The 1966 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 18th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 8 May, with Spanish Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 17 October.
Honda stepped up their racing program with a new four-cylinder 500cc bike, as well as bikes in the four smaller classes. Despite Honda's increased efforts, Suzuki would claim the 50cc title with Hans-Georg Anscheidt winning the championship from Honda's Luigi Taveri at the last race of the season in Japan. Yamaha would battle Honda all season for the 125 crown, each factory taking five wins, with Honda's Taveri taking the title from Yamaha's Bill Ivy.
Mike Hailwood, having left the MV Agusta team to ride for Honda, stormed to the 250 crown, winning the first eight races of the season, as Phil Read struggled with Yamaha's new v-four race bike. Hailwood would make it a double when he also claimed the 350 class ahead of MV Agusta's Giacomo Agostini. Honda's plan was for Jim Redman to lead their 500 class campaign before he retired. All started well with Redman winning the first two races of the year however, Honda's hopes were dashed when he crashed in the rain in Belgium and broke his wrist. This gave Agostini the championship lead, which he held despite Hailwood taking three of the last six races. Honda took some consolation by winning all five constructor's titles for a clean sweep.
Points were awarded to the top six finishers in each race. Only the best of four were counted on 50cc championships, best of five in 350cc and 500cc championships, best of six in 125cc and 250cc championships, while in the Sidecars, only the best of three races were counted.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Mike Hailwood | United Kingdom | Honda | 48 | 6 | |
| 2 |  Giacomo Agostini | Italy | MV Agusta | 42 | 3 | |
| 3 | Renzo Pasolini | Italy | Aermacchi | 17 | 0 | |
| 4 |  Frantisek Stastny | Czechoslovakia | Jawa | 13 | 0 | |
| 5 | Gustav Havel | Czechoslovakia | Jawa | 12 | 0 | |
| 6 | Alberto Pagani | Italy | Aermacchi | 11 | 0 | |
| 7 |  Heinz Rosner | East Germany | MZ | 10 | 0 | |
| 8 | Phil Read | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 8 | 1 | |
| 9 |  Jack Ahearn | Australia | Norton | 8 | 0 | |
| 10 |  Bruce Beale | Rhodesia | Honda | 7 | 0 | |
| 11 | Tarquinio Provini | Italy | Benelli | 6 | 0 | |
| = | Peter Williams | United Kingdom | AJS | 6 | 0 | |
| = | Bill Ivy | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 6 | 0 | |
| 14 | Silvio Grassetti | Italy | Bianchi | 6 | 0 | |
| 15 | Jim Redman | Rhodesia | Honda | 4 | 0 | |
| = | Tommy Robb | United Kingdom | Bultaco | 4 | 0 | |
| = | Chris Conn | United Kingdom | Norton | 4 | 0 | |
| 18 | Gilberto Milani | Italy | Aermacchi | 3 | 0 | |
| = | Stuart Graham | United Kingdom | AJS | 3 | 0 | |
| = | Kel Carruthers | Australia | Norton | 3 | 0 | |
| = | Byron Black | United Kingdom | Honda | 3 | 0 | |
| 22 | Frantisek Bocek | Czechoslovakia | Jawa | 3 | 0 | |
| 23 | Dave Simmonds | United Kingdom | Honda-Norton | 2 | 0 | |
| = |  Kenzo Muromachi | Japan | Honda | 2 | 0 | |
| 25 | John Blanchard | United Kingdom | AJS | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Joe Dunphy | United Kingdom | Norton | 1 | 0 | |
| = |  Kent Andersson | Sweden | Husqvarna | 1 | 0 |
| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Hailwood | United Kingdom | Honda | 56 | 10 | |
| 2 | Phil Read | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 34 | 0 | |
| 3 | Jim Redman | Rhodesia | Honda | 20 | 0 | |
| 4 | Derek Woodman | United Kingdom | MZ | 18 | 0 | |
| 5 | Stuart Graham | United Kingdom | Honda | 15 | 0 | |
| 6 | Heinz Rosner | East Germany | MZ | 15 | 0 | |
| 7 | Jack Findlay | Australia | Bultaco | 14 | 0 | |
| 8 | Frantisek Stastny | Czechoslovakia | Jawa | 11 | 0 | |
| 9 |  Mike Duff | Canada | Yamaha | 9 | 0 | |
| 10 |  Ginger Molloy | New Zealand | Bultaco | 8 | 1 | |
| = | Hiroshi Hasegawa | Japan | Yamaha | 8 | 1 | |
| 12 |  Gyula Marsovsky | Switzerland | Bultaco | 8 | 0 | |
| 13 | Bill Ivy | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 5 | 0 | |
| 14 | Renzo Pasolini | Italy | Aermacchi | 4 | 0 | |
| = | Kevin Cass | Australia | Bultaco | 4 | 0 | |
| = | Peter Inchley | United Kingdom | Villiers | 4 | 0 | |
| = | Alberto Pagani | Italy | Aermacchi | 4 | 0 | |
| = | Akiyasu Motohashi | Japan | Yamaha | 4 | 0 | |
| 19 | Bruce Beale | Rhodesia | Honda | 4 | 0 | |
| 20 | Kent Andersson | Sweden | Husqvarna | 4 | 0 | |
| 21 | Selwyn Griffiths | United Kingdom | Royal Enfield | 3 | 0 | |
| 22 | Tommy Robb | United Kingdom | Bultaco | 3 | 0 | |
| 23 | Chris Anderson | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 2 | 0 | |
| = | Jim Curry | United Kingdom | Honda | 2 | 0 | |
| 25 |  Günter Beer | West Germany | Honda | 1 | 0 | |
| = |  Daniel Lhéraud | France | Yamaha | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Len Atlee | Australia | Cotton | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Bill Smith | United Kingdom | Bultaco | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Giuseppe Visenzi | Italy | Aermacchi | 1 | 0 |
| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luigi Taveri | Switzerland | Honda | 46 | 5 | |
| 2 | Bill Ivy | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 40 | 4 | |
| 3 | Ralph Bryans | United Kingdom | Honda | 32 | 0 | |
| 4 | Phil Read | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 29 | 1 | |
| 5 | Hugh Anderson | New Zealand | Suzuki | 15 | 0 | |
| 6 | Yoshimi Katayama | Japan | Suzuki | 14 | 0 | |
| 7 | Frank Perris | United Kingdom | Suzuki | 10 | 0 | |
| 8 | Akiyasu Motohashi | Japan | Yamaha | 5 | 0 | |
| 9 | Mike Duff | Canada | Yamaha | 4 | 0 | |
| = | Mitsuo Itoh | Japan | Suzuki | 4 | 0 | |
| 11 | Tommy Robb | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 3 | 0 | |
| 12 | Francesco Villa | Italy | Montesa | 2 | 0 | |
| = | Hans-Georg Anscheidt | West Germany | Suzuki | 2 | 0 | |
| = | Peter Williams | United Kingdom | EMC | 2 | 0 | |
| 15 |  José Medrano | Spain | Bultaco | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Herbert Mann | West Germany | MZ | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Mike Hailwood | United Kingdom | Honda | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Friedhelm Kohlar | East Germany | MZ | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Hartmut Bischoff | East Germany | MZ | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Walter Scheimann | West Germany | Honda | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Yasuharu Yuzawa | Japan | Yamaha | 1 | 0 |
| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hans-Georg Anscheidt | West Germany | Suzuki | 28 | 2 | |
| 2 | Ralph Bryans | United Kingdom | Honda | 26 | 1 | |
| 3 | Luigi Taveri | Switzerland | Honda | 26 | 2 | |
| 4 | Hugh Anderson | New Zealand | Suzuki | 16 | 0 | |
| 5 | Yoshimi Katayama | Japan | Suzuki | 10 | 1 | |
| 6 | Barry Smith | Australia | Derbi | 3 | 0 | |
| = | Ernst Degner | West Germany | Suzuki | 3 | 0 | |
| = | Mitsuo Itoh | Japan | Suzuki | 3 | 0 | |
| 9 | Angel Nieto | Spain | Derbi | 2 | 0 | |
| = | Oswald Dittrich | West Germany | Kreidler | 2 | 0 | |
| = | Brian Gleed | United Kingdom | Honda | 2 | 0 | |
| = | Tommy Robb | United Kingdom | Bridgestone | 2 | 0 | |
| 13 |  Cees van Dongen | Netherlands | Kreidler | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Isao Morishita | Japan | Bridgestone | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Dave Simmonds | United Kingdom | Honda | 1 | 0 | |
| = | André Roth | Switzerland | Derbi | 1 | 0 | |
| = | Jack Findlay | Australia | Bridgestone | 1 | 0 |
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held since the start of the twentieth century and large national events were often given the title Grand Prix. The foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme as the international governing body for motorcycle sport in 1949 provided the opportunity to coordinate rules and regulations in order that selected events could count towards official World Championships. It is the oldest established motorsport world championship.
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, was an English professional motorcycle racer and racing driver. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycle world championships from 1958 to 1967 and in Formula One between 1963 and 1974. Hailwood was known as "Mike The Bike" because of his natural riding ability on motorcycles with a range of engine capacities.
Giacomo Agostini is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Nicknamed Ago, he amassed 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championship titles. Of these, 68 wins and 8 titles came in the 500 cc class, the rest in the 350 cc class. For these achievements obtained over the course of a career spanning 17 years, the AMA described him as "...perhaps the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time". In 2000, Agostini was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame as a MotoGP Legend, while in 2010, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.
The 1967 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 19th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of thirteen Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 30 April, with Spanish Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 15 October.
The 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 27th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Phillip William Read, was an English professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1961 to 1976. Read is notable for being the first competitor to win world championships in the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc classes. Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary, Mike Hailwood, he won seven FIM Grand Prix road racing world championships.
The 1962 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 14th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of eleven Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 6 May, with Spanish Grand Prix and ended with Argentine Grand Prix on 14 October. Defending 350cc and 500cc world champion Gary Hocking was deeply affected by the death of his friend, Tom Phillis at the 1962 Isle of Man TT and, announced his retirement from motorcycle racing after winning the 1962 Senior TT. Hocking's MV Agusta teammate, Mike Hailwood went on to win his first 500cc world championship.
The 1972 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 24th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 30 April, with West German Grand Prix and ended with Spanish Grand Prix on 23 September.
The 1964 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 16th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 2 February, with United States Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 1 November.
Luigi Taveri was a Swiss professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He competed in the FIM motorcycle Grand Prix world championships from 1954 to 1966. Taveri is notable for being a three-time 125cc road racing world champion. Although he specialised in the smaller engined machines, Taveri is the only competitor to have scored points in six Grand Prix classes: 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc and Sidecars. In 2016, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.
The 1965 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 17th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of thirteen Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 21 March, with United States Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on October, 24.
The 1968 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 20th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of ten Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 21 April, with German Grand Prix and ended with Nations Grand Prix on 15 September. As the sidecar race was cancelled at the Nations Grand Prix, it was announced that a replacement race would be held at Hockenheimring in October alongside the German national championship.
The 1971 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 23rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 9 May, with Austrian Grand Prix and ended with Spanish Grand Prix on 26 September.
The 1970 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 22nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 3 May, with West German Grand Prix and ended with Spanish Grand Prix on 27 September.
The MV Agusta 500cc Three (1965–1973) or MV Agusta Tre was a road racing motorcycle produced by the Italian manufacturer MV Agusta to compete in the 500 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship. The motorcycle was introduced in 1966 to compete against the ever competitive Honda racing machines and was a bored out version of MV Agusta's highly successful 350 cc three cylinder. Giacomo Agostini won consecutive world championships in the 500 cc class with this motorbike from 1966 to 1972. In addition, MV Agusta won the Constructors' World Championships from 1967 to 1972. The MV Agusta Tre is considered the most successful racing motorcycle in history.
The Honda RC181 was a road racing motorcycle built by Honda which raced in the 500cc class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the 1966 and 1967 seasons.
The Honda RC143 was the Honda racing team's 125cc Grand Prix motorcycle racer for the 1960 season. That was the first time the Honda team would compete in an entire season's racing. The bike was a major step forward from the previous year's machines, and though still outpaced by its more experienced European rivals, it revealed to seasoned competitors like Luigi Taveri that Honda would quickly become a force to be reckoned with.
The MV Agusta 500cc road racers were motorcycles that the manufacturer MV Agusta built and which were used to compete in 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing series between 1950 and 1976. 18 500cc world championship titles were achieved with these machines ridden by John Surtees, Gary Hocking, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read between 1958 and 1974.
The MV Agusta 350 cc racers were motorcycles produced by MV Agusta between 1954 and 1976 and raced in the 350 cc motorcycle GP championships. 10 world titles were achieved by riders John Surtees, Gary Hocking and Giacomo Agostini on these machines.
The MV Agusta 350 6 cilindri was a prototype racing motorcycle built by the Varese company MV Agusta in 1957, for the 350 cc class of the FIM Motorcycle World Championship. The project was resurrected in 1968. Neither version was ever used in a race. The only surviving model is now in the MV Agusta factory museum.
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