1976 Formula 750 season

The 1976 Formula 750 season was the fourth season of the FIM Formula 750 Prize. The confused results of the Venezuelan round caused the championship's final standings to be shrouded in controversy. Kawasaki's Gary Nixon appeared to have won the second leg of the Venezuelan race however, the race organizers credited Yamaha's Steve Baker with the victory.[1] Víctor Palomo was crowned champion, winning three races on aggregate despite not winning a single heat. If Nixon had been awarded the victory in the Venezuelan round, he would have won the world championship by one point. Nixon protested the Venezuelan results to the FIM, who threw out the results of the event, thus denying his appeal.[2]

Calendar edit

1976 Calendar
Round Race Title Circuit Date Heat 1 Winner Heat 2 Winner Overall Winner
1 35th Daytona 200 1   Daytona International Speedway March 7   Johnny Cecotto
Venezuela 200 Miles 2   Autodromo Internacional de San Carlos March 21   Johnny Cecotto   Steve Baker   Steve Baker
2 Imola 200   Autodromo Dino Ferrari April 4   Steve Baker   Steve Baker   Steve Baker
3 Jarama 200 Miles   Circuito Permanente del Jarama May 4–5   Michel Rougerie   Michel Rougerie   Michel Rougerie
4 Nivelles 200 Miles   Complexe Européen de Nivelles-Baulers May 23   Gary Nixon   Mick Grant   Gary Nixon
5 Nogaro 200 Miles   Circuit Automobile Paul Armagnac May 30   Christian Estrosi   Christian Estrosi   Christian Estrosi
6 John Player British Grand Prix   Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit August 14–15   Steve Baker   Mick Grant   Víctor Palomo
7 Champion Assen 200 Miles   Circuit van Drenthe, Assen September 5   Phil Read   Giacomo Agostini   Víctor Palomo
8 ADAC Preis von Baden-Württemberg und Hessen   Hockenheimring September 26   John Newbold   Gary Nixon   Víctor Palomo

Notes:

1.^ - The Daytona 200 was run as a single race rather than the aggregate of two heats that the other races used.
2.^ – The Venezuela 200 Miles was given non-championship status following a timekeeping error.[3]

Championship standings edit

Pos Rider Bike DAY
 
IMO
 
JAR
 
NIV
 
NOG
 
SIL
 
ASS
 
HOC
 
Pts
1   Víctor Palomo Yamaha 13 2 7 1 1 1 61
2   Gary Nixon Kawasaki 2 1 4 17 2 47
3   John Newbold Suzuki 35 6 4 4 4 4 37
4   Michel Rougerie Yamaha 6 2 1 32
5   Dave Potter Yamaha 22 2 3 7 27
6   Gérard Choukroun Yamaha 8 4 6 16 5 22
7   Christian Estrosi Yamaha 29 1 6 19
8   Pat Hennen Suzuki 3 5 16
=   Patrick Pons Yamaha 5 3 16
10   Steve Baker Yamaha 1 15
=   Johnny Cecotto Yamaha 1 15
12   Takazumi Katayama Yamaha 4 7 8 15
13   Jack Findlay Yamaha 10 2 13
14   Philippe Coulon Yamaha 2 14 12
=   Boet van Dulmen Yamaha 23 2 12
=   Giacomo Agostini Yamaha 3 9 12
=   Kork Ballington Yamaha 5 5 12
18   Barry Sheene Suzuki 34 3 10
=   Mick Grant Kawasaki 3 10
=   Phil Read Yamaha 3 10
=   Bruno Kneubuhler Yamaha 17 3 10
22   Roger Ruiz Yamaha 9 5 8
=   Gene Romero Yamaha 4 8
=   Edmar Ferreira Yamaha 5 9 8
25   Jaime Samaranch Yamaha 5 6
26   Marcel Ankoné Suzuki 31 11 7 10 5
=   José María Mallol Ducati 6 5
=   Rob Bron Yamaha 20 6 5
=   Chas Mortimer Yamaha 6 5
=   Alex George Yamaha 14 6 5
31   Hideo Kanaya Yamaha 7 4
=   Yvon Duhamel Kawasaki 36 7 4
=   John Williams Suzuki 13 7 4
34   Randy Cleek Yamaha 8 3
=   Philippe Chaltin Yamaha 8 3
=   Barry Ditchburn Kawasaki 8 3
=   Cliff Carr Yamaha 8 3
=   Johnny Bengtsson Yamaha 30 18 8 3
39   Christian Huguet Yamaha 9 2
=   Kenny Roberts Yamaha 9 2
=   Jon Ekerold Yamaha 9 11 2
42   John Dodds Yamaha 10 11 9 1
=   Etienne Geeraerd Yamaha 10 1
=   Maurice Chaumat Yamaha 10 1
=   Clive Offer Yamaha 10 1
=   Hans-Otto Butenuth Yamaha 19 10 1
  Bob Endicott Yamaha 11 0
  Dennis Purdle Yamaha 12 0
  Ken Blake Yamaha 13 0
  Walter Foster Yamaha 15 0
  Doug Libby Yamaha 16 0
  Len Fitch Yamaha 17 0
  Robert Wakefield Yamaha 18 0
  Kevin Stafford Yamaha 19 0
  Ed Hanson Yamaha 21 0
  Dale Singleton Yamaha 24 0
  Ron Mass Yamaha 25 0
  Steve Mallonee Yamaha 26 0
  Richard Chambers Yamaha 27 0
  Cory Rupplet Yamaha 28 0
  Michael Trimby Yamaha 32 0
  Henry De Gouw Yamaha 33 0
  Bruce Townsend Yamaha 37 0
  Bob Rectenwald Yamaha 38 0
  John Long Yamaha 39 0
  Wes Cooley Yamaha 40 0
  Alberto Sciaresa Yamaha 12 0
  Pentti Korhonen Yamaha 14 0
  Christian Bourgeois Yamaha 15 0
  Gilles Husson Yamaha 16 0
  Ron Haslam Yamaha 18 0
  Piers Forrester Yamaha 11 12 0
  Mick Patrick Yamaha 11 0
  Jean-Pierre Orban Yamaha 12 15 0
  Gerhard Vogt Yamaha 13 0
  Pat Evans Yamaha 14 0
  Dick Alblas König 12 0
  Piet van der Wal Yamaha 20 0
  E. Brandstetter Yamaha 13 0
  H. Schone Yamaha 14 0
Pos Rider Bike DAY
 
IMO
 
JAR
 
NIV
 
NOG
 
SIL
 
ASS
 
HOC
 
Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

[4]

References edit

  1. ^ DeWitt, Norman L. (2010). Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes. Motorbooks. ISBN 9781610600453. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  2. ^ Assoc, American Motorcyclist (January 1977). Nixon Loses FIM Appeal and F750 World Championship. Retrieved 15 December 2012. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Carter, p. 143
  4. ^ "1976 Formula 750 final standings". Racingmemo.free.fr. Retrieved 2017-05-06.

See also edit

Books edit

  • Carter, Chris (ed.). Motocourse 1976-1977. Hazleton Securities Ltd. ISBN 0-905138-02-3.