The 1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 33rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Season summary In the 500cc world championship, two Suzuki teams fought for the title with Marco Lucchinelli riding for Roberto Gallina's Italian Suzuki team and, Randy Mamola riding for the Heron Suzuki team backed by the UK Suzuki importer. Mamola started the season strongly with two victories and two second-place finishes to take the lead in the championship but then, Lucchinelli took command with four victories in the next five races to claim the world championship. Mamola finished in second place for the second year in a row.
Barry Sheene would win the final race of his career with a win in Sweden while a young American named Freddie Spencer made his first foray into the world championships as a member of the Honda factory racing team, riding the four-stroke Honda NR500 up to fifth place at the British Grand Prix before it suffered a mechanical failure.
Germany's Anton Mang scored double world championship victories, defeating defending champion Jon Ekerold for the 350cc title and, winning ten of twelve 250 events to take that title. Frenchman Michel Rougerie, who finished second in 1975 250 championship, was killed when he was hit by another rider after crashing in the 350 race in Yugoslavia. Angel Nieto won his tenth championship by winning eight of twelve rounds on his Minarelli while Ricardo Tormo won the 50cc crown for Bultaco.
Beginning in 1981, motorcycle frame technology evolved quickly as motorcycle manufacturers moved from the steel, featherbed frame chassis first developed in the 1950s, to aluminium frames featuring large, twin beams as first pioneered by Spanish constructor, Antonio Cobas.
1981 Grand Prix season calendar The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1981: RoundDateGrand PrixCircuit 1 22 March Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Municipal de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires 2 26 April Großer Preis von Österreich Salzburgring 3 3 May Großer Preis von Deutschland Hockenheimring 4 10 May Gran Premio delle Nazioni Autodromo Nazionale Monza 5 17 May Grand Prix de France Moto Circuit Paul Ricard 6 24 May Gran Premio de España Circuito Permanente Del Jarama 7 31 May Yu Grand Prix Automotodrom Rijeka 8 27 June Dutch TT Assen TT Circuit Assen 9 5 July Grand Prix Moto Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 10 12 July Gran Premio di San Marino Autodromo Dino Ferrari 11 2 August Marlboro British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit 12 9 August Finnish GP Imatra Circuit 13 16 August Swedish TT Scandinavian Raceway 14 30 August Grand Prix ČSSR Brno CircuitSources:
Calendar changes The Argentine Grand Prix was added to the calendar. The Austrian Grand Prix returned on the calendar after a one-year absence. Last year's scheduled running of the event was cancelled due to snowy weather conditions on race week. The German Grand Prix was moved forward, from 24 August to 3 May. The German Grand Prix moved from the Nürburgring-Nordschleife to the Hockenheimring for the next three years due to ongoing construction to replace it with a new venue. The Nations Grand Prix moved from the Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The Yugoslavian Grand Prix was moved forward, from 15 June to 31 May. The Belgian Grand Prix moved from Circuit Zolder to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps after the track problems at Spa-Francorchamps were resolved. The San Marino Grand Prix was added to the calendar. The Finnish Grand Prix was moved back, from 27 July to 9 August. The Swedish Grand Prix was added to the calendar after a one-year absence.
Results and standings 1981 Grand Prix season results Round Date: Race Location 50cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Report 1 22 March Argentine Grand Prix Buenos Aires Angel Nieto Jean-François Baldé Jon Ekerold Report 2 26 April Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Angel Nieto Patrick Fernandez Randy Mamola Report 3 3 May German Grand Prix Hockenheim Stefan Dörflinger Angel Nieto Anton Mang Anton Mang Kenny Roberts Report 4 10 May Nations Grand Prix Monza Ricardo Tormo Guy Bertin Eric Saul Jon Ekerold Kenny Roberts Report 5 17 May French Grand Prix Paul Ricard Angel Nieto Anton Mang Marco Lucchinelli Report 6 24 May Spanish Grand Prix Jarama Ricardo Tormo Angel Nieto Anton Mang Report 7 31 May Yugoslavian Grand Prix Rijeka Ricardo Tormo Loris Reggiani Anton Mang Randy Mamola Report 8 27 June Dutch TT Assen Ricardo Tormo Angel Nieto Anton Mang Anton Mang Marco Lucchinelli Report 9 5 July Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps Ricardo Tormo Anton Mang Marco Lucchinelli Report 10 12 July San Marino Grand Prix Imola Ricardo Tormo Loris Reggiani Anton Mang Marco Lucchinelli Report 11 2 August British Grand Prix Silverstone Angel Nieto Anton Mang Anton Mang Jack Middelburg Report 12 9 August Finnish Grand Prix Imatra Angel Nieto Anton Mang Marco Lucchinelli Report 13 16 August Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp Ricardo Tormo Anton Mang Barry Sheene Report 14 30 August Czechoslovak Grand Prix Brno Circuit Theo Timmer Anton Mang Anton Mang ReportSources:
500cc riders' standings Scoring system Points were awarded to the top ten finishers in each race. A rider has to finish the race to earn points. All races counted towards the final standings.
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
Place Rider Team Machine AUT GER NAT FRA YUG NED BEL SMR GBR FIN SWE Points1 Marco Lucchinelli Nava Gallina-Suzuki RG500 Ret 3 5 1 2 1 1 1 19 1 91052 Randy Mamola Heron-Suzuki RG500 1 2 Ret 2 1 Ret 3 4 3 2 13943 Kenny Roberts Yamaha International YZR500 Ret 1 1 5 3 Ret 2 DNS 2 7 Ret744 Barry Sheene Akai-Yamaha YZR500 4 6 3 4 5 Ret 4 2 Ret Ret 1725 Graeme Crosby Heron-Suzuki RG500 2 13 2 3 4 Ret 7 3 Ret 5 5686 Boet van Dulmen IMN Yamaha YZR500 5 4 4 8 7 2 5 Ret 6 Ret 2647 Jack Middelburg Racing Westland Suzuki RG500 8 8 7 9 DNS 5 6 7 1 4 3608 Kork Ballington Team Kawasaki KR500 6 Ret Ret 7 DNS 3 19 5 Ret 3 4439 Marc Fontan Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha YZR500 12 9 Ret 10 Ret 13 8 8 5 6 62510 Hiroyuki Kawasaki Heron-Suzuki RG500 3 7 Ret 619 11 Bernard Fau GPA Total RG500 Ret 25 12 12 7 10 Ret 4 Ret 1014 12 Guido Paci Belgarda Yamaha YZR500 6 9 9 12 6 13 Ret Ret14 13 Franco Uncini Uncini-Suzuki RG500 7 10 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret 712 14 Willem Zoet Stimorol Racing RG500 14 4 9 Ret10 15 Seppo Rossi RG500 15 Ret 16 11 8 11 17 14 8 89 16 Gianni Pelletier RG500 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret 16 9 Ret Ret 8 17 Michel Frutschi Hostettler Yamaha YZR500 Ret 5 16 23 16 Ret 11 Ret6 18 Dave Potter Team BP-Yamaha YZR500 Ret Ret 6 26 NC5 19 Stuart Avant Ellis Racing RG500 Ret Ret 19 16 19 22 74 20 Sergio Pellandini RG500 17 21 10 13 Ret 8 15 11 Ret Ret 164 21 Ikujiro Takai Yamaha International YZR500 8 Ret3 22 Steve Parrish Mitsui Yamaha YZR500 DNQ 18 20 Ret 9 10 153 23 Frank Gross RG500 DNQ DNQ 15 DNQ Ret 92 24 Wil Hartog Riemersma Racing RG500 9 142 25 Christian Sarron Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha YZR500 Ret 9 Ret 17 Ret 12 18 Ret Ret2 26 Sadao Asami Yamaha International YZR500 23 11 14 Ret Ret 10 11 Ret NC Ret Ret1 27 Chris Guy RG500 101 28 Keith Huewen Heron-Suzuki RG500 Ret 17 Ret DNQ 13 10 Ret1 29 Kimmo Kopra RG500 16 14 10 20 Ret 15 Ret 181 Graziano Rossi Morbidelli Morbidelli 500-4 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 110 Philippe Coulon Frankonia-Suzuki RG500 11 12 Ret Ret Ret 15 27 Ret Ret 15 170 Dominique Pernet YZR500 26 19 11 180 Leandro Beccheroni RG500 110 Gianni Rolando RG500 12 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret0 Peter Sjöström RG500 17 21 Ret Ret 12 Ret 220 Dick Alblas Hollande Isolatie RG500 120 Lars Johansson RG500 120 Walter Migliorati RG500 14 18 13 15 Ret 130 Alain Roethlisberger RG500 22 22 18 22 13 200 Takazumi Katayama HRC-Honda NR500 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret0 Timo Pohjola RG500 130 Børge Nielsen RG500 16 21 Ret 14 140 Roberto Pietri RG500 DNQ 21 140 Dale Singleton Beaulieu Yamaha YZR500 Ret Ret 14 Ret0 Gregg Hansford Team Kawasaki KR500 14 Ret0 Raymond Roche RG500 Ret 15 15 Ret0 Andreas Hofmann RG500 Ret 20 150 Christian Estrosi YZR500 16 19 Ret Ret Ret Ret 29 Ret Ret0 Josef Hage Dieter Braun Team YZR500 19 23 DNQ 23 17 DNQ 200 Jean Lafond RG500 Ret 170 Fabio Biliotti RG500 Ret 170 Graham Wood YZR500 170 Henk de Vries Henk de Vries Motoren YZR500 18 200 Marco Greco RG500 29 DNQ 24 180 Rafaelle Pasqual YZR500 Ret DNQ 180 Jacques Agopian RG500 180 Carlo Perugini Sanvenero Sanvenero 500 DNQ DNQ 19 DNQ Ret 23 Ret0 Virginio Ferrari Cagiva GP500 30 Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 190 Åke Grahn YZR500 190 Michael Schmid RG500 20 24 DNQ0 Marco Papa RG500 200 Jochen Schmid RG500 200 Lennart Bäckström RG500 21 DNQ0 Alex George YZR500 210 Peter Sköld RG500 210 Barry Woodland RG500 220 Philippe Chaltin RG500 240 Dennis Ireland RG500 25 Ret0 Gerhard Vogt RG500 27 0 Günter Dreier RG500 280 Gary Lingham RG500 28 Ret0 Gustav Reiner Team Solitude Deutschland Solo Ret Ret Ret0 Jon Ekerold Team Solitude Deutschland Solo Ret Ret DNQ Ret0 Mike Baldwin RG500 Ret Ret Ret0 Stefan Klabacher Saga Racing YZR500 Ret Ret0 Adelio Faccioli RG500 Ret Ret0 Patrick Fernandez YZR500 Ret0 Graeme Geddes YZR500 Ret0 Fritz Kerschbaumer Triumph Club Wien YZR500 Ret0 Wolfgang von Muralt YZR500 Ret0 Klaus Klein FKN Ret0 Peter Ammann RG500 Ret0 Herve Guilleux YZR500 Ret0 Hubert Rigal YZR500 Ret0 Sergio Bertocchi RG500 Ret0 Freddie Spencer HRC-Honda NR500 Ret0 Steve Henshaw RG500 Ret0 John Newbold RG500 Ret0 Corrado Tuzii RG500 Ret0 Seppo Korhonen RG500 Ret0 Bengt Slydal RG500 Ret0 Gina Bovaird YZR500 DNQ0 Rob Punt RG500 DNQ0Sources:
350cc standings