1973 FIM Motocross World Championship

Last updated

1973 FIM Motocross World Championship
MX Spanish GP 250cc 1973 race start.png
First lap action from the 1973 250cc Spanish Grand Prix.
Organizer FIM
Duration1 April/26 August
Number of races21
Number of manufacturers12
Champions
500cc Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster
250cc Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson
FIM Motocross World Championship seasons

The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th edition of the Motocross World Championship organized by the FIM and reserved for 500cc and 250cc motorcycles.

Contents

The FIM implements new motorcycle minimum weight restrictions as well as a new championship points scoring formula for the 1973 season. Previously, the FIM had awarded points at each Grand Prix based on a competitor's overall position after two heat races. This meant that a racer could win the first heat race yet still finish with reduced or zero points, depending on their performance in the second heat race. Beginning in 1973, points would be awarded heat race by heat race. The Grand Prix races are still run with two heat races, but it is the sum of the results of each heat that counts for the final classification of the World Championship and not the points acquired at each Grand Prix.

The 1973 season also marked the beginning of the single shock absorber rear suspension era in motocross racing when Yamaha introduced their revolutionary new Monoshock suspension. The new suspension system doubled the suspension travel available from previous systems. By the end of the decade, all the major motorcycle manufacturers would produce motorcycles using their own versions of the single shock absorber rear suspension.

Summary

500cc championship

Roger De Coster won his third consecutive 500cc world championship for Suzuki ahead of West German rider, Willy Bauer. The championship wasn't decided until the final race in the Netherlands, when Bauer suffered a mechanical breakdown, losing the championship to De Coster by two points. [1] Kawasaki joined the world championships with Brad Lackey in the 500cc class and Torleif Hansen in the 250cc class.

Suzuki's defense of the 500cc world championship was dealt a setback when, the FIM announced a new motorcycle minimum weight limit of 209 pounds just before the start of the season. [2] European motorcycle manufacturers competing in the championship complained to the FIM that Suzuki was spending millions of dollars to build lightweight motorcycles that the smaller European manufacturers found impossible to compete with. [2] Suzuki had already developed and built their race bikes so, there was no time to build new bikes. As a result, Suzuki resorted to adding ballast to the bikes. [2] Unfortunately, these alterations threw the bikes out of balance and caused them to lose traction. [2] [3] To make matters worse, Maico and Yamaha had developed new rear suspensions with longer travel which helped transfer power to the rear wheel over rough terrain. [2] [3] The Suzuki management felt they were being unjustly treated by the FIM and were slow to react to developments by the other manufacturers. [2] [3] [4]

Most of the Western European riders boycotted the Austrian 500cc round due to heavy snow on the track. [5] As the season got underway, Yamaha's new "monoshock" rear suspension began to make an impact with Christer Hammargren winning a moto and Jaak van Velthoven taking the overall win at the Finnish Grand Prix. [2] De Coster won both motos of the Italian Grand Prix but, Bauer came back with a hard-fought victory in Czechoslovakia, relegating De Coster to second place in both motos and took the lead in the championship points tally. [2] Bauer then took control of the championship by winning 5 out of the next 6 motos. [5] Suzuki management's frustration at their perceived unfair treatment led to a lapse in support and, Suzuki team riders De Coster and Sylvain Geboers then took matters into their own hands by modifying their motorcycle's frames and developed new rear suspensions. [2] [3]

Going into the final race of the season at Sint Anthonis, Holland, Bauer was still holding the points lead but, the Suzukis were showing improvement. The Sint Anthonis track was composed of deep sand which robbed engines of power and increased fuel consumption. [2] A Suzuki engineer calculated that their bike's gas tanks did not have sufficient capacity to finish the race. [2] De Coster then took one of their tanks and drove two and a half hours to have the tank modified to increase its volume. [2] He then drove back in time for the race. Despite having little sleep, De Coster scored two fourth-place finishes while Bauer suffered a mechanical failure handing De Coster his third consecutive 500cc world championship. [2]

250cc championship

Håkan Andersson won the 250cc world championship to give Yamaha its first motocross world championship. Yamaha's new and innovative rear suspension with a single shock absorber made its debut at the third round in Belgium and was proven to be successful when Andersson won the overall victory. [6] The new suspension design would go on to revolutionize the sport. [6] Jim Pomeroy riding a privateer Bultaco, became the first American rider to win an overall victory in an FIM Motocross Grand Prix race when he won the season opening Spanish Grand Prix. [7] His victory also marked the first Grand Prix victory for the Bultaco factory. [8] Competitors from nine different manufacturers placed in the top ten of the 250cc championship final standings, reflecting the thriving vitality of the sport of motocross.

Grands Prix

500cc

RoundDateGrand PrixLocationRace 1 WinnerRace 2 WinnerOverall WinnerReport
1April 1 Flag of France.svg French Grand Prix Tarare Flag of Sweden.svg Christer Hammargren Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gerrit Wolsink Report
2April 15 Flag of Austria.svg Austrian Grand Prix Sittendorf Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jiri Stodulka Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jiri Stodulka Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jiri Stodulka Report
3May 20 Flag of Finland.svg Finnish Grand Prix Ruskeasanta Flag of Sweden.svg Christer Hammargren Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jaak van Velthoven Report
4May 27 Flag of Italy.svg Italian Grand Prix Pinerolo Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Report
5June 3 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovak Grand Prix Holice Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Report
6June 24 Flag of the United States.svg United States Grand Prix Carlsbad Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Report
7July 15 Flag of Germany.svg West German Grand Prix Bielstein Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Report
8August 5 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Grand Prix Namur Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Report
9August 12 Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg Grand Prix Ettelbruck Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Report
10August 12 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch Grand Prix Sint Anthonis Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gerrit Wolsink Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Report
Sources: [9] [10]

250cc

RoundDateGrand PrixLocationRace 1 WinnerRace 2 WinnerOverall WinnerReport
1April 8 Flag of Spain.svg Spanish Grand Prix Sabadell Flag of the United States.svg Jim Pomeroy Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Flag of the United States.svg Jim Pomeroy Report
2April 15 Flag of Italy.svg Italian Grand Prix Serramazzoni Flag of Finland.svg Heikki Mikkola Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Pavel Rulev Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Report
3April 29 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Grand Prix Wuustwezel Flag of Finland.svg Heikki Mikkola Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Report
4May 6 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Swiss Grand Prix Payerne Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Report
5May 13 Flag of Poland.svg Polish Grand Prix Szczecin Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Report
6May 20 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavian Grand Prix Orehova vas Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Gennady Moiseyev Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Gennady Moiseyev Report
7June 17 Flag of France.svg French Grand Prix Cassel Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Report
8August 5 Flag of Finland.svg Finnish Grand Prix Hyvinkää Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Report
9August 12 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Russian Grand Prix Leningrad Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Report
10August 19 Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Grand Prix Ulricehamn Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Report
11August 26 Flag of Austria.svg Austrian Grand PrixLaunsdorf Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Flag of Finland.svg Heikki Mikkola Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Report
Sources: [11] [12]

Final standings

Points are awarded to the top 10 classified finishers of each moto. For the 500cc final championship standings, the 10 best of 20 moto results are retained. For the 250cc final championship standings, the 12 best of 22 moto results are retained.

Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 
Points1512108654321

500cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

PosRiderMachine FRA
Flag of France.svg
AUT
Flag of Austria.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
TCH
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
USA
Flag of the United States.svg
GER
Flag of Germany.svg
BEL
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
LUX
Flag of Luxembourg.svg
NED
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Points
1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Coster Suzuki 1111222212344145
2 Flag of Germany.svg Willy Bauer Maico 445311111112143
3 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jaak van Velthoven Yamaha 2223343106522323122
4 Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Yamaha378773241112109
5 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gerrit Wolsink Maico624456462435341105
6 Flag of Sweden.svg Christer Hammargren Yamaha113585437387
7 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jiri Stodulka ČZ 1131076556
8 Flag of Germany.svg Werner SchutzMaico5667656646956
9 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Oldrich HamrsmidČZ352569745
10 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Otakar TomanČZ9934587851045
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Banks Cheney-BSA 4344936
12 Flag of Sweden.svg Bengt Åberg Husqvarna 852895835
13 Flag of the United States.svg Brad Lackey Kawasaki 89887106626
14 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Frans SigmansYamaha4785824
15 Flag of Austria.svg Walter Leitgeb Puch 3222
16 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Anatoly BotchkovČZ3108620
17 Flag of Sweden.svg Bert-Ove WallnerHusqvarna778616
18 Flag of Austria.svg Friedrich SchiechtlHusqvarna4613
19 Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe CavalleroMaico212
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vladimir OvchinnikovČZ5512
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vic EastwoodMaico / AJS 799712
22 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter WillemsYamaha99510
23 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fritz GrafYamaha4109
24 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Willy van LoonČZ868
25 Flag of Italy.svg Paolo PironHusqvarna / Bultaco 106107
26 Flag of France.svg Daniel PéanMaico56
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Pierre KarsmakersYamaha796
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Yvan Van den BroeckHusqvarna / Maico976
29 Flag of Sweden.svg Arne LindforsYamaha65
Flag of the United States.svg John DeSotoČZ985
31 Flag of France.svg Serge BacouBultaco74
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tony Van ErpMaico74
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Raymond HeerenMaico8104
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Julien de RooverČZ8104
Flag of Sweden.svg Arne Kring Husqvarna101094
Flag of Austria.svg Siegfried Lerner KTM 74
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Anatoly MandritchenkoČZ910104
38 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Nikolai EfimovČZ1093
Flag of Italy.svg Alberto AngioliniMaico83
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Zdenek StrnadČZ9103
41 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Viatcheslav KrasnotchekovČZ101
Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Weinert Kawasaki101
Sources: [1] [10]

250cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

PosRiderMachine ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
BEL
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
CH
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
POL
Flag of Poland.svg
YUG
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
USSR
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
AUT
Flag of Austria.svg
Points
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Håkan Andersson Yamaha 623621111112111114177
2 Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Maico 514253224122115412157
3 Flag of Finland.svg Heikki Mikkola Husqvarna 31123324334322351143
4 Flag of Sweden.svg Torleif Hansen Kawasaki 4465634332223111
5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Gennady Moiseyev KTM 2422132436104
6 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jaroslav Falta ČZ 7364454266586486
7 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Pomeroy Bultaco 1455765531081071
8 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Pavel RulevKTM96184777749
Flag of Sweden.svg Uno Palm Puch 86810855973549
10 Flag of Finland.svg Kalevi Vehkonen Montesa 10535386943
11 Flag of Germany.svg Hans MaischMaico23107435
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Leonid ShinkarenkoČZ87557651035
13 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Evgeniy RybalchenkoČZ9797961076832
14 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Harry Everts Puch89977849930
15 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Antonin BaborowskyČZ8310998527
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jean-Claude LaquayeYamaha8576710727
17 Flag of Japan.svg Torao SuzukiYamaha74410824
18 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Suzuki 105415
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jo LammersMontesa108978915
20 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Gaston Rahier Suzuki101010109611
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Miroslav HalmČZ8871011
22 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Sylvain Geboers Suzuki6610
23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy RobertonHusqvarna1091069
24 Flag of Germany.svg Herbert SchmitzMaico787
25 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Zdeneck VelkyČZ9996
26 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Alexej KibirinČZ65
27 Flag of Finland.svg Lars OhbergMontesa83
Flag of Finland.svg Jorma JarvinenMontesa83
29 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Yuri KhudiakovČZ92
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Claude JobeMontesa92
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Raymond BovenMontesa92
32 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Marcel WiertzBultaco101
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Stef Van der SluisYamaha101
Flag of Sweden.svg Olle PetterssonKawasaki101
Sources: [12] [13]

References

  1. 1 2 "1973 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "1973 Suzuki RN-73". mxworksbike.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Roger De Coster Interview". supercross.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  4. "The First US GP". motoretroillustrated.com. Archived from the original on 9 December 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 "1973 500cc motocross world championship". akejonsson.com. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Torsten Hallman 2005". mxworksbike.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  7. "Jim Pomeroy at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  8. "Jim Pomeroy, Motocross Legend". ultimatemotorcycling.com. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  9. "1973 500cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  10. 1 2 "1973 500cc motocross world championship final results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  11. "1973 250cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  12. 1 2 "1973 250cc motocross world championship results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  13. "1973 250cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 10 February 2025.