1970 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

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.

1970 F.I.M. Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Previous: 1969 Next: 1971

Season summary

With no other manufacturers competing in the 500cc class the MV Agusta team continued to dominate as Giacomo Agostini won his fifth consecutive 500cc world championship.[1] Kawasaki began to sell the Kawasaki H1R to privateer racing teams.[2] The H1R was the first multi-cylinder two stroke racing motorcycle to be sold commercially.[2] Ginger Molloy rode one of the Kawasakis to a second place finish behind Agostini in the championship.[1]

Life was a bit tougher for Agostini in the 350 class as Kel Carruthers and Renzo Pasolini on Benellis and Rod Gould on a factory Yamaha gave him a battle on more than one occasion.[1] Gould would take the 250 title for Yamaha, battling Carruthers for the entire season.[1] German Dieter Braun would give Suzuki the 125 crown while Derbi mounted Angel Nieto claimed the 50cc class for the second year in a row.

There were six fatalities among the competitors at the Isle of Man TT races, including world championship contender Santiago Herrero, making 1970 the deadliest year in the history of the event.[3][4]

1970 Grand Prix season calendar
Round Date Grand Prix Circuit 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Sidecars 500cc winner Report
1 3 May West German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Angel Nieto John Dodds Kel Carruthers Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Auerbacher / Hahn Report
2 17 May French Grand Prix Le Mans Bugatti Angel Nieto Dieter Braun Rodney Gould Giacomo Agostini Enders / Kalauch Report
3 24 May Yugoslavian Grand Prix Opatija Circuit Angel Nieto Dieter Braun Santiago Herrero Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Report
4 12 June Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain Dieter Braun Kel Carruthers Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Enders / Kalauch Report
5 27 June Dutch TT Assen Angel Nieto Dieter Braun Rodney Gould Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Auerbacher / Hahn Report
6 5 July Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps Aalt Toersen Angel Nieto Rodney Gould Giacomo Agostini Butscher / Huber Report
7 12 July East German Grand Prix Sachsenring Aalt Toersen Angel Nieto Rodney Gould Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Report
8 19 July Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Masaryk Circuit Aalt Toersen Gilberto Parlotti Kel Carruthers Giacomo Agostini Enders / Engelhardt Report
9 2 August Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Circuit Dave Simmonds Rodney Gould Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Enders / Engelhardt Report
10 15 August Ulster Grand Prix Dundrod Circuit Angel Nieto Kel Carruthers Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Enders / Engelhardt Report
11 13 September Nations Grand Prix Monza Jan de Vries Angel Nieto Rodney Gould Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini Report
12 27 September Spanish Grand Prix Montjuich Salvador Cañellas Angel Nieto Kent Andersson Angelo Bergamonti Angelo Bergamonti Report

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top ten finishers in each race. Only the best of six races were counted on 50cc, 125cc, 350cc and 500cc championships, best of seven in 250cc, while in the Sidecars, the best of five races were counted.

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

500cc final standings
Pos Rider Machine GER
 FRA
 YUG
 MAN
 HOL
 BEL
 DDR
 FIN
 ULS
 NAC
 ESP
 Pts
1 Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 90
2 Ginger Molloy Bultaco / Kawasaki 5 2 7 4 16 15 2 2 6 2 62
3 Angelo Bergamonti Aermacchi / MV Agusta 4 2 2 2 1 59
4 Tommy Robb Seeley 3 11 Ret 10 3 10 5 Ret 4 36
5 Alberto Pagani Linto 3 Ret 3 Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret 30
6 Alan Barnett Seeley-Matchless 2 7 Ret 4 Ret 24
7 Christian Ravel Kawasaki 8 Ret 2 5 Ret Ret Ret 8 24
8 Jack Findlay Seeley-Matchless / Seeley-Suzuki Ret Ret 4 4 Ret Ret 12 Ret 4 Ret Ret 24
9 Martti Pesonen Yamaha 7 5 Ret Ret 8 8 7 7 24
10 Peter Williams Matchless 2 7 5 22
11 Roberto Gallina Paton 3 Ret 7 5 20
12 Martin Carney Kawasaki Ret Ret 3 6 6 20
13 Gyula Marsovszky Linto / Kawasaki 11 6 8 9 Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret 18
14 Eric Offenstadt Kawasaki Ret 9 13 7 4 Ret 14
15 John Dodds Linto Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 Ret Ret Ret 12
16 Silvano Bertarelli Kawasaki Ret 3 10
= Bill Smith Kawasaki / Yamaha 3 Ret 10
= Percy Tait Triumph / Seeley-Matchless Ret 3 10
19 Giuseppe Mandolini Moto Guzzi 3 10
20 Dave Simmonds Kawasaki Ret 12 6 12 12 8 Ret 9 10
21 Karl Hoppe Münch-URS / Seeley-URS 4 16 Ret Ret 8
22 Karl Auer Matchless Ret 4 Ret 8
23 Gianpiero Zubani Kawasaki 9 5 8
= John Williams Matchless 5 9 8
25 Godfrey Nash Norton / Manx Ret Ret Ret 11 9 6 7
26 Billie Nelson Paton 9 Ret Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret 7
27 Ernst Hiller Kawasaki 8 Ret 7 Ret 7
28 Lewis Young Honda / Matchless Ret Ret 11 Ret 5 Ret Ret 6
29 Brian Steenson Seeley-Matchless 15 5 Ret 6
30 Paul Smart Seeley-Matchless Ret 5 Ret Ret 6
31 Terry Dennehy Honda 10 Ret Ret 13 6 Ret Ret Ret 6
32 Tony Jefferies Matchless 6 Ret 5
= Walter Rungg Aermacchi 6 Ret Ret 5
34 Rob Bron Suzuki 6 5
35 Steve Ellis Linto / Matchless Ret Ret 14 10 Ret 7 5
36 Ron Chandler Seeley-Matchless / Triumph Ret 8 9 Ret 5
37 Selwyn Griffiths Matchless 7 4
38 Gerry Mateer Norton Ret 8 3
39 Brian Adams Norton 8 3
= Giovanni Perrone Kawasaki 8 3
41 Vincent Duckett Seeley-Matchless 9 13 2
42 Hans-Otto Butenuth BMW Ret Ret 9 2
43 Paolo Campanelli Kawasaki Ret 9 2
44 Jean Campiche Honda Ret 10 14 10 Ret 2
45 Gordon Keith Velocette Ret 21 Ret 10 1
46 André-Luc Appietto Paton 10 1
= Charlie Dobson Seeley-Matchless 10 1
= Vasco Loro Norton-Kawasaki 10 1
= Steve Spencer Norton 10 1
50 Werner Bergold Linto / Seeley 14 11 0
51 Malcolm Uphill Suzuki Ret 11 Ret 0
52 Emanuele Maugliani Seeley Ret 11 0
53 Peter Berwick Aermacchi 11 0
= John Burgess Norton Ret 11 0
= Jim Curry Aermacchi 11 0
= Keith Heckles Norton 11 0
57 Heinrich Rosenbusch Linto 12 Ret 14 0
58 Alan Lawton Norton 14 12 0
59 George Fogarty Shepherd 12 17 0
60 Jouko Ryhänen Matchless 12 0
= Frantisek Srna Jawa 12 0
62 Pierre-Louis Tebec Kawasaki 26 13 0
63 Gerhard Heukerott Benelli Ret Ret 13 Ret 0
64 Sven-Olov Gunnarsson Kawasaki 13 Ret 0
65 John Blanchard Seeley 13 0
= Ken Tilley Norton 13 0
= Alo Zanetta Kawasaki 13 0
68 Billy Andersson Matchless / Crescent 39 14 Ret 0
69 Ferdinand Kaczor Seeley-URS 14 Ret 0
70 Harris Healey Norton 14 0
71 Ken Kay Aermacchi 28 15 0
72 Bob Heath BSA Ret 15 0
73 Serge Jamsin Norton 15 0
= Hervé Lansac Kawasaki 15 0
= Norman Price Norton 15 0
76 Maurice Hawthorne Norton / Linto 16 Ret 0
77 Peter Gibson Seeley 16 0
= Cambell Gorman Velocette 16 0
= Terry McDonald Matchless 16 0
80 Jean-Claude Costeux Aermacchi 17 0
= Peter Darvill Higley-Seeley 17 0
= Stephen Millard Matchless 17 0
= Franco Trabalzini Paton 17 0
84 Chris Neve Seeley 34 18 0
85 Bo Granath Husqvarna 18 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
86 Bob Biscardine Norton 18 0
= Arpad Juhos Matchless 18 0
88 Roy Reid Norton 35 19 0
89 Paul Eickelberg Matchless / Norton 19 Ret Ret 0
90 Geoff Barry Oakley-Matchless 19 0
91 John Barton Triumph 20 0
= Nigel Palmer Matchless 20 0
= Harry Turner Norton 20 0
94 Gilbert Argo Matchless 21 0
95 Alois Maxwald Matchless 22 Ret 0
96 Don Grant Norton 22 0
97 Barry Randle Seeley 23 Ret Ret 0
98 Brian Moses Norton 23 0
99 Willi Bertsch Honda 24 0
= Dave Foulkes Norton 24 0
101 Brian Edwards Kettle-Norton 25 0
= Jean-Marie Grandidier Matchless 25 0
103 Brian Swales Norton 26 0
104 Gordon Daniels Matchless 27 0
= Jerry Lancaster Aermacchi 27 0
106 Rudolf Reinhardt BMW 28 0
107 Graham Sharp Petty-Norton 29 0
= Jupp Tröblinger Norton 29 0
109 Don Harris Norton 30 0
= Walfried Weingartner Matchless 30 0
111 Ron Baylie Triumph 31 0
= Ted Janssen Norton 31 0
113 John Pepper Norton 32 0
114 Len Williams Aermacchi 33 0
115 Roger Fursman Norton 36 0
116 Dennis Trollope Norton 37 0
117 Carl Ward Norton 38 0
118 Mick Potter Metisse 40 0
119 Graham Penny Honda 41 0
- Theo Louwes Kawasaki / Matchless Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
- Keith Turner Linto Ret Ret Ret 0
- Cliff Carr Kawasaki Ret Ret 0
- Tom Dickie Kuhn-Seeley Ret Ret 0
- John-Tom Findlay Norton Ret Ret 0
- Robert Graham Matchless / Aermacchi Ret Ret 0
- Pentti Lehtelä Matchless / Yamaha Ret Ret 0
- Renzo Pasolini Benelli Ret Ret 0
- Philippe Schreyer Kawasaki Ret Ret 0
- Stan Adams Seeley Ret 0
- Tom Armstrong Norton Ret 0
- Jim Ashton Matchless Ret 0
- George Barnacle Triumph Ret 0
- Rex Butcher Metisse Ret 0
- Doug Cash Norton Ret 0
- Paul Coombs CRD Ret 0
- Adrian Cooper Norton Ret 0
- John Cooper Seeley Ret 0
- Ake Dahli Kawasaki Ret 0
- Walter Dawson Norton Ret 0
- Charlie Dobson Seeley Ret 0
- Didier Dumesnil Linto Ret 0
- Robin Duffty Norton Ret 0
- Hugh Evans CRD Ret 0
- Derek Filler Norton Ret 0
- Denis Gallagher Seeley Ret 0
- Lou Geeson Triumph Ret 0
- Mick Grant Velocette Ret 0
- Chris Gregory Norton Ret 0
= René Guili Matchless Ret 0
- Osmo Hansen Matchless Ret 0
- Ray Knight CRD Ret 0
- Hannu Kuparinen Matchless Ret 0
- Cliff Lawson Norton Ret 0
- Derek Lee Matchless Ret 0
- Patrick Lefevre Norton Ret 0
= Marty Lunde Crescent Ret 0
- Pat Mahoney Kuhn-Seeley Ret 0
- Percy May Petty-Norton Ret 0
- Ray McCullough Seeley Ret 0
- Gilberto Milani Aermacchi Ret 0
- Malcolm Moffatt Seeley Ret 0
- Mustapha Moulay Paton Ret 0
- Jean-Pierre Naudon Matchless Ret 0
- Garth Neveling Norton Ret 0
- Derryl Pandlebury Norton Ret 0
- Dick Pipes Norton Ret 0
- Harry Reynolds Norton Ret 0
= Jacques Roca Suzuki Ret 0
- Barry Sheene Bultaco Ret 0
- Roy Simmons Norton Ret 0
- John Stanley Seeley Ret 0
- Frantisek Stastny Jawa Ret 0
- Thierry Tchernine Velocette Ret 0
- Rolf Thiemig Ducati Ret 0
- Franco Trabalzini Paton Ret 0
- Tony Turner Norton Ret 0
- Fred Walton Velocette Ret 0
- Charlie Watts Norton Ret 0
- John Wetherall Norton Ret 0
- Benedetto Zambotti Bianchi Ret 0
Pos Rider Bike GER
 FRA
 YUG
 MAN
 HOL
 BEL
 DDR
 FIN
 ULS
 NAC
 ESP
 Pts
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not participate (DNP)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

1970 350 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings
Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Giacomo Agostini 1 Italy MV Agusta 90 9
2 Kel Carruthers 7 Australia Benelli 58 0
3 Renzo Pasolini Italy Benelli 46 0
4 Kent Andersson Sweden Yamaha 44 0
5 Martti Pesonen Finland Yamaha 38 0
6 Rodney Gould United Kingdom Yamaha 28 0
7 Angelo Bergamonti Italy MV Agusta 27 1
8 Günter Bartusch East Germany MZ 20 0
9 Alan Barnett United Kingdom Aermacchi 20 0
10 Tommy Robb United Kingdom Yamaha 18 0

1970 250 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings
Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Rodney Gould 6 United Kingdom Yamaha 102 6
2 Kel Carruthers Australia Yamaha 84 4
3 Kent Andersson 2 Sweden Yamaha 67 1
4 Jarno Saarinen Finland Yamaha 57 0
5 Börje Jansson 5 Sweden Yamaha 34 0
6 Chas Mortimer United Kingdom Yamaha 30 0
7 Gyula Marsovsky Switzerland Yamaha 28 0
8 Santiago Herrero 3 Spain Ossa 27 1
9 Bo Granath Sweden Yamaha 25 0
10 Silvio Grassetti Italy Yamaha 24 0

1970 125 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings
Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Dieter Braun 2 West Germany Suzuki 84 4
2 Angel Nieto Spain Derbi 72 4
3 Börje Jansson Sweden Maico 62 0
4 Dave Simmonds 1 United Kingdom Kawasaki 57 1
5 László Szabó 8 Hungary MZ 34 0
6 Toni Gruber West Germany Maico 33 0
7 Aalt Toersen Netherlands Suzuki 31 0
8 John Dodds Australia Aermacchi 24 1
9 Gunter Bartusch East Germany MZ 22 0
10 Heinz Kriwanek Austria Rotax 25 0

1970 50 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings
Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Angel Nieto 1 Spain Derbi 87 5
2 Aalt Toersen 2 Netherlands Jamathi 75 3
3 Rudolf Kunz 8 West Germany Kreidler 66 0
4 Salvador Cañellas Spain Derbi 63 1
5 Jan De Vries 4 Netherlands Kreidler 60 1
6 Jos Schurgers Netherlands Kreidler 41 0
7 Martin Mijwaart 10 Netherlands Jamathi 40 0
8 Ludwig Fassbender 9 West Germany Kreidler 17 0
9 Gilberto Parlotti 6 Italy Tomos 15 1
10 Harald Bartol Austria Kreidler 11 0

References
  1. Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-874557-83-7
  2. Cathcart, Alan (2019), "Eric Offenstadt's Monocoque Triple", Classic Racer, Mortons Motorcycle Media Group Ltd, ISSN 1470-4463, But for 1970 he decided to take advantage of the arrival of the world's first multi-cylinder two stroke 500 GP customer racer, the Kawasaki H1R triple
  3. "World's fastest way to die: The most dangerous race on the planet". news.com.au. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. "Two more deaths take Isle of Man TT Festival toll to five". express.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  • Büla, Maurice & Schertenleib, Jean-Claude (2001). Continental Circus 1949-2000. Chronosports S.A. ISBN 2-940125-32-5
  • "The Official MotoGP website". Retrieved 2010-07-06.
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