1978 FIM Motocross World Championship

1978 FIM Motocross World Championship
1978 FIM Motocross World Championship
	Fernando Muñoz at the 1978 250cc Spanish Grand Prix
Organizer	FIM
Duration	9 April/27 August
Number of races	36
Number of manufacturers	18
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
19	Arne Lindfors	Husqvarna			10									6									9	10			9
21	Mat Ghielen	Maico																								4	8
21	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
16	Rolf Dieffenbach	Kawasaki		5			9					4											7			5	26
18	Jimmy Ellis	Honda																	1	3							25
19	Marty Tripes	Honda																	2	2							24
19	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
32	Zdeněk Velký	ČZ																								8	3
34	Alberto Ribo	Montesa	9																								2
34	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
16	Peter Groeneveld	Suzuki					9		7	5										10						10	14
18	Gaylon Mosier	Kawasaki																				2					12
18	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
24	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
30	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

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

External links

Official website

[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.

[1978_500cc_motocross_world_championship_final_results-3] "1978 500cc motocross world championship final results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.

[1978_250cc_motocross_world_championship_race_results-4] "1978 250cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 13 February 2016.

[1978_250cc_motocross_world_championship_final_results-5] "1978 250cc motocross world championship final results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 October 2025.

[1978_125cc_motocross_world_championship_final_results-6] "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.

[1978_500cc_motocross_world_championship_final_standings-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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