1978 FIM Motocross World Championship

1978 FIM Motocross World Championship
Fernando Muñoz at the 1978 250cc Spanish Grand Prix
OrganizerFIM
Duration9 April/27 August
Number of races36
Number of manufacturers18
Champions
500cc Heikki Mikkola
250cc Gennady Moiseyev
125cc Akira Watanabe

The 1978 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 22nd F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.

Summary

Heikki Mikkola successfully defended his 500cc world championship for Yamaha, finishing ahead of Honda's Brad Lackey. Mikkola dominated the season with 14 moto victories in 24 outings. Roger De Coster had a serious accident during pre-season training and ended up having his spleen removed but, recovered to finish the season in third place.[1]

Gennady Moiseyev was also successful in defending his 250cc title. In the battle for second place, Torleif Hansen, Hans Maisch and Vladimir Kavinov all finish within 1 point of each other. In the 125cc championship, Akira Watanabe ended the three-year reign of his Suzuki teammate, Gaston Rahier. Watanabe's championship marks the first and only motocross world championship for a Japanese competitor. Gérard Rond won four Grand Prix overall victories for Yamaha and finished in third place, one point behind Rahier.

Grands Prix

500cc

Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 April 9 Swiss Grand Prix Payerne Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
2 April 16 Austrian Grand Prix Sittendorf Brad Lackey Roger De Coster Brad Lackey Report
3 April 30 French Grand Prix Gaillefontaine Brad Lackey Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
4 May 7 Danish Grand Prix Næstved Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
5 May 21 Finnish Grand Prix Ruskeasanta Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
6 May 28 Swedish Grand Prix Västerås Herbert Schmitz Heikki Mikkola Roger De Coster Report
7 June 4 United States Grand Prix Carlsbad Herbert Schmitz Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
8 June 11 Italian Grand Prix Gallarate Brad Lackey Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
9 July 2 British Grand Prix Farleigh Castle Heikki Mikkola Brad Lackey Brad Lackey Report
10 August 6 Belgian Grand Prix Namur Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
11 August 13 Luxembourg Grand Prix Ettelbruck Roger De Coster Heikki Mikkola Heikki Mikkola Report
12 August 27 Dutch Grand Prix Sint Anthonis Gerrit Wolsink Gerrit Wolsink Gerrit Wolsink Report
Sources:[2][3]

250cc

Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 April 9 Spanish Grand Prix Sabadell Harry Everts Håkan Carlqvist Harry Everts Report
2 May 7 Italian Grand Prix Serramazzoni Hans Maisch Gennady Moiseyev Fritz Schneider Report
3 May 21 Czechoslovak Grand Prix Holice Torleif Hansen Vladimir Kavinov Torleif Hansen Report
4 May 28 Yugoslavian Grand Prix Tržič Torleif Hansen Gennady Moiseyev Torleif Hansen Report
5 June 4 Austrian Grand Prix Schwanenstadt Jaroslav Falta Hans Maisch Jaroslav Falta Report
6 June 11 West German Grand Prix Beuern Hans Maisch Harry Everts Torleif Hansen Report
7 June 18 British Grand Prix Kilmartin Gennady Moiseyev Gennady Moiseyev Gennady Moiseyev Report
8 July 2 French Grand Prix Ahun Vladimir Kavinov Vladimir Kavinov Vladimir Kavinov Report
9 July 30 United States Grand Prix Unadilla Jimmy Ellis Bob Hannah Marty Tripes Report
10 August 13 Swedish Grand Prix Barkarby Gennady Moiseyev Vladimir Kavinov Neil Hudson Report
11 August 20 Finnish Grand Prix Hyvinkää Torleif Hansen Vladimir Kavinov Torleif Hansen Report
12 August 27 Russian Grand Prix Leningrad Gennady Moiseyev Torleif Hansen Torleif Hansen Report
Sources:[4][5]

125cc

Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 April 9 Austrian Grand Prix Launsdorf Gaston Rahier Gaston Rahier Gaston Rahier Report
2 April 16 Italian Grand Prix San Severino Gaston Rahier Akira Watanabe Gaston Rahier Report
3 April 23 Belgian Grand Prix Lanklaar-Dilsen Gérard Rond Gérard Rond Gérard Rond Report
4 April 30 Dutch Grand Prix Apeldoorn Gérard Rond Gérard Rond Gérard Rond Report
5 May 7 French Grand Prix Vesoul Gaston Rahier Gaston Rahier Gaston Rahier Report
6 May 21 Yugoslavian Grand Prix Orehova vas Gérard Rond Akira Watanabe Gérard Rond Report
7 May 28 West German Grand Prix Laubus-Eschbach Gaston Rahier Akira Watanabe Akira Watanabe Report
8 June 4 Swiss Grand Prix Meyrin Akira Watanabe Gérard Rond Gérard Rond Report
9 June 11 Polish Grand Prix Szczecin Gérard Rond Akira Watanabe Akira Watanabe Report
10 July 27 United States Grand Prix Lexington Broc Glover Broc Glover Broc Glover Report
11 August 13 Spanish Grand Prix Montgai Akira Watanabe Akira Watanabe Akira Watanabe Report
12 August 27 Czechoslovak Grand Prix Stříbro Gérard Rond Gaston Rahier Gaston Rahier Report
Sources:[6][7]

Final standings

Points are awarded based on the results of each individual heat race. The top 10 classified finishers in each heat race score points according to the following scale;

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

500cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

Pos Rider Machine CH
 AUT
 FRA
 DEN
 FIN
 SWE
 USA
 ITA
 UK
 BEL
 LUX
 NED
 Points
1 Heikki Mikkola Yamaha 1 1 3 6 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 3 3 299
2 Brad Lackey Honda 5 3 1 2 1 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 4 2 1 2 2 214
3 Roger De Coster Suzuki 2 4 1 4 3 4 5 2 3 2 2 3 6 10 1 3 5 2 172
4 Herbert Schmitz Maico 2 3 4 8 6 7 9 1 1 3 8 2 3 7 7 3 127
5 Gerrit Wolsink Suzuki 9 2 8 7 6 4 2 4 7 7 4 4 3 5 1 1 124
6 André Malherbe KTM 7 5 6 5 3 6 5 5 3 4 4 4 6 5 9 7 4 9 109
7 Graham Noyce Honda 6 4 8 9 4 3 5 5 2 4 2 2 92
8 Jaak van Velthoven KTM 3 6 5 10 7 7 6 6 5 8 5 4 6 6 6 78
9 Jean-Jacques Bruno KTM 4 5 10 7 6 10 4 6 8 41
10 Yvan van den Broeck Maico 8 8 3 9 7 7 5 7 7 40
11 André Vromans Suzuki 4 7 9 9 7 7 5 6 10 9 38
12 Håkan Andersson Husqvarna 8 9 5 3 8 5 9 8 10 36
13 Bengt Åberg Yamaha 9 9 6 4 3 5 33
14 Fritz Köbele KTM 10 10 10 8 9 8 9 8 10 7 21
15 Mike Bell Yamaha 4 5 14
Frans Sigmans Maico 4 5 14
Adolf Weil Maico 7 8 5 10 14
18 Frank Svendsen Husqvarna 8 10 9 7 10
19 Peter Herlings Husqvarna 10 6 8 9
Arne Lindfors Husqvarna 10 6 9 10 9
21 Mat Ghielen Maico 4 8
Rick Burgett Yamaha 5 9 8
23 Jonathan Wright CCM 10 7 8 8
24 Danny LaPorte Suzuki 6 5
Terry Clark Maico 6 5
Afro Rustignoli Maico 6 5
Lars Axelsson Husqvarna 6 5
28 Rex Staten Yamaha 7 4
Franco Perfini Montesa 7 4
Gary Semics Can-Am 10 8 4
Robert Wilkinson Maico 8 10 4
Torbjörn Winzell Maico 10 8 4
Åke Jonsson Kramer-Rotax 10 10 9 4
34 Italo Forni Montesa 8 3
Raymond Heeren Maico 8 3
Ad Verstegen Yamaha 8 3
Tommy Croft Honda 9 10 3
François Wellens Maico 9 10 3
39 Søren Mortensen Kramer-Rotax 9 2
Franco Picco Villa 9 2
Johan Scheele Maico 9 2
42 Toon Karsmakers Husqvarna 10 1
Sources:[3][8]

250cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

Pos Rider Machine ESP
 ITA
 CZE
 YUG
 AUT
 GER
 UK
 FRA
 USA
 SWE
 FIN
 USR
 Points
1 Gennady Moiseyev KTM 4 10 1 4 2 3 1 2 5 1 1 3 4 5 1 3 1 9 183
2 Torleif Hansen Kawasaki 3 1 3 1 2 2 2 4 6 1 2 2 1 153
3 Hans Maisch Maico 3 1 1 1 3 6 4 6 2 3 7 3 4 3 3 6 152
4 Vladimir Kavinov KTM 5 8 6 3 1 6 7 9 4 5 1 1 9 9 1 6 1 5 2 151
5 Neil Hudson Maico 4 7 4 6 5 9 3 3 5 3 3 2 5 7 10 4 2 5 9 130
6 Harry Everts Bultaco 1 8 3 2 2 3 5 8 1 2 2 4 4 126
7 Håkan Carlqvist Husqvarna 1 10 8 8 9 5 8 5 6 8 2 5 2 4 8 88
8 Torao Suzuki Montesa 2 9 5 4 6 4 6 5 7 5 10 63
9 Jaroslav Falta ČZ 9 4 7 4 1 2 6 8 7 61
10 Jean-Claude Laquaye Bultaco 10 3 6 8 10 7 7 8 8 8 10 6 43
11 Raymond Boven Montesa 2 4 6 5 9 9 7 10 10 10 42
12 Fritz Schneider KTM 7 2 2 3 38
13 Chuck Sun Husqvarna 6 6 3 8 7 4 35
14 Valéry Korneev KTM 9 9 8 7 3 6 9 6 33
15 Jean-Paul Mingels Montesa 6 7 7 10 4 4 9 32
16 Daniel Péan Maico 7 10 10 7 4 8 8 9 26
Rolf Dieffenbach Kawasaki 5 9 4 7 5 26
18 Jimmy Ellis Honda 1 3 25
19 Marty Tripes Honda 2 2 24
Erkki Sundström Husqvarna 9 10 10 8 5 10 3 24
21 Bob Hannah Yamaha 5 1 21
Willy Bauer Sachs 5 5 6 7 21
Rob Hooper Maico 6 8 7 9 9 10 7 21
24 Patrick Boniface KTM 8 7 10 8 11
25 Kent Howerton Husqvarna 4 8
26 Fernando Muñoz Montesa 5 6
Kees van der Ven Maico 6 10 6
Matti Tarkkonenn Honda 9 7 6
29 Guy Huynen Sachs 6 5
Jan Kristoffersen Yamaha 10 7 5
Arne Lodal Husqvarna 8 9 5
32 Dario Nani Gilera 8 3
Zdeněk Velký ČZ 8 3
34 Alberto Ribo Montesa 9 2
John Savitski Yamaha 9 2
36 Antonio Elias Bultaco 10 1
Jaroslav Vojtech ČZ 10 1
Magnus Nyberg KTM 10 1
Tony DiStefano Suzuki 10 1
Sources:[4][5][9]

125cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

Pos Rider Machine AUT
 ITA
 BEL
 NED
 FRA
 YUG
 GER
 CH
 POL
 USA
 ESP
 CZE
 Points
1 Akira Watanabe Suzuki 3 3 3 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 3 3 267
2 Gaston Rahier Suzuki 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 4 3 1 2 2 2 2 6 3 6 2 1 249
3 Gérard Rond Yamaha 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 5 2 4 2 2 1 4 248
4 Siegfried Lerner KTM 5 5 6 6 7 7 3 4 6 5 3 5 9 9 10 5 7 90
5 Matti Autio Suzuki 5 4 5 6 7 4 8 5 3 7 3 4 8 81
6 Ivan Alborghetti Aprilia 8 10 4 7 5 5 7 4 3 4 7 10 5 7 6 78
7 Göte Liljegren KTM 7 8 6 6 3 8 8 4 5 8 4 4 5 5 78
8 André Massant Honda 6 9 5 4 5 4 9 5 8 3 7 6 6 7 9 76
9 Jiří Churavý ČZ 4 6 8 3 4 5 10 10 4 8 6 2 70
10 Corrado Maddii Beta 7 7 5 4 4 6 10 10 6 7 5 10 53
11 Yuri Khudiakov ČZ 4 4 10 7 8 4 10 5 9 41
12 Michele Rinaldi TGM 8 8 3 8 9 9 6 8 31
13 Broc Glover Yamaha 1 1 30
14 Roger Harvey Suzuki 9 10 9 8 7 6 9 19
15 Pauli Piippola Husqvarna 6 7 6 10 9 17
16 Marty Moates Suzuki 7 3 14
Peter Groeneveld Suzuki 9 7 5 10 10 14
18 Gaylon Mosier Kawasaki 2 12
Robert Greisch Yamaha 10 9 8 10 9 8 12
20 Warren Reid Honda 3 10
21 Henk Van Mierlo Kawasaki 7 6 9
Miroslav Jirka ČZ 7 6 9
Steve Wise Honda 4 9
24 Mark Gregson Suzuki 5 9 8
Anatoly Ovchinikov ČZ 9 7 9 8
26 Mike Guerra Suzuki 8 7 7
27 Dinand Ziljlstra Kawasaki 6 5
Geoff Mayes Kawasaki 8 9 5
Dan Turner Yamaha 6 5
30 Marc Velkeneers Yamaha 10 8 4
François Minne Aprilia 10 10 9 4
32 Michel Leclerq KTM 8 3
Ron Turner Yamaha 8 3
Miroslav Novacek ČZ 8 3
35 Emil Schwarz Suzuki 9 2
Victor Popenko ČZ 9 2
David Taylor Suzuki 9 2
Bernd Betzelbacher Maico 9 2
39 Ole Svendson KTM 10 1
Jonny Bjurström Suzuki 10 1
Michel Fischer Portal 10 1
Alain Fura Yamaha 10 1
Antonin Gorus ČZ 10 1
Sources:[6][10]

References

  1. ^ "Roger Decoster Interview, covering 1971 thru 2001". supercross.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. ^ "1978 500cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b "1978 500cc motocross world championship final results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "1978 250cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b "1978 250cc motocross world championship final results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b "1978 125cc motocross world championship final results"" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  7. ^ "1978 125cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  8. ^ "1978 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  9. ^ "1978 250cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  10. ^ "1978 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
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