1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

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Kenny Roberts (11) in action at the 1974 250cc Dutch TT 250cc Kenny Roberts (USA) (11) in actie, Bestanddeelnr 927-2905.jpg
Kenny Roberts (11) in action at the 1974 250cc Dutch TT

The 1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 26th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.

Contents

Season summary

MV Agusta and Phil Read claimed a second successive 500cc crown. It would be the Italian firm's last world championship and their seventeenth 500cc title in a row. [1] Giacomo Agostini switched to the two-stroke Yamahas but was troubled by injuries and mechanical troubles. [1] Suzuki started to get competitive with Barry Sheene and Jack Findlay on four cylinder two-strokes. [1] MV Agusta pulled out of the 350cc class, giving Agostini a free run, taking his fourteenth world title. [1] Walter Villa took over for the deceased Renzo Pasolini and won the 250cc crown giving Harley-Davidson the title after they bought the Aermacchi factory, reworked and renamed the bikes. [1] Kent Andersson won his second championship title in the 125cc class. Kreidler continued to dominate the 50cc class with Dutchman Henk Van Kessel winning the crown. [1]

Safety continued to be an issue with most riders boycotting the rainy German round at the improved Nürburgring Nordschleife as the track had not been fitted with straw bales to accommodate automobile racing on the same day. [1] Thus, rather unknown German riders took all wins. It served as a focal point in the increasingly bitter debate about safety. [1] British rider Billie Nelson died after crashing into the crowd during the 250cc Yugoslavian Grand Prix, injuring several spectators. [2] He died later that night at a hospital. [2]

1974 Grand Prix season calendar

RoundDateRaceLocation50cc winner125cc winner250cc winner350cc winner500cc winnerReport
1April 21 Flag of France.svg French Grand Prix Charade Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Read Report
2April 28 Flag of Germany.svg German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Flag of Germany.svg Ingo Emmerich Flag of Germany.svg Fritz Reitmaier Flag of Germany.svg Helmut Kassner Flag of Germany.svg Helmut Kassner Flag of Germany.svg Edmund Czihak Report
3May 5 Flag of Austria.svg Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Report
4May 19 Flag of Italy.svg Nations Grand Prix Imola Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Angel Nieto Flag of Italy.svg Walter Villa Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Flag of Italy.svg Franco Bonera Report
5June 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie Williams Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Rutter Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Carpenter Report
6June 29 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch TT Assen Flag of Germany.svg Herbert Rittberger Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Bruno Kneubühler Flag of Italy.svg Walter Villa Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Report
7July 7 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Grand Prix Spa Flag of Germany.svg Gerhard Thurow Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Angel Nieto Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Read Report
8July 21 Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson Flag of Japan.svg Takazumi Katayama Flag of Finland.svg Teuvo Lansivuori Flag of Finland.svg Teuvo Lansivuori Report
9July 28 Flag of Finland.svg Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Julien van Zeebroeck Flag of Italy.svg Walter Villa Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Dodds Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Read Report
10August 25 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Brno Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson Flag of Italy.svg Walter Villa Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Read Report
11September 8 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavian Grand Prix Opatija Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chas Mortimer Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Report
12September 22 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Spanish Grand Prix Montjuich Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Benjamin Grau Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Dodds Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Víctor Palomo Report

Final standings

1974 500 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachinePointsWins
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Read 1 United Kingdom MV Agusta 824
2 Flag of Italy.svg Franco Bonera Italy MV Agusta 691
3 Flag of Finland.svg Teuvo Lansivuori Finland Yamaha 671
4 Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini 3 Italy Yamaha 472
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Findlay 5 Australia Suzuki 340
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barry Sheene United Kingdom Suzuki 300
7 Flag of Germany.svg Dieter Braun West Germany Yamaha 220
8 Flag of Finland.svg Pentti Korhonen Finland Yamaha 220
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Billie Nelson United Kingdom Yamaha 210
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie Williams United Kingdom Yamaha 180
11 John Williams 18
12 Helmut Kassner 17
13 Karl Auer 17
14 Phil Carpenter 151
15 Edmund Czihak 151
16 Michel Rougerie 14
17 Werner Giger 13
18 Tony Rutter 10
19 Walter Kaletsch 10
20 Christian Leon 9
21 Udo Kochanski 8
22 Billie Guthrie 8
23 Patrick Pons 8
24 Paul Cott 6
25 Roberto Gallina 6
26 Victor Palomo 6
27 Alex George 5
28 Chas Mortimer 4
29 Paul Eickelberg 4
30 Pete McKinley 3
31 Selwyn Griffiths 2
32 Philippe Coulon 2
33R.Jimenez2
34 Tom Herron 2
35 Jean Paul Boinet 1
36 Geoff Barry 1
37 Philippe Gerard 1

1974 350 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachinePointsWins
1 Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini 1 Italy Yamaha 755
2 Flag of Germany.svg Dieter Braun 8 West Germany Yamaha 620
3 Flag of France.svg Patrick Pons France Yamaha 470
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Dodds 4 Australia Yamaha 311
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chas Mortimer United Kingdom Yamaha 290
6 Flag of Finland.svg Teuvo Lansivuori Finland Yamaha 271
7 Flag of Finland.svg Pentti Korhonen 10 Finland Yamaha 250
7 Flag of France.svg Michel Rougerie France Harley-Davidson 250
9 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Víctor Palomo Spain Yamaha 241
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Billie Nelson 5 United Kingdom Yamaha 210
11 Eddie Grant 18
12 Bruno Kneubühler 17
13 Tony Rutter 16
14 Helmut Kassner 15
15 Olivier Chevallier 15
16 Walter Villa 15
17W.Stephan12
18 Mario Lega 12
19 Christian Bourgeois 11
20 Paul Cott 10
21 Franz Weidacher 10
22 Tom Herron 10
23 Kjell Solberg 9
24 Karl Auer 9
25 Alex George 8
26 Walter Kaletsch 8
27 Werner Giger 8
28F.V. Henderson8
29 John Williams 7
30 Tapio Virtanen 6
31 Alfred Heck 6
32 Hans Mühlebach 5
33 Giovanni Proni 5
34 Billie Guthrie 5
35 Winfried Fries 5
36G.Elementi4
37 Tony Rogers 4
38 Udo Kochanski 4
39R.Jimenez4
40 John Newbold 4
41 Wolfgang Rubel 3
42 Ulrich Graf 3
43 Roger Nichols 3
44G.Debrok3
45 Phil Gurner 2
46 Nico Van Der Zanden 2
47 Adu Celso 2
48 Hans Dittberner 2
49 Armando Toracca 1
50 Noel Clegg 1

1974 250 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachinePointsWins
1 Flag of Italy.svg Walter Villa Italy Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 774
2 Flag of Germany.svg Dieter Braun 1 West Germany Yamaha 580
3 Flag of France.svg Patrick Pons 6 France Yamaha 500
4 Flag of Japan.svg Takazumi Katayama Japan Yamaha 431
5 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Bruno Kneubühler 9 Switzerland Yamaha 430
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chas Mortimer 6 United Kingdom Yamaha 411
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Dodds 3 Australia Yamaha 381
8 Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson Sweden Yamaha 341
9 Flag of France.svg Michel Rougerie 5 France Harley-Davidson 210
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mick Grant United Kingdom Yamaha 180
10 Flag of Finland.svg Pentti Korhonen 4 Finland Yamaha 180
12 Charlie Williams 15
13 Helmut Kassner 15
14 Tom Herron 14
15 Hans Mühlebach 13
16 Horst Lahfeld 12
17 Rolf Minhoff 11
18 Victor Palomo 11
19 Harry Hoffman 10
20 Kenny Roberts 10
21 Tony Rutter 10
22 Fritz Reitmaier 8
23 Giovanni Proni 8
24 Matti Salonen 7
25 Olivier Chevallier 7
26 Janos Reisz 6
27 Tapio Virtanen 6
28 Pete McKinley 5
29 Alfred Heck 5
30 Armando Toracca 5
31 Jean Louis Guignabodet 4
32 Ian Richards 4
33 Reinhard Scholtis 4
34 Tierry Tchernine 4
35H.Kittler3
36 Gerry Mateer 3
37 Paolo Pileri 3
38 Alex George 2
39G.Forderer2
40A.Van Den Broecke2
41 Brian Warburton 2
42 John Williams 2
43 Leif Gustafsson 2
44 Jean Paul Boinet 1
45 Barry Randle 1
46 Kjell Solberg 1

1974 125 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachinePointsWins
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Kent Andersson 1 Sweden Yamaha 875
2 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Bruno Kneubühler Switzerland Yamaha 631
3 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Angel Nieto 7 Spain Derbi 602
4 Flag of Italy.svg Otello Buscherini 6 Italy Malanca 600
5 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel Netherlands Bridgestone 300
6 Flag of France.svg Thierry Tchernine France Yamaha 250
7 Flag of Austria.svg Harald Bartol Austria Suzuki 230
8 Flag of Sweden.svg Leif Gustafsson 4 Sweden Maico 230
9 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Benjamin Grau Spain Derbi 211
10 Flag of Germany.svg Gert Bender West Germany Bender 200

1974 50 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachinePointsWins
1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Henk van Kessel 5 Netherlands Van Veen Kreidler 906
2 Flag of Germany.svg Herbert Rittberger West Germany Kreidler 651
3 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Julien van Zeebroeck Belgium Kreidler 591
4 Flag of Germany.svg Gerhard Thurow 4 West Germany Kreidler 571
5 Flag of Germany.svg Rudolf Kunz 9 West Germany Kreidler 520
6 Flag of Germany.svg Ulrich Graf 7 West Germany Kreidler 440
7 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Bruins Netherlands Jamathi 270
8 Flag of Italy.svg Otello Buscherini 8 Italy Malanca 260
9 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Stefan Dörflinger Switzerland Kreidler 250
10 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Huberts 8 Netherlands Van Veen Kreidler 250

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN   1-874557-83-7
  2. 1 2 "Billie Nelson at Motorsport Memorial". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 16 December 2011.