The 1978 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 22nd F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
Heikki Mikkola successfully defended his 500cc world championship for Yamaha, finishing ahead of Honda's Brad Lackey. Mikkola dominated the season with 14 moto victories in 24 outings. Roger De Coster had a serious accident during pre-season training and ended up having his spleen removed but, recovered to finish the season in third place. [1]
Gennady Moiseyev was also successful in defending his 250cc title despite a strong challenge from Kawasaki's Torleif Hansen. In the 125cc championship, Akira Watanabe ended the three-year reign of his Suzuki teammate, Gaston Rahier. Watanabe's championship marks the first and only motocross world championship for a Japanese competitor. Gerard Rond won four Grand Prix overall victories for Yamaha and finished in third place, one point behind Rahier.
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Location | Race 1 Winner | Race 2 Winner | Overall Winner | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April 9 | ![]() | Payerne | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
2 | April 16 | ![]() | Sittendorf | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
3 | April 30 | ![]() | Gaillefontaine | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
4 | May 7 | ![]() | Næstved | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
5 | May 21 | ![]() | Ruskeasanta | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
6 | May 28 | ![]() | Västerås | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
7 | June 4 | ![]() | Carlsbad | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
8 | June 11 | ![]() | Gallarate | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
9 | July 2 | ![]() | Farleigh Castle | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
10 | August 6 | ![]() | Namur | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
11 | August 13 | ![]() | Ettelbruck | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
12 | August 27 | ![]() | Sint Anthonis | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Location | Winner | Team | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April 9 | ![]() | Sabadell | ![]() | Bultaco | Report |
2 | May 7 | ![]() | Serramazzoni | ![]() | KTM | Report |
3 | May 21 | ![]() | Holice | ![]() | Kawasaki | Report |
4 | May 28 | ![]() | Tržič | ![]() | Kawasaki | Report |
5 | June 4 | ![]() | Schwanenstadt | ![]() | ČZ | Report |
6 | June 11 | ![]() | Beuern | ![]() | Kawasaki | Report |
7 | June 18 | ![]() | Kilmartin | ![]() | KTM | Report |
8 | July 2 | ![]() | Ahun | ![]() | KTM | Report |
9 | July 30 | ![]() | Unadilla | ![]() | Honda | Report |
10 | August 13 | ![]() | Barkarby | ![]() | Maico | Report |
11 | August 20 | ![]() | Hyvinkää | ![]() | Kawasaki | Report |
12 | August 27 | ![]() | Leningrad | ![]() | Kawasaki | Report |
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Location | Winner | Team | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April 9 | ![]() | Launsdorf | ![]() | Suzuki | Report |
2 | April 16 | ![]() | San Severino | ![]() | Suzuki | Report |
3 | April 23 | ![]() | Lanklaar-Dilsen | ![]() | Yamaha | Report |
4 | April 30 | ![]() | Apeldoorn | ![]() | Yamaha | Report |
5 | May 7 | ![]() | Vesoul | ![]() | Suzuki | Report |
6 | May 21 | ![]() | Orehova vas | ![]() | Yamaha | Report |
7 | May 28 | ![]() | Laubus-Eschbach | ![]() | Suzuki | Report |
8 | June 4 | ![]() | Meyrin | ![]() | Yamaha | Report |
9 | June 11 | ![]() | Szczecin | ![]() | Suzuki | Report |
10 | July 27 | ![]() | Lexington | ![]() | Yamaha | Report |
11 | August 13 | ![]() | Montgai | ![]() | Suzuki | Report |
12 | August 27 | ![]() | Stříbro | ![]() | Suzuki | Report |
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Jim Pomeroy was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1972 to 1973 and in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1976, before returning to compete in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1977 to 1978.
Roger De Coster is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Motorsport Director of KTM and Husqvarna North America. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1966 to 1980, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team where he won five FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships.
Heikki Antero Mikkola is a Finnish former professional motocross racer and motocross team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1979, most prominently as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team where he became the first competitor to win both the 250cc and 500cc world championships.
Brad Lackey is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1970 to 1972 and, in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1982. Lackey was notable for becoming the first and only American to win the 500cc motocross world championship in 1982. Nicknamed "Bad Brad", Lackey was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and, in 2013 he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Georges Jobé was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1992. Jobé is notable for being a five-time FIM motocross world champion and a nine-time Belgian motocross national champion. He was named Belgian Sportsman of the year in 1987 and 1992.
Eric Geboers was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990.
André Malherbe was a Belgian professional Grand Prix motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Honda factory racing team where he won three FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships. In 1984, Malherbe was named the recipient of the Belgian National Sports Merit Award.
Håkan Andersson is a Swedish former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1966 to 1979. Andersson won the F.I.M. 250cc Motocross World Championship in 1973.
Akira Watanabe is a Japanese former professional motocross racer and team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1982. Watanabe is notable for being the first and only Japanese competitor to win an FIM motocross world championship.
Graham Noyce is an English former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1984. Noyce was the 1979 500cc motocross world champion.
Gennady Anatolyevich Moiseyev was a Russian former Grand Prix motocross racer. He was a three-time 250cc motocross world champion.
Jacky Vimond is a French former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1988. Vimond is notable for being the first French competitor to win an FIM motocross world championship. In 2016, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.
The 1971 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 15th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1972 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 16th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1974 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 18th FIM Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1975 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 19th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1976 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 20th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1977 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 21st F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1979 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 23rd F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.