1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Appearance
move to sidebar
hide
1980
F.I.M. Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Previous
1979
Next
1981
1980 World Champions
500cc –
Kenny Roberts (
Yamaha)
350cc -
Jon Ekerold (
Yamaha)
250cc –
Anton Mang (
Kawasaki)
125cc –
Pier Paolo Bianchi (
MBA)
50cc –
Eugenio Lazzarini (
Iprem)
The 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 32nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Season summary
Yamaha's Kenny Roberts claimed his third successive 500cc world championship in a season shortened by the cancellations of the Venezuelan and Austrian rounds. Randy Mamola took over at Suzuki from Barry Sheene. Kawasaki returned to the 500cc class with a monocoque, four cylinder bike for Kork Ballington. Honda soldiered on with its exotic four-stroke NR500 but began to realize it was at a disadvantage against its two-stroke opposition.
There were only six rounds in the 350cc class that saw South Africa's Jon Ekerold, a true privateer, take the championship from the Kawasaki factory-sponsored Anton Mang. Mang would take the 250cc crown from defending champion Ballington while Pier Paolo Bianchi won the 125cc title. Eugenio Lazzarini won a tight battle from Swiss Stefan Dörflinger to take the 50cc championship by only 2 points.
1980 Grand Prix season calendar
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1980:
Calendar changes
Results and standings
1980 Grand Prix season results
Participants
500cc participants
Team
|
Constructor
|
Motorcycle
|
No.
|
Rider
|
Rounds
|
Yamaha Motor Japan
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500 (OW48)
|
1
|
Kenny Roberts
|
All
|
Cagiva
|
Cagiva
|
Cagiva GP500
|
2
|
Virginio Ferrari
|
All
|
Riemersma Racing
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RGB500
|
3 4
|
Wil Hartog
|
1–2, 4–8
|
Venemotos Racing Team
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500 (OW48)
|
4
|
Johnny Cecotto
|
All
|
Jen Organs
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RG 500
|
5 57
|
Franco Uncini
|
1–2, 4–8
|
Yamaha I.M.N.
|
Yamaha
|
???
|
6
|
Boet van Dulmen
|
All
|
14 8 9 7
|
Jack Middelburg
|
2–8
|
Team Akai with Texaco
|
Yamaha TZ???/Yamaha OW???
|
7
|
Barry Sheene
|
1–4, 7
|
Honda International
|
Honda
|
Honda NR500**
|
8 17 14 52
|
Takazumi Katayama
|
7
|
19 ???
|
Mick Grant
|
9
|
Marlboro Frankonia Nava
|
Suzuki
|
???
|
9 ???
|
Philippe Coulon
|
1–2, 5–7
|
Team Nava Olio Fiat
|
Suzuki RGB500
|
2 10 ???
|
Marco Lucchinelli
|
All
|
23 28 ???
|
Graziano Rossi
|
1–7
|
Team Kawasaki
|
Kawasaki
|
Kawasaki KR500
|
11 ???
|
Kork Ballington
|
1–3, 6–9
|
20 ???
|
Gregg Hansford
|
8
|
Team Sonauto Gauloises GPA
|
Yamaha
|
???
|
12 19 ???
|
Patrick Pons
|
3–7
|
34
|
Raymond Roche
|
1, 3–7
|
7
|
Christian Sarron
|
All
|
Elf Moto Racing Team
|
13 21 ???
|
Michel Frutschi
|
2
|
Ecurie Sté Pernod
|
Suzuki
|
14 36 ???
|
Michel Rougerie
|
2–4, 6
|
Ecurie Sté Pernod/Sonauto
|
Yamaha
|
20 ???
|
Patrick Fernandez
|
4–6
|
Texaco Heron Team Suzuki
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RGB500
|
10 15 ???
|
Randy Mamola
|
All
|
15 40 ???
|
Graeme Crosby
|
1–5, 7–8
|
???
|
Yamaha
|
???
|
18 ???
|
Sadao Asami
|
1, 3, 5–6, 8
|
Suzuki
|
26 ???
|
Sergio Pellandini
|
1
|
27 ???
|
Christian Estrosi
|
1
|
GME Motul GPA
|
28 ???
|
Bernard Fau
|
3, 5
|
Team Naldoni
|
Yamaha
|
36
|
Maurizio Massimiani
|
1, 5, 8
|
Sarome
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RG 500**
|
40 ???
|
Hiroshi Aoyama
|
1–4, 8
|
MAN 2000
|
???
|
44 ???
|
Seppo Rossi
|
2–3, 6
|
Team Gattino
|
45 ???
|
Carlo Perugini
|
1–3, 5–6, 8
|
Stimorol
|
61 ???
|
Willem Zoet
|
4–5
|
Source:
|
|
Key
|
Regular Rider
|
Wildcard Rider
|
Replacement Rider
|
|
Notes
- * The 500cc did not participate in rounds 4 and 9 of the championship, the Yugoslav and Czechoslovak GPs.
- ** Katayama raced with the Suzuki for the first four races until the Honda was ready.
- *** Ballington missed some races due to an injury.
- **** Pons was killed in a racing accident at the British GP.
500cc riders' standings
Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top ten finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
Position
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
6th
|
7th
|
8th
|
9th
|
10th
|
Points
|
15
|
12
|
10
|
8
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Place
|
Rider
|
Team
|
Machine
|
NAT
|
ESP
|
FRA
|
NED
|
BEL
|
FIN
|
GBR
|
GER
|
Points
|
1
|
Kenny Roberts
|
Yamaha International
|
YZR500
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Ret
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
87
|
2
|
Randy Mamola
|
Heron-Suzuki
|
RG500
|
Ret
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
72
|
3
|
Marco Lucchinelli
|
Nava Gallina-Suzuki
|
RG500
|
Ret
|
2
|
3
|
Ret
|
2
|
Ret
|
3
|
1
|
59
|
4
|
Franco Uncini
|
Uncini-Suzuki
|
RG500
|
2
|
7
|
Ret
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
6
|
7
|
50
|
5
|
Graziano Rossi
|
Nava Gallina-Suzuki
|
RG500
|
3
|
Ret
|
4
|
2
|
Ret
|
13
|
4
|
Ret
|
38
|
6
|
Wil Hartog
|
Riemersma Racing
|
RG500
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
|
19
|
5
|
1
|
Ret
|
3
|
31
|
7
|
Johnny Cecotto
|
Venemotos-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
4
|
6
|
9
|
6
|
Ret
|
|
5
|
6
|
31
|
8
|
Graeme Crosby
|
Heron-Suzuki
|
RG500
|
Ret
|
12
|
5
|
8
|
4
|
|
13
|
2
|
29
|
9
|
Jack Middelburg
|
IMN-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
DNS
|
15
|
Ret
|
1
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
9
|
8
|
20
|
10
|
Takazumi Katayama
|
Honda-HRC
|
RG500/NR500
|
6
|
4
|
6
|
Ret
|
|
Ret
|
15
|
12
|
18
|
11
|
Carlo Perugini
|
Team Gattina
|
RG500
|
5
|
10
|
13
|
Ret
|
7
|
7
|
Ret
|
9
|
17
|
12
|
Kork Ballington
|
Team Kawasaki
|
KR500
|
Ret
|
13
|
8
|
|
|
5
|
7
|
11
|
13
|
13
|
Philippe Coulon
|
Frankonia-Suzuki
|
RG500
|
9
|
8
|
16
|
Ret
|
11
|
8
|
8
|
Ret
|
11
|
14
|
Boet Van Dulmen
|
IMN-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
18
|
19
|
4
|
9
|
Ret
|
16
|
Ret
|
10
|
15
|
Barry Sheene
|
Akai-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
7
|
5
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
|
Ret
|
|
10
|
16
|
Patrick Pons
|
Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
10
|
10
|
8
|
6
|
Ret
|
|
10
|
17
|
Patrick Fernandez
|
Ecurie Ste Pernod
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
7
|
Ret
|
14
|
|
|
4
|
18
|
Michel Rougerie
|
Ecurie Ste Pernod
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
11
|
7
|
14
|
Ret
|
15
|
Ret
|
|
4
|
19
|
Christian Estrosi
|
Team Furygan Suzuki
|
RG500
|
8
|
16
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
|
|
3
|
20
|
Henk De Vries
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
9
|
DNQ
|
|
25
|
|
2
|
21
|
Sadao Asami
|
Yamaha International
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
12
|
DNQ
|
15
|
9
|
Ret
|
15
|
2
|
22
|
Michel Frutschi
|
Elf-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
9
|
22
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
18
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
2
|
23
|
Raymond Roche
|
Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
11
|
DNQ
|
12
|
10
|
14
|
|
1
|
24
|
Gustav Reiner
|
Nava Kucera Racing Team
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
|
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
|
22
|
10
|
1
|
25
|
Bernard Fau
|
GME Motul GPA
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
15
|
|
10
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
|
1
|
26
|
Dave Potter
|
Mitsui-Yamaha
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
15
|
DNQ
|
|
10
|
|
1
|
27
|
Sergio Pellandini
|
|
RG500
|
10
|
Ret
|
21
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
Ret
|
1
|
|
Maurizio Massimiani
|
|
YZR500
|
11
|
|
23
|
|
13
|
|
|
13
|
0
|
|
Dale Singleton
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
DNQ
|
18
|
Ret
|
|
11
|
16
|
0
|
|
Franck Gross
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
24
|
|
Ret
|
11
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Jeff Sayle
|
|
YZR500
|
DNQ
|
|
DNQ
|
11
|
Ret
|
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Willem Zoet
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
|
18
|
12
|
14
|
Ret
|
19
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Gianfranco Bonera
|
|
YZR500
|
12
|
|
17
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Lennart Bäckström
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
0
|
|
John Newbold
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
0
|
|
Markku Matikainen
|
|
YZR500
|
DNQ
|
19
|
20
|
13
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
|
|
0
|
|
Guido Paci
|
|
RG500
|
13
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Seppo Rossi
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
14
|
14
|
|
16
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
23
|
0
|
|
Stuart Avant
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
Ret
|
14
|
0
|
|
Richard Hubin
|
|
YZR500
|
14
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Werner Nenning
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
|
16
|
23
|
18
|
0
|
|
Mick Grant
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
|
0
|
|
Steve Parrish
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
17
|
DNQ
|
|
17
|
17
|
0
|
|
Hubert Rigal
|
|
YZR500
|
DNQ
|
17
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
17
|
Ret
|
|
0
|
|
Kenny Blake
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Roger Marshall
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
0
|
|
Max Wiener
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
19
|
|
25
|
0
|
|
Josef Hage
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
19
|
0
|
|
Peter Sjöström
|
|
RG500
|
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
20
|
|
0
|
|
Peter Ammann
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
0
|
|
Giovanni Pelletier
|
|
Morbidelli
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
21
|
0
|
|
Paul Henderson
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
0
|
|
Wolfgang von Muralt
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
0
|
|
Gerhard Vogt
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
0
|
|
Jürgen Steiner
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
0
|
|
Michael Schmid
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
0
|
|
Alois Tost
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
0
|
|
Bruno Kölble
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
0
|
|
Rolf Schneider
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29
|
0
|
|
Christian Sarron
|
|
YZR500
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Gianni Rolando
|
|
RG500
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
0
|
|
Carlo Prati
|
|
RG500
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Jon Ekerold
|
|
Sol/Bimota
|
DNQ
|
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
|
|
DNS
|
DNS
|
0
|
|
Skip Aksland
|
|
YZR500
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Alain Nies
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
Ret
|
|
DNQ
|
|
0
|
|
Freddie Spencer
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Adelio Faccioli
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
0
|
|
Anton Mang
|
|
KR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
0
|
|
Peter Sköld
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
0
|
|
Kimmo Kopra
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
|
0
|
|
Graham Wood
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
0
|
|
Steve Manship
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
|
0
|
|
Elmar Renner
|
|
RG500
|
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Gregg Hansford
|
|
KR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Klaus Klein
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Virginio Ferrari
|
|
GP500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Clemens Driesch
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Fritz Reitmaier
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
Ron Haslam
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DNS
|
|
0
|
|
Dennis Ireland
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
DNQ
|
|
0
|
|
Carlos de San Antonio
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Gary Lingham
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Antonio Garcia
|
|
RG500
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Masaru Iwasaki
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Henk Twikler
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Timo Pohjola
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
DNQ
|
0
|
|
Fabio Biliotti
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Corrado Tuzii
|
|
RG500
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Didier de Radigues
|
|
RG500
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Richard Schlachter
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Jacques Agopian
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Børge Nielsen
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Dick Alblas
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Philippe Chaltin
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Albert Siegers
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Walter Koschine
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Jean-Philippe Delers
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
John Woodley
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
0
|
|
Roberto Pietri
|
|
RG500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
0
|
|
Alex George
|
|
YZR500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
|
0
|
|
Günter Riehl
|
|
Yamato
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DNQ
|
0
|
350cc standings
250cc standings
125cc standings
50cc standings
References
- ^ "Results and Statistics". MotoGP.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
- ^ "Grand Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden 1980". Archive.li. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ "1980 World Motorcycle Championship". 15 January 2018.
- ^ "500cc Grand Prix entry list for 1983". Motorcycle Racing Online.
- ^ (in English) Iprem : 50cc Roadracing Story - The Iprem was a rebadged Van Veen-Kreidler