1976 Formula 750 season

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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 United States Daytona International Speedway March 7 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto
Venezuela 200 Miles 2 Venezuela Autodromo Internacional de San Carlos March 21 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto United States Steve Baker United States Steve Baker
2 Imola 200 Italy Autodromo Dino Ferrari April 4 United States Steve Baker United States Steve Baker United States Steve Baker
3 Jarama 200 Miles Spain Circuito Permanente del Jarama May 4–5 France Michel Rougerie France Michel Rougerie France Michel Rougerie
4 Nivelles 200 Miles Belgium Complexe Européen de Nivelles-Baulers May 23 United States Gary Nixon United Kingdom Mick Grant United States Gary Nixon
5 Nogaro 200 Miles France Circuit Automobile Paul Armagnac May 30 France Christian Estrosi France Christian Estrosi France Christian Estrosi
6 John Player British Grand Prix United Kingdom Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit August 14–15 United States Steve Baker United Kingdom Mick Grant Spain Víctor Palomo
7 Champion Assen 200 Miles Netherlands Circuit van Drenthe, Assen September 5 United Kingdom Phil Read Italy Giacomo Agostini Spain Víctor Palomo
8 ADAC Preis von Baden-Württemberg und Hessen Germany Hockenheimring September 26 United Kingdom John Newbold United States Gary Nixon Spain 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
United States
IMO
Italy
JAR
Spain
NIV
Belgium
NOG
France
SIL
United Kingdom
ASS
Netherlands
HOC
Germany
Pts
1 Spain Víctor Palomo Yamaha 13 2 7 1 1 1 61
2 United States Gary Nixon Kawasaki 2 1 4 17 2 47
3 United Kingdom John Newbold Suzuki 35 6 4 4 4 4 37
4 France Michel Rougerie Yamaha 6 2 1 32
5 United Kingdom Dave Potter Yamaha 22 2 3 7 27
6 France Gérard Choukroun Yamaha 8 4 6 16 5 22
7 France Christian Estrosi Yamaha 29 1 6 19
8 United States Pat Hennen Suzuki 3 5 16
= France Patrick Pons Yamaha 5 3 16
10 United States Steve Baker Yamaha 1 15
= Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Yamaha 1 15
12 Japan Takazumi Katayama Yamaha 4 7 8 15
13 Australia Jack Findlay Yamaha 10 2 13
14 Switzerland Philippe Coulon Yamaha 2 14 12
= Netherlands Boet van Dulmen Yamaha 23 2 12
= Italy Giacomo Agostini Yamaha 3 9 12
= South Africa Kork Ballington Yamaha 5 5 12
18 United Kingdom Barry Sheene Suzuki 34 3 10
= United Kingdom Mick Grant Kawasaki 3 10
= United Kingdom Phil Read Yamaha 3 10
= Switzerland Bruno Kneubuhler Yamaha 17 3 10
22 France Roger Ruiz Yamaha 9 5 8
= United States Gene Romero Yamaha 4 8
= Brazil Edmar Ferreira Yamaha 5 9 8
25 Spain Jaime Samaranch Yamaha 5 6
26 Netherlands Marcel Ankoné Suzuki 31 11 7 10 5
= Spain José María Mallol Ducati 6 5
= Netherlands Rob Bron Yamaha 20 6 5
= United Kingdom Chas Mortimer Yamaha 6 5
= United Kingdom Alex George Yamaha 14 6 5
31 Japan Hideo Kanaya Yamaha 7 4
= Canada Yvon Duhamel Kawasaki 36 7 4
= United Kingdom John Williams Suzuki 13 7 4
34 United States Randy Cleek Yamaha 8 3
= Belgium Philippe Chaltin Yamaha 8 3
= United Kingdom Barry Ditchburn Kawasaki 8 3
= United Kingdom Cliff Carr Yamaha 8 3
= Sweden Johnny Bengtsson Yamaha 30 18 8 3
39 France Christian Huguet Yamaha 9 2
= United States Kenny Roberts Yamaha 9 2
= South Africa Jon Ekerold Yamaha 9 11 2
42 Australia John Dodds Yamaha 10 11 9 1
= Belgium Etienne Geeraerd Yamaha 10 1
= France Maurice Chaumat Yamaha 10 1
= United Kingdom Clive Offer Yamaha 10 1
= Germany Hans-Otto Butenuth Yamaha 19 10 1
United States Bob Endicott Yamaha 11 0
United States Dennis Purdle Yamaha 12 0
Australia Ken Blake Yamaha 13 0
United States Walter Foster Yamaha 15 0
United States Doug Libby Yamaha 16 0
Canada Len Fitch Yamaha 17 0
United States Robert Wakefield Yamaha 18 0
United States Kevin Stafford Yamaha 19 0
United States Ed Hanson Yamaha 21 0
United States Dale Singleton Yamaha 24 0
United States Ron Mass Yamaha 25 0
United States Steve Mallonee Yamaha 26 0
United States Richard Chambers Yamaha 27 0
United States Cory Rupplet Yamaha 28 0
United Kingdom Michael Trimby Yamaha 32 0
United States Henry De Gouw Yamaha 33 0
United States Bruce Townsend Yamaha 37 0
United States Bob Rectenwald Yamaha 38 0
United States John Long Yamaha 39 0
United States Wes Cooley Yamaha 40 0
Italy Alberto Sciaresa Yamaha 12 0
Finland Pentti Korhonen Yamaha 14 0
France Christian Bourgeois Yamaha 15 0
France Gilles Husson Yamaha 16 0
United Kingdom Ron Haslam Yamaha 18 0
United Kingdom Piers Forrester Yamaha 11 12 0
United Kingdom Mick Patrick Yamaha 11 0
Belgium Jean-Pierre Orban Yamaha 12 15 0
Germany Gerhard Vogt Yamaha 13 0
United States Pat Evans Yamaha 14 0
Netherlands Dick Alblas König 12 0
Netherlands Piet van der Wal Yamaha 20 0
Germany E. Brandstetter Yamaha 13 0
Germany H. Schone Yamaha 14 0
Pos Rider Bike DAY
United States
IMO
Italy
JAR
Spain
NIV
Belgium
NOG
France
SIL
United Kingdom
ASS
Netherlands
HOC
Germany
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.