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: RoundDateGrand PrixCircuit 1 11 May Gran Premio delle Nazioni Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica 2 18 May Gran Premio de España Circuito Permanente Del Jarama 3 25 May Grand Prix de France Moto Circuit Paul Ricard 4 15 Jun Velika Nagrada Jugoslavije Automotodrom Rijeka 5 28 June Dutch TT Assen TT Circuit Assen 6 6 July Grand Prix of Belgium Circuit Zolder 7 27 July Finnish GP Imatra Circuit 8 10 August Marlboro British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit 9 17 August Grand Prix ČSSR Brno Circuit 10 24 August Großer Preis von Deutschland Nürburgring-NordschleifeSources:
Calendar changes The Venezuelan and Swedish Grand Prix was taken off the calendar due to financial problems. The Austrian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April, was eventually cancelled due to snowy conditions on race week. It was the last Grand Prix to have all races cancelled until the 2018 British Grand Prix (although all free practices and qualifying took place). The German Grand Prix had its date moved from 6 May to 24 August and the venue was moved from the Hockenheimring to the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The French Grand Prix had its date moved from 2 September to 25 May and the venue was moved from the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans to the Circuit Paul Ricard. The Belgian Grand Prix moved from the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to the Circuit Zolder due to problems with the new track last year.
1980 Grand Prix season results Round Date Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report 1 11 May Nations Grand Prix Misano Eugenio Lazzarini Pier Paolo Bianchi Anton Mang Johnny Cecotto Kenny Roberts Report 2 18 May Spanish Grand Prix Jarama Eugenio Lazzarini Pier Paolo Bianchi Kork Ballington Kenny Roberts Report 3 25 May French Grand Prix Paul Ricard Angel Nieto Kork Ballington Jon Ekerold Kenny Roberts Report 4 15 Jun Yugoslavian Grand Prix Rijeka Ricardo Tormo Guy Bertin Anton Mang Report 5 28 June Dutch TT Assen Ricardo Tormo Angel Nieto Carlos Lavado Jon Ekerold Jack Middelburg Report 6 6 July Belgian Grand Prix Zolder Stefan Dörflinger Angel Nieto Anton Mang Randy Mamola Report 7 27 July Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Angel Nieto Kork Ballington Wil Hartog Report 8 10 August British Grand Prix Silverstone Loris Reggiani Kork Ballington Anton Mang Randy Mamola Report 9 17 August Czechoslovak Grand Prix Brno Circuit Guy Bertin Anton Mang Anton Mang Report 10 24 August German Grand Prix Nürburgring Stefan Dörflinger Guy Bertin Kork Ballington Jon Ekerold Marco Lucchinelli Report
Participants and standings 500cc participants TeamConstructorMotorcycleNo.RiderRounds Yamaha Motor Japan Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 (OW48) 1 Kenny Roberts All Cagiva Cagiva Cagiva GP500 2 Virginio Ferrari All Riemersma Racing Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 34 Wil Hartog 1–2, 4–8 Venemotos Racing Team Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 (OW48) 4 Johnny Cecotto All Jen Organs Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 557 Franco Uncini 1–2, 4–8 Yamaha I.M.N. Yamaha ??? 6 Boet van Dulmen All 14897 Jack Middelburg 2–8 Team Akai with Texaco Yamaha YZR500 (OW48) 7 Barry Sheene 1–4, 7 Honda International Honda Honda NR500** 8171452 Takazumi Katayama 7 19??? Mick Grant 9 Marlboro Frankonia Nava Suzuki ??? 9??? Philippe Coulon 1–2, 5–7 Team Nava Olio Fiat Suzuki RG 500 210??? Marco Lucchinelli All 2328??? 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 Yamaha YZR500 (OW48) 1219??? Patrick Pons 3–7 34 Raymond Roche 1, 3–7 7 Christian Sarron All Elf Moto Racing Team 1321??? Michel Frutschi 2 Ecurie Sté Pernod Suzuki 1436??? Michel Rougerie 2–4, 6 Ecurie Sté Pernod/Sonauto Yamaha 20??? Patrick Fernandez 4–6 Texaco Heron Team Suzuki Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 1015??? Randy Mamola All 1540??? 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 were awarded to the top ten finishers in each race. A rider has to finish the race to earn points. All races counted towards the final standings.
(key)
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 Points1 Kenny Roberts Yamaha International YZR500 1 1 1 Ret 3 2 2 4872 Randy Mamola Heron-Suzuki RG500 Ret 3 2 5 1 4 1 5723 Marco Lucchinelli Team Nava Olio Fiat RG500 Ret 2 3 Ret 2 Ret 3 1594 Franco Uncini Uncini-Suzuki RG500 2 7 Ret 3 6 3 6 7505 Graziano Rossi Team Nava Olio Fiat RG500 3 Ret 4 2 Ret 13 4 Ret386 Wil Hartog Riemersma Racing RG500 Ret Ret 19 5 1 Ret 3317 Johnny Cecotto Venemotos-Yamaha YZR500 4 6 9 6 Ret 5 6318 Graeme Crosby Heron-Suzuki RG500 Ret 12 5 8 4 13 2299 Jack Middelburg IMN-Yamaha YZR500 DNS 15 Ret 1 Ret Ret 9 82010 Takazumi Katayama Honda-HRC RG500/NR500 6 4 6 Ret Ret 15 1218 11 Carlo Perugini Team Gattina RG500 5 10 13 Ret 7 7 Ret 917 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 Ret10 16 Patrick Pons Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha YZR500 Ret Ret 10 10 8 6 Ret10 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 252 21 Sadao Asami Yamaha International YZR500 Ret Ret 12 DNQ 15 9 Ret 152 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 10 141 24 Gustav Reiner Nava Kucera Racing Team RG500 DNQ DNQ Ret 22 101 25 Bernard Fau GME Motul GPA YZR500 Ret Ret 15 10 Ret Ret1 26 Dave Potter Mitsui-Yamaha YZR500 15 DNQ 101 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 0Sources:
350cc standings Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 Jon Ekerold8 South Africa Yamaha6332 Anton Mang4 West Germany Kawasaki6023 Jean-François Baldé France Kawasaki3804 Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Yamaha3715 Jeff Sayle10 Australia Yamaha2506 Eric Saul France Yamaha2407 Jacques Cornu27 Switzerland Yamaha2108 Massimo Matteoni4 Italy Yamaha1909 Walter Villa4 Italy Yamaha16010 Patrick Fernandez2 France Yamaha12011 Carlo Perugini 1012 Tony Head 913 Carlos Lavado 814 Roland Freymond 715 Gregg Hansford 616 Tony Rogers 617 Jacques Bolle 618 Keith Huewen 619 Thierry Espié 620 Jean-Louis Tournadre 521 Loris Reggiani 422 Graeme McGregor 423 Alan North 224 Pekka Nurmi 125 Edi Stoellinger 1Sources:
250cc standings Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 Anton Mang6 West Germany Kawasaki12842 Kork Ballington1 South Africa Kawasaki8753 Jean-François Baldé8 France Kawasaki5904 Thierry Espié France Yamaha5305 Roland Freymond10 Switzerland Morbidelli4606 Carlos Lavado Venezuela Yamaha2917 Gianpaolo Marchetti Italy Yamaha2808 Jacques Cornu Switzerland Yamaha2609 Eric Saul France Yamaha24010 Patrick Fernandez5 France Yamaha160 11Edi Stoellinger 16 12Hans Müller 16 13Sauro Pazzaglia 12 14Graeme McGregor 12 15Pier Luigi Conforti 10 16Jean-Louis Guignabodet 9 17Didier de Radiguès 8 18Eero Hyvärinen 8 19Clive Horton 7 20Paolo Ferretti 7 21Greame Geddes 6 22R.Sibille 6 23Steve Tonkin 5 24Jacques Bolle 5 25Herbert Hauf 4 26A.Gouin 4 27Reinhold Roth 4 28Walter Villa 4 29Charlie Williams 2 30Martin Wimmer 2 31Marco Papa 1 32Jean-Louis Tournadre 1 33Rene Delaby 1 34F.Marcheggiani 1 35Tony Rogers 1 36H.Tomic 1Sources:
125cc standings Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins1 Pier Paolo Bianchi10 Italy MBA9022 Guy Bertin6 France Motobécane8133 Angel Nieto1 Spain Minarelli7844 Bruno Kneubühler9 Switzerland MBA6805 Hans Müller Switzerland MBA6406 Loris Reggiani Italy Minarelli6317 Iván Palazzese Venezuela MBA2808 Maurizio Massimiani2 Italy Minarelli2009 Peter Looijensteijn Netherlands MBA18010 Barry Smith Australia MBA17011 Harald Bartol 1512 Ricardo Tormo 1313 Stefan Dörflinger 1314 Gianpaolo Marchetti 1015 August Auinger 916 Jose Dubon 817 Eugenio Lazzarini 818 Rolf Blatter 819 Henk Van Kessel 820 Gert Bender 621 Michel Galbit 622 P.Herouard 623 Janos Drapal 524 Thierry Noblesse 425 Matti Kinnunen 426 Jhonni Baeckstroem 227 S.Janssen 228 Jean Claude Selini 229 Johnny Wickstroem 130 Hugo Vignetti 131 Z.Ljeljak 132 Anton Straver 1Sources:
50cc standings