1983 South African motorcycle Grand Prix

Last updated

Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg   1983 South African Grand Prix
Race details
Race 1 of 12 races in the
1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Kyalami 1961 - 1988 Layout.png
Date19 March 1983
Official name Nashua Motorcycle Grand Prix [1]
Location Kyalami
Course
  • Permanent racing facility
  • 4.014 km (2.494 mi)
500 cc
Pole position
Rider Flag of the United States.svg Freddie Spencer
Time 1:26.600
Fastest lap
Rider Flag of the United States.svg Freddie Spencer
Time 1:26.430
Podium
First Flag of the United States.svg Freddie Spencer
Second Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Roberts
Third Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ron Haslam
250 cc
Pole position
Rider Flag of France.svg Jean-François Baldé
Time 1:31.700
Fastest lap
Rider Flag of France.svg Jean-François Baldé
Time 1:31.450
Podium
First Flag of France.svg Jean-François Baldé
Second Flag of Belgium.svg Didier de Radiguès
Third Flag of France.svg Hervé Guilleux
125 cc
Pole position
RiderFlag placeholder.svg No 125cc was held
Fastest lap
RiderFlag placeholder.svg No 125cc was held
Podium
FirstFlag placeholder.svg No 125cc was held
SecondFlag placeholder.svg No 125cc was held
ThirdFlag placeholder.svg No 125cc was held
50 cc
Pole position
RiderFlag placeholder.svg No 50cc was held
Fastest lap
RiderFlag placeholder.svg No 50cc was held
Podium
FirstFlag placeholder.svg No 50cc was held
SecondFlag placeholder.svg No 50cc was held
ThirdFlag placeholder.svg No 50cc was held

The 1983 South African motorcycle Grand Prix was the first round of the FIM 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 18–19 March 1983 at the Kyalami circuit which, has an elevation of 6,000 feet above sea level. [2] It was the first Grand Prix motorcycle race held on the African continent. [2] Because of the cost of flying Grand Prix teams and their equipment to South Africa, organizers were allowed to run just two classes rather than the three normally required by the FIM. [2]

Contents

Summary

Qualifying

Qualifying was led by Honda's Freddie Spencer with Eddie Lawson, Takazumi Katayama, Kenny Roberts, Ron Haslam, Marco Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini filling out the front row of the starting grid. [2]

Race

The race started with the four factory-backed Hondas leading the field with Spencer out in front. [2] Suzuki's Randy Mamola was in fifth with Roberts closing in on the leaders. [2] Despite an overheating motorcycle, Roberts managed to secure second place on the ninth lap when he passed Haslam but, by then Spencer had built a 10-second lead. [2] Roberts was able to close the gap to 5 seconds but, his overheating engine prevented him from gaining any further time and he had to settle for second place behind race winner Spencer. [2] Haslam battled Yamaha's Marc Fontan to secure third place. [2] Katayama had made a poor tire choice and when he tried to increase his pace late in the race, he crashed while trying to pass Jon Ekerold's Cagiva. [2] Katayama's crash promoted Mamola to fifth place. [2]

Jean-François Baldé led teammate Didier de Radiguès across the finish line to post a one-two finish in the 250cc race for Alain Chevallier's privateer Yamaha team.[ citation needed ]

Classification

500 cc

Pos.RiderTeamMachineTime/RetiredPoints
1 Flag of the United States.svg Freddie Spencer HRC-Honda NS500 43'58.50015
2 Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Roberts Marlboro Agostini-Yamaha YZR500 +7.20012
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ron Haslam HRC-HondaNS500+13.30010
4 Flag of France.svg Marc Fontan Sonauto Gauloises-YamahaYZR500+13.5008
5 Flag of the United States.svg Randy Mamola HB Sinclair-Suzuki RG500 +28.4006
6 Flag of Italy.svg Franco Uncini HB Gallina-SuzukiRG500+37.7005
7 Flag of France.svg Raymond Roche Moto Club Paul RicardNS500+41.5004
8 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Lawson Marlboro Agostini YamahaYZR500+42.4003
9 Flag of Italy.svg Marco Lucchinelli HRC-HondaNS500+45.4002
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barry Sheene Heron-SuzukiRG500+1'08.3001
11 Flag of Italy.svg Loris Reggiani HB Gallina-SuzukiRG500+1'09.700
12 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Sergio PellandiniCarimati-Pezzani RacingRG500+1'13.800
13 Flag of Italy.svg Maurizio Massimiani HIRT Italia RS500 +1 lap
14 Flag of Italy.svg Fabio BiliottiMoto Club CondorRG500+1 lap
15 Flag of Italy.svg Virginio Ferrari Cagiva GP500 +1 lap
16 Flag of Brazil.svg Marco Greco RG500+1 lap
17 Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Jon Ekerold CagivaGP500+1 lap
18 Flag of Italy.svg Corrado TuziiBeton Bloc RacingRS500+1 lap
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gary LinghamMyers MotorcyclesRG500+1 lap
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Parrish Mitsui YamahaYZR500+1 lap
21 Flag of Germany.svg Alfons Amerschläger Skoal Bandit Heron SuzukiRG500+2 laps
22 Flag of Germany.svg Wolfgang SchwarzES Motorradzubeh Racing TeamRG500+2 laps
Ret Flag of Japan.svg Takazumi Katayama HRC-HondaNS500Accident
Ret Flag of Germany.svg Gustav ReinerRG500Accident
Ret Flag of the Netherlands.svg Boet van Dulmen Shell Nederland-SuzukiRG500Mechanical
Ret Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris GuyRG500Mechanical
Ret Flag of Italy.svg Leandro BecheroniRG500Accident
Ret Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Michel Frutschi RS500Accident
Ret Flag of Italy.svg Guido Paci RS500Accident
DNQ Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Wolfgang von MuraltRG500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of France.svg Jean-François Baldé RS500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of Austria.svg Frank KasererRG500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of Denmark.svg Børge NielsenRG500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Philippe Coulon Marlboro-SuzukiRG500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Andreas HofmannRG500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of Italy.svg Walter MiglioratiMoto Club CarateRG500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of Italy.svg Lorenzo GhiselliRG500Did not qualify
DNQ Flag of Norway.svg Bent SlydalRG500Did not qualify
Sources: [3] [4]

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References

  1. ↑ "Grand Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden 1983". Archive.today. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Clifford, Peter (1983), Motocourse 1983-1984, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN   0-905138-26-0
  3. ↑ "1983 South African MotoGP". Motorsportmagazine.com. 9 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "1983 South African GP Results". MotoGP official website. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
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