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1974 FIM Motocross World Championship

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The 1974 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 18th FIM Motocross Racing World Championship season.

Summary

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Heikki Mikkola claimed his first 500cc world championship in a season-long battle with four-time world champion Roger De Coster that wasn't decided until the final Grand Prix of the season.[1] The 250cc world championship ended in controversy as Russian riders used questionable riding tactics to secure the championship for Gennady Moiseyev over Jaroslav Falta.[2][3]

500cc Class

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Mikkola and De Coster dominated the series winning 17 of the 22 races as they competed for the premier division in motocross racing.[4] Suzuki hired former privateer, Gerrit Wolsink to be De Coster's teammate. Former world champion, Bengt Åberg, left Husqvarna to join the Bultaco factory racing team. Brad Lackey replaced the departed Åberg, joining Mikkola and Arne Kring on the Husqvarna team while, Christer Hammargren left Husqvarna to replace Lackey on the Kawasaki team. Maico returned with the 1973 500cc championship runner-up, Willy Bauer and 35-year-old Adolf Weil, while the Yamaha team was represented by Jaak van Velthoven and Åke Jonsson.

The season began at the Austrian Grand Prix where Husqvarna's Mikkola won both races while De Coster's Suzuki had engine problems in the first race then suffered a flat tire in the second moto.[5] Mikkola continued his winning streak with two more victories at the French Grand Prix, relegating De Coster to second in both races.[5] Mikkola won a fifth consecutive moto at the Danish Grand Prix while De Coster retired, DNF (did not finish) with a loose exhaust pipe.[5]

De Coster scored his first moto win with a second moto victory in Denmark, holding Mikkola to second place.[4] In the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix, Mikkola won the first race and, was leading the second race when it began to rain,and he crashed three times. De Coster won the victory.[5] At the halfway point of the season, Mikkola and De Coster had accounted for all of the race wins with Mikkola winning 7 motos and De Coster's 3 wins.[4]

At the German Grand Prix, Mikkola injured his ribs during practice and missed the race, allowing Maico rider, Adolf Weil to finally break the monopoly with a win in the first race at his home Grand Prix while De Coster finished in fourth place.[5] A malfunctioning front brake caused De Coster to crash in the second race (he was out in the 1975 season after hitting a tree) while his Suzuki teammate, Gerrit Wolsink took the win.[5] Three weeks later at the British Grand Prix, Mikkola was back in action however, a bent brake pedal in a first turn crash forced him out of the race.[5] De Coster was leading the race when his rear suspension broke and led to his retirement, allowing Yamaha rider Jaak van Velthoven to claim the victory.[5] De Coster came back to win the second race while Mikkola once again was involved in a first turn crash with Weil putting him in last place.[5] In a display of determination, Mikkola fought his way through the pack and into third place after 10 laps.[5]

The series then crossed the Atlantic for the United States Grand Prix with Mikkola holding a 25-point lead in the standings.[6] De Coster led five races, DNFing each due to damaged hardware.[6] In the first moto, Wolsink held the lead before being passed by his teammate De Coster and collect maximum championship points three laps from the finish.[6] Mikkola rode the last four laps with a flat tire to salvage a fourth-place finish.[5] De Coster was hindered by a damaged front wheel hub in the second race while his teammate Wolsink barely held off a charging Mikkola to win the race by a one-foot margin and deny Mikkola valuable championship points.[6] An exhausted Wolsink collapsed from his bike immediately after crossing the finish line.[6][7]

Citadel of Namur with track visible to far left

Back in Europe for the Dutch Grand Prix, Mikkola and De Coster traded moto wins in the exhausting deep, sand track at Markelo.[5] Going into the final two events of the season, Mikkola held a 10-point lead meaning that De Coster would have to win three of the last four motos to secure his fifth consecutive 500cc world championship.[5]

The setting of the Belgian Grand Prix was a rugged, narrow track in the forests surrounding the picturesque hilltop Citadel of Namur.[5] First held in 1947, the Namur circuit was known as the Monaco of the motocross grand prix circuit in reference to the prestigious Formula One race.[8]

Wolsink took the lead at the start of the first race while Mikkola and De Coster battled their way to the front of the pack.[5] When Wolsink's engine seized, the two series points leaders once again found themselves first and second with Mikkola holding on to the lead to the end of the race.[5] De Coster had to win the final three races to overtake Mikkola for the championship.[5] Wolsink once again grabbed the early lead in the second race but, soon crashed allowing De Coster into the lead with Mikkola in second place.[5] De Coster continued to widen his lead to win the second moto to extend the championship points battle to the final race of the season in Luxembourg.[5] In the first race, De Coster worked his way through the pack to take the lead before his Suzuki RN crashed into a tree, forceing him out of the race.[5] Mikkola took over the lead and won the race to clinch his first world championship.[1]

De Coster's Suzuki suffered mechanical breakdowns while he was leading five races, Mikkola's Husqvarna showed a perfect mechanical reliability by finishing every race.[9][10] Mikkola credited much of his success to his Husqvarna factory mechanic, Per-Olaf Persson, whose meticulous preparation and maintenance greatly improved the reliability of his motorcycle.[5][11]

250cc Class

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The 250cc championship was a battle between Soviet KTM rider Gennady Moiseyev and Czech ČZ rider Jaroslav Falta which ended in controversy at the final race of the season.[2] Moiseyev won the first moto and took the overall victory at the season opening Spanish Grand Prix.[2] Falta won both races at the Italian Grand Prix followed with a win in the first moto of his home Grand Prix in Czechoslovakia but, then suffered two breakdowns in Poland while Moiseyev won both races.[2] Falta won a moto in Yugoslavia and at the halfway point of the season, he trailed the Russian rider by 20 points.[2] Each rider took a second place at the West German Grand Prix but, Falta won a moto at the Dutch Grand Prix to close the points gap to 5 points going into the final race of the season in Switzerland.[2]

Falta took the lead in the first race and appeared to be heading for victory while Moiseyev was being slowed by a rear suspension failure.[2] When Falta came upon the slowing Russian rider and tried to pass him, the KTM rider made an attempt to obstruct him allowing second and third place riders, Harry Everts and Håkan Andersson to catch up.[2] When Falta attempted to pass Moiseyev, the Russian rider collided with him causing him to fall off his bike.[2] Falta was quickly able to remount but, finished the race in third place.[2] Falta had to win the final moto to have any chance to claim the world championship.[2]

As the final race began, Falta once again jumped into the lead while Moiseyev was forced to retire on the seventh lap.[2] When Falta came upon two Russian riders, Victor Popenko and Eugeny Rybaltchenko, they appeared to attempt to block him.[2] As Falta tried to pass them, Rybaltchenko rode into him, knocking him down.[2] He remounted in third place as race officials waved the black flag at the two Russian riders, disqualifying them from the race.[2] Falta was able to catch up and pass Everts and Gaston Rahier to recapture the lead and win the race, apparently clinching the world championship.[2] However two hours after the conclusion of the race, jury officials penalized Falta one minute for jumping the start which dropped him to eighth place handing the world championship to Moiseyev.[2]

Grands Prix

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500cc

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Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 21 April Austria Austrian Grand Prix Sittendorf Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
2 5 May France French Grand Prix Gaillefontaine Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
3 26 May Italy Italian Grand Prix Esanatoglia Finland Heikki Mikkola Belgium Roger De Coster Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
4 3 June Denmark Danish Grand Prix Nissebjerget Finland Heikki Mikkola Belgium Roger De Coster Finland Heikki Mikkola Report
5 9 June Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Přerov Finland Heikki Mikkola Belgium Roger De Coster Belgium Roger De Coster Report
6 16 June Germany West German Grand Prix Beuren Germany Adolf Weil Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Germany Adolf Weil Report
7 7 July United Kingdom British Grand Prix Dodington Park Belgium Jaak van Velthoven Belgium Roger De Coster Belgium Jaak van Velthoven Report
8 14 July United States United States Grand Prix Carlsbad Belgium Roger De Coster Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Report
9 28 July Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Markelo Finland Heikki Mikkola Belgium Roger De Coster Belgium Roger De Coster Report
10 4 August Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Namur Finland Heikki Mikkola Belgium Roger De Coster Belgium Roger De Coster Report
11 11 August Luxembourg Luxembourg Grand Prix Ettelbruck Finland Heikki Mikkola Sweden Bengt Åberg Belgium Jaak van Velthoven Report

[4][12]

250cc

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Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 7 April Spain Spanish Grand Prix Sabadell Belgium Raymond Boven Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev Report
2 21 April Italy Italian Grand Prix Gallarate Czech Republic Jaroslav Falta Czech Republic Jaroslav Falta Czech Republic Jaroslav Falta Report
3 5 May Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Holice Czech Republic Jiry Churavy Czech Republic Jaroslav Falta Czech Republic Miroslav Halm Report
4 12 May Poland Polish Grand Prix Szczecin Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev Report
5 19 May Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavian Grand Prix Karlovac Sweden Torleif Hansen Czech Republic Jaroslav Falta Sweden Torleif Hansen Report
6 2 June United Kingdom British Grand Prix Portsmouth-Charlton Belgium Harry Everts Sweden Torleif Hansen Sweden Torleif Hansen Report
7 9 June Germany West German Grand Prix Bielstein Belgium Gaston Rahier Belgium Joël Robert Belgium Gaston Rahier Report
8 16 June Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Valkenswaard Belgium Sylvain Geboers Czech Republic Jaroslav Falta Belgium Sylvain Geboers Report
9 4 August Finland Finnish Grand Prix Hyvinkää Belgium Harry Everts Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev Belgium Harry Everts Report
10 11 August Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Upplands Väsby Sweden Torleif Hansen Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev Sweden Torleif Hansen Report
11 25 August Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Wohlen Belgium Harry Everts Belgium Harry Everts Belgium Harry Everts Report

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Final standings

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500cc

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Points are awarded to the top 10 classified finishers.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
Pos Rider Machine AUT
Austria 		FRA
France 		ITA
Italy 		DEN
Denmark 		CZE
Czech Republic 		GER
Germany 		GBR
United Kingdom 		USA
United States 		NED
Netherlands 		BEL
Belgium 		LUX
Luxembourg 		Points
1 Finland Heikki Mikkola Husqvarna 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 DNS DNS 3 4 2 1 1 2 1 6 174
2 Belgium Roger De Coster Suzuki 9 2 2 1 1 2 1 3 5 1 1 3 3 1 2 1 2 165
3 Germany Adolf Weil Maico 2 2 7 3 2 6 3 2 1 2 3 7 6 5 3 3 4 133
4 Netherlands Gerrit Wolsink Suzuki 8 5 9 4 4 4 5 4 5 4 1 2 2 1 2 2 124
5 Belgium Jaak van Velthoven Yamaha 10 5 5 5 5 3 10 1 2 3 5 4 4 2 3 109
6 Germany Willy Bauer Maico / ČZ 3 3 6 6 6 5 6 3 2 3 5 9 7 88
7 Sweden Åke Jonsson Yamaha 5 6 7 2 7 6 5 4 6 4 5 8 9 6 4 3 6 6 5 85
8 Sweden Arne Kring Husqvarna 7 7 3 8 7 3 7 4 4 7 3 4 5 7 80
9 Sweden Bengt Åberg Bultaco 4 4 4 8 8 8 5 6 9 6 8 10 1 69
10 United States Brad Lackey Husqvarna 10 9 3 4 8 8 7 7 7 5 5 7 8 9 57
11 Czech Republic Otakar Toman ČZ 6 8 4 8 6 7 28
12 Denmark Arne Lodal Maico 10 8 10 10 8 5 9 17
13 Soviet Union Victor Popenko ČZ 8 3 9 15
14 Netherlands Pierre Karsmakers Yamaha 6 4 13
15 United Kingdom John Banks CCM 7 8 5 13
16 Soviet Union Anatoly Botchkov ČZ 10 6 6 11
17 Sweden Christer Hammargren Kawasaki 10 4 9
18 Belgium Raymond Heeren Maico 7 8 7
19 Italy Paolo Piron Husqvarna 7 9 6
France Serge Bacou Maico 10 9 10 10 10 6
21 Finland Pauli Piippola ČZ 6 5
Belgium Julien de Roover ČZ 6 5
23 United States Jimmy Weinert Kawasaki 10 7 5
Belgium André Massant Yamaha 7 10 5
25 Belgium Gilbert de Roover Husqvarna 9 8 5
United Kingdom Andy Roberton Husqvarna/CCM 8 9 5
France Daniel Péan Maico 9 8 5
28 United Kingdom Vic Eastwood Maico 9 10 9 5
29 Soviet Union Vladimir Khudiakov ČZ 10 10 9 10 4
30 Czech Republic Jiri Ondryas ČZ 7 4
Netherlands Frans Sigmans Maico 8 10 4
32 Czech Republic Zdenek Strnad ČZ 9 9 4
33 United States Marty Tripes Husqvarna 8 3
34 Sweden Arne Lindfors Maico 9 10 3
35 Belgium Jean-Paul Mingels Bultaco 9 2
Netherlands Toon Karsmakers Husqvarna 9 2
37 Italy Ivano Bessone ČZ 10 1

Sources:[1][14]

250cc

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Source:[15]

Points are awarded to the top 10 classified finishers.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
Pos Rider Machine ESP
Spain 		ITA
Italy 		CZE
Czech Republic 		POL
Poland 		YUG
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 		GBR
United Kingdom 		GER
Germany 		NED
Netherlands 		FIN
Finland 		SWE
Sweden 		CH
Switzerland 		Points
1 Soviet Union Gennady Moiseyev KTM 4 1 2 6 1 1 2 3 3 2 6 5 10 1 5 1 145
2 Czech Republic Jaroslav Falta ČZ 3 1 1 1 1 4 7 2 1 2 4 3 8 139
3 Belgium Harry Everts Puch 6 2 3 7 4 4 7 1 4 10 5 3 4 1 4 4 1 1 132
4 Sweden Torleif Hansen Kawasaki 4 1 3 2 1 5 1 3 3 101
5 Belgium Gaston Rahier Suzuki 10 4 8 8 2 2 4 10 1 3 4 9 8 9 5 4 96
6 Sweden Håkan Andersson Yamaha 3 4 6 3 2 2 2 2 81
7 Soviet Union Pavel Rulev KTM 2 6 3 9 3 10 3 6 6 5 7 6 75
8 Czech Republic Miroslav Halm ČZ 5 2 3 2 4 8 9 7 10 7 7 7 70
9 Germany Hans Maisch Maico 9 5 2 6 5 5 2 4 2 69
10 Belgium Joël Robert Suzuki 5 9 4 7 9 4 1 3 8 58
11 Belgium Sylvain Geboers Suzuki 7 5 3 8 1 2 8 53
12 Belgium Raymond Boven Montesa 1 5 7 10 6 5 2 49
13 Japan Torao Suzuki Yamaha 5 6 3 4 6 6 5 45
14 United States Jim Pomeroy Bultaco 7 10 7 3 8 3 6 7 41
15 United Kingdom Vic Allan Bultaco 8 9 5 4 5 4 33
16 Germany Herbert Schmitz Puch 8 6 6 6 8 8 9 10 6 10 33
17 Finland Kalevi Vehkonen Husqvarna 9 9 5 6 5 9 6 28
18 Czech Republic Jiry Churavy ČZ 1 6 5 26
19 Czech Republic Zdeneck Velky ČZ 8 3 9 10 5 22
20 Soviet Union Evgeniy Rybalchenko ČZ 7 8 9 6 8 17
21 Belgium Jean-Claude Laquaye Yamaha 10 10 8 8 7 8 15
22 Czech Republic Antonin Baborowsky ČZ 2 10 13
23 Netherlands Jo Lammers Bultaco 7 7 7 12
24 Sweden Olle Pettersson Kawasaki 8 10 7 9 10 11
25 Sweden Håkan Carlqvist Ossa 8 8 10 7
26 Soviet Union Anatoly Ovchinnikov ČZ 10 10 7 6
27 United Kingdom Malcolm Davis Bultaco 7 4
28 Italy Alessandro Gritti KTM 9 9 4
Belgium Claude Jobe Montesa 9 9 4
30 Finland Erkki Sundström Husqvarna 9 2
Sweden Uno Palm Husqvarna 9 2
Switzerland Max Bunter KTM 9 2
33 Czech Republic Josef Festa ČZ 10 1
France Jean-Claude Nowak Montesa 10 1
Switzerland René Rossy KTM 10 1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "1974 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "1974 250 World Championship". vintageworksbikes.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Falta's Superbowl Winning 1974 CZ250". thefasthouse.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "1974 500cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Pratt, Terry (January 1975). "Grand Prix Wrap-Up". Cycle World. p. 46.
  6. ^ a b c d e McDermott, Barry (22 July 1974). "It's Easier To Get Hurt Than to the Top". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Carlsbad's Last Motocross Grand Prix Is Today : Raceway Where the Sport Developed Has Produced Its Share of Memories". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  8. ^ "The Circuit and its Legend". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Heikki Mikkola #1". Canadian Motorcycle Association. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  10. ^ McDermott, Barry (22 July 1974). "It's Easier To Get Hurt Than to the Top". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Heikki Mikkola Interview Page 2". jwvanessen.com. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. ^ "1974 500cc motocross world championship race results". jwvanessen.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  13. ^ "1974 250cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  14. ^ "1974 500cc motocross world championship final standings" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  15. ^ "1974 250cc motocross world championship final standings" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
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