/500cc/rac/classification 1978 500cc Finnish Grand Prix Results motogp.com 28 February 2026 The two championship contenders arrived in England for the British Grand Prix with only three points separating them. The race ended in controversy when torrential rains during the race, along with pit stops for tire changes by both Roberts and Sheene, created confusion among official scorers.https://books.google.com/books?id=UPgDAAAAMBAJ&q=american+motorcyclist+barry+sheene&pg=PA35 Roberts: A Champ With Class November 1978 American Motorcyclist 15 December 2010 Assoc American Motorcyclist Eventually, Roberts was declared the winner with Sheene being awarded third place behind privateer Steve Manship, who did not stop for a tire change.Roberts Declared Official Winner Bee News Services The Modesto Bee 6 8 August 1978 20 December 2010 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jk81AAAAIBAJ&pg=6418,2495408&dq=kenny+roberts&hl=en March 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/noyes_time_to_fix_flag-to-flag_pit_stops_before_luck_runs_out/ Time to Fix 'Flag-to-Flag' Pit Stops Before Luck Runs Out moto-racing.speedtv.com 15 December 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055721/http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/noyes_time_to_fix_flag-to-flag_pit_stops_before_luck_runs_out/ 24 July 2011 http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/GBR/500cc 1978 500cc British Grand Prix Results motogp.com 29 December 2013 28 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200828234942/https://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/GBR/500cc dead The title fight between Roberts and Sheene went down to the final race of the season, the German Grand Prix held at the daunting, 14.2 mi km mid -long Nürburgring racetrack. Suzuki privateer, Virginio Ferrari, won the first Grand Prix of his career, while Roberts finished in third place, ahead of Sheene in fourth place to claim the first world championship for an American rider in Grand Prix road racing history.https://www.motogp.com/en/gp-results/1978/wger/500cc/rac/classification 1978 500cc German Grand Prix Results motogp.com 28 February 2026 Cecotto claimed third place in the final championship standings. Smaller classes A Spanish newcomer, Ricardo Tormo took five of seven rounds to claim the 50 cc title for Bultaco. Italy's Eugenio Lazzarini won the 125 cc crown aboard an MBA. South Africa's Kork Ballington pulled off an impressive double, winning the 250 cc and 350 cc titles for Kawasaki. He became the fourth competitor to accomplish the feat after Jim Redman (1962, 1963), Mike Hailwood (1966, 1967) and Walter Villa (1976). 1978 Grand Prix season calendar Round Date Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report1 March 19 Venezuela 1930 Venezuelan Grand Prix San Carlos Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi United States Kenny Roberts Japan Takazumi Katayama UK Barry Sheene Report2 April 16 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Jarama Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Australia Gregg Hansford United States Pat Hennen Report3 April 30 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Italy Eugenio Lazzarini South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington United States Kenny Roberts Report4 May 7 France French Grand Prix Nogaro Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Australia Gregg Hansford Australia Gregg Hansford United States Kenny Roberts Report5 May 14 Italy Nations Grand Prix Mugello Spain Ricardo Tormo Italy Eugenio Lazzarini South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington United States Kenny Roberts Report6 June 24 Netherlands Dutch TT Assen Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Italy Eugenio Lazzarini United States Kenny Roberts South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington Venezuela 1930 Johnny Cecotto Report7 July 2 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps Spain Ricardo Tormo Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Italy Paolo Pileri Netherlands Wil Hartog Report8 July 23 Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Karlskoga Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi Australia Gregg Hansford Australia Gregg Hansford UK Barry Sheene Report9 July 30 Finland Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Spain Angel Nieto South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington Netherlands Wil Hartog Report10 August 6 UK British Grand Prix Silverstone Spain Angel Nieto Germany Anton Mang South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington United States Kenny Roberts Report11 August 20 West Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Spain Ricardo Tormo Spain Angel Nieto South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington Japan Takazumi Katayama Italy Virginio Ferrari Report12August 27 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Grand Prix Brno Spain Ricardo Tormo South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington Report13September 17 Yugoslavia Yugoslavian Grand Prix Rijeka Spain Ricardo Tormo Spain Angel Nieto Australia Gregg Hansford Australia Gregg Hansford ReportSources:https://www.motogp.com/en/world-standing/1978/500cc/championship-standings 1978 500cc World Championship race results motogp.com 28 February 2026https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1978-world-motorcycle-championship/ 1978 500cc World Championship race results motorsportmagazine.com 28 February 2026 Final standings Scoring system Points were awarded to the top ten finishers in each race. All races counted towards the final standings. (key) Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 500cc final standings Place Rider Team Machine VENVEN ESPESP AUTAUT FRAFRA NATITA NEDNED BELBEL SWESWE FINFIN GBRUK GERRFA Points1 USA Kenny Roberts Yamaha USA YZR500 Ret 2 1 1 1 2 2 7 Ret 1 31102 UK Barry Sheene Heron-Suzuki RG500 1 5 3 3 5 3 3 1 Ret 3 41003 VEN Johnny Cecotto Venemotos-Yamaha YZR500 Ret 4 2 Ret Ret 1 Ret 6 3 7 2664 NED Wil Hartog Riemersma Racing RG500 9 7 5 6 5 1 2 1 Ret Ret655 JPN Takazumi Katayama Sarome & Motul Team YZR500 Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret 4 6 3 2 9 5536 USA Pat Hennen Heron-Suzuki RG500 2 1 Ret 2 2517 USA Steve Baker Team Gallina Nava Olio Fiat RG500 3 6 Ret DNS 4 9 Ret 4 6 Ret 742 8 FIN Teuvo Länsivuori RG500 7 5 Ret 7 5 8 4 5 939 9 ITA Marco Lucchinelli RG500 Ret 4 Ret 3 Ret 7 Ret Ret 4 Ret3010 FRA Michel Rougerie RG500 14 6 Ret 6 4 Ret Ret 11 623 11 ITA Virginio Ferrari Team Gallina Nava Olio Fiat RG500 Ret Ret Ret 17 Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret 10 122 12 UK Steve Parrish RG500 4 10 Ret 7 Ret 10 Ret 15 5 15 1320 13 NED Boet van Dulmen RG500 11 8 21 9 8 Ret 11 7 Ret 815 14 UK Steve Manship RG500 212 15 FRA Christian Estrosi RG500 8 4 Ret11 16 ITA Graziano Rossi Team Gallina Nava Olio Fiat RG500 6 12 16 14 9 Ret Ret 7 UK John Newbold Ray Hamblin Motorcycles RG500 Ret Ret 18 7 Ret 8 718 VEN Roberto Pietri Venemotos Yamaha YZR500 56 ITA Gianni Rolando Team Librenti RG500 DNQ 10 Ret 6 Ret620 RFA Gerhard Vogt Bill Smith Racing YZR500 6 16 21 20 14 17 165 CH Philippe Coulon Marlboro Nava Total RG500 Ret 11 20 8 11 Ret 9 16 20522 ITA Leandro Becheroni RG500 7 DNS4 UK Alex George Hermetite Racing International RG500 18 11 14 14 8 10 Ret 13 154 RFA Jürgen Steiner Caramba Racing Team Bohme RG500 14 Ret 8 104 25 BEL Jean Philippe Orban Team La Licorne RG500 12 Ret 8326 ITA Carlo Perugini RG500 9 Ret2 UK Tom Herron RG500 Ret 92 ITA Gianfranco Bonera Team Kiwi Yamoto RG500 9 22 13 Ret 122 CH Bruno Kneubühler RSS Racing Team RG500 16 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 14 10 Ret Ret227 NZ Dennis Ireland RG500 10 Ret Ret Ret1 AUS Kenny Blake YZR500 101Sources: 350cc standings Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington5 South Africa Kawasaki13462 Japan Takazumi Katayama1 Japan Yamaha7723 Australia Gregg Hansford Australia Kawasaki7634 South Africa 1928 Jon Ekerold3 South Africa Yamaha 6405 UK Tom Herron2 United Kingdom Yamaha5006 France Michel Rougerie4 France Yamaha4707 Italy Franco Bonera Italy Yamaha3708 France Patrick Fernandez8 France Yamaha3609 Australia Victor Soussan12 Australia Yamaha34010 France Olivier Chevallier6 France Yamaha270 11 Finland Penti Korhonen Finland Yamaha20 12 Italy Franco Uncini Italy Yamaha19 13 Italy Paolo Pileri Italy 18 14 UK Mick Grant United Kingdom Kawasaki16 15 France Christian Sarron France Yamaha 15 16 West Germany Anton Mang West Germany Kawasaki14 17 France Patrick Pons France Yamaha9 18 Italy Marco Lucchinelli Italy Yamaha 5 19 France Guy Bertin France Yamaha5 20 France Eric Saul France Yamaha4 21 Italy Vanes Francini Italy Yamaha3 22 France Raymond Roche France Yamaha3 23 Venezuela Alejandro Aleman Venezuela Yamaha 2 24 Sweden Leif Gustafsson Sweden Yamaha 2 25 Netherlands Peter Van Der Wal Netherlands Yamaha 2 26 Italy Gianni Pelletier Italy Yamaha 2 27 Italy A.Piccioni Italy Yamaha1 28 Finland Eero Hyvärinen Finland Yamaha1 29 France Hervi Moineau France Yamaha1 30 Switzerland Roland Freymond Switzerland Yamaha 1 31 Italy Mario Lega Italy 1 Sources:https://www.motogp.com/en/world-standing/1978/350cc/championship-standings 1978 350cc World Championship race results motogp.com 3 March 2026 250cc standings Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 South Africa 1928 Kork Ballington6 South Africa Kawasaki12442 Australia Gregg Hansford Australia Kawasaki11843 France Patrick Fernandez10 France Yamaha5504 United States Kenny Roberts80 United States Yamaha5425 West Germany Anton Mang Germany Kawasaki5216 UK Tom Herron5 United Kingdom Yamaha4807 Italy Mario Lega Italy Morbidelli4408 Italy Franco Uncini Italy Yamaha4209 South Africa 1928 Jon Ekerold9 South Africa Yamaha40010 Italy Paolo Pileri31 Italy Morbidelli35111 France Raymond Roche France 2612 France Olivier Chevallier France 2513 France Jean-François Baldé France 1914 UK Mick Grant United Kingdom 1715 Australia Victor Soussan Australia 1416 Italy Walter Villa Italy 1317 Venezuela Carlos Lavado Venezuela 1218 UK Chas Mortimer United Kingdom 1219 Finland Penti Korhonen Finland 1020 UK Clive Padgett United Kingdom 521 Switzerland Hans Müller Switzerland 522 Switzerland Roland Freymond Switzerland 423 USA Ted Henter United States 324 Finland Pekka Nurmi Finland 225 Australia Ray Quincey Australia 226 Venezuela Alejandro Aleman Venezuela 227 Australia John Dodds Australia 228 Sweden Leif Gustafsson Sweden 129 Japan Sadao Asami Japan 130 Finland Eero Hyvärinen Finland 131 France Marc Fontan France 132 France Hervi Moineau France 133 France Guy Bertin France 134 France Thierry Espié France 1Sources:https://www.motogp.com/en/world-standing/1978/250cc/championship-standings 1978 250cc World Championship race results motogp.com 3 March 2026 125cc standings Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini2 Italy MBA11442 Spain Angel Nieto3 Spain Minarelli8843 Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi1 Italy Minarelli7044 Austria Harald Bartol7 Austria Morbidelli6805 France Thierry Espié27 France Motobécane6206 Italy Maurizio Massimiani11 Italy Morbidelli5607 Switzerland Hans Müller8 Switzerland Morbidelli4808 Sweden Per-Edward Carlsson Sweden Morbidelli4609 France Jean-Louis Guignabodet France Morbidelli42010 UK Clive Horton United Kingdom MBA25011 Patrick Plisson jpn 2012 Matti Kinnunen Kor 1813 Stefan Dörflinger jpn 1714 Pierluigi Conforti fra 1615 August Auinger fra 1416 Christian Leon Fra 1017 Thierry Noblesse ita 918 Alejandro Aleman ita 819 Felice Agostini ita 720 Ricardo Russo Gbr 621 Cees van Dongen gbr 622 Claudio Granata gbr 523 Gert Bender isl 524 Walter Koschine Isl 525 Hiroshi isl 426 Luciano Schiavone irl 427 Hiroshi irl 328 Rolf Blatter irl 329 Henk van Kessel Spa 230 Alois Meyer spa 131 Benny Janssen spa 132 Ricardo Tormo Aus 133 Enrico Cereda Aus 134 Hiroshi aus 1Sources:https://www.motogp.com/en/world-standing/1978/125cc/championship-standings 1978 125cc World Championship race results motogp.com 3 March 2026 50cc standings Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 Spain Ricardo Tormo3 Spain Bultaco9952 Italy Eugenio Lazzarini2 Italy Kreidler6423 France Patrick Plisson5 France ABF4804 West Germany Wolfgang Müller20 West Germany Kreidler2805 Switzerland Rolf Blatter17 Switzerland Kreidler2506 Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger6 Switzerland Kreidler2407 Italy Claudio Lusuardi18 Italy Bultaco2008 Netherlands Peter Looijensteijn27 Netherlands Kreidler1409 West Germany Ingo Emmerich23 West Germany Kreidler14010 Italy Aldo Pero15 Italy Kreidler13011 Spain Angel Nieto 1212 Netherlands Henk van Kessel 1113 Italy Enrico Cereda 1114 Belgium Julien van Zeebroeck 1015 Netherlands Cees van Dongen 1016 Willi Scheidhauer 1017 Hagen Klein 918 Theo Timmer 919 C.Dumont 620 Daniel Corvi 521 Gerrit Strikker 422 Luigi Rinaudo 423 Ramon Gali 324 A.Jeva 325 S.Monreale 226 Zbynek Havdra 227 J.Mira 128 Jacques Hutteau 1Sources:https://www.motogp.com/en/world-standing/1978/50cc/championship-standings 1978 50cc World Championship race results motogp.com 3 March 2026 References Büla, Maurice & Schertenleib, Jean-Claude (2001). Continental Circus 1949-2000. Chronosports S.A. 2-940125-32-5 Barry Coleman (1978) Motocourse 1978-79 Hazleton Securities 978-0905138060 The Official MotoGP website http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/NAT/500cc/World+Standing 2010-07-06 2012-09-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20120918192621/http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1978/NAT/500cc/World+Standing dead Category:Grand Prix motorcycle racing seasons Grand Prix motorcycle racing season