The 1983 South African motorcycle Grand Prix was the first round of the FIM 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 18–19 March 1983 at the Kyalami circuit which, has an elevation of 6,000 feet above sea level. It was the first Grand Prix motorcycle race held on the African continent. Because of the cost of flying Grand Prix teams and their equipment to South Africa, organizers were allowed to run just two classes rather than the three normally required by the FIM.
Summary Qualifying Qualifying was led by Honda's Freddie Spencer with Eddie Lawson, Takazumi Katayama, Kenny Roberts, Ron Haslam, Marco Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini filling out the front row of the starting grid.
Race The race started with the four factory-backed Hondas leading the field with Spencer out in front. Suzuki's Randy Mamola was in fifth with Roberts closing in on the leaders. Despite an overheating motorcycle, Roberts managed to secure second place on the ninth lap when he passed Haslam but, by then Spencer had built a 10-second lead. Roberts was able to close the gap to 5 seconds but, his overheating engine prevented him from gaining any further time and he had to settle for second place behind race winner Spencer. Haslam battled Yamaha's Marc Fontan to secure third place. Katayama had made a poor tire choice and when he tried to increase his pace late in the race, he crashed while trying to pass Jon Ekerold's Cagiva. Katayama's crash promoted Mamola to fifth place.
Jean-François Baldé led teammate Didier de Radiguès across the finish line to post a one-two finish in the 250cc race for Alain Chevallier's privateer Yamaha team.
Classification 500 cc Pos. Rider Team Machine Time/Retired Points 1 Freddie Spencer HRC-Honda NS500 43'58.500 15 2 Kenny Roberts Marlboro Agostini-Yamaha YZR500 +7.200 12 3 Ron Haslam HRC-Honda NS500 +13.300 10 4 Marc Fontan Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha YZR500 +13.500 8 5 Randy Mamola HB Sinclair-Suzuki RG500 +28.400 6 6 Franco Uncini HB Gallina-Suzuki RG500 +37.700 5 7 Raymond Roche Moto Club Paul Ricard NS500 +41.500 4 8 Eddie Lawson Marlboro Agostini Yamaha YZR500 +42.400 3 9 Marco Lucchinelli HRC-Honda NS500 +45.400 2 10 Barry Sheene Heron-Suzuki RG500 +1'08.300 1 11 Loris Reggiani HB Gallina-Suzuki RG500 +1'09.700 12 Sergio Pellandini Carimati-Pezzani Racing RG500 +1'13.800 13 Maurizio Massimiani HIRT Italia RS500 +1 lap 14 Fabio Biliotti Moto Club Condor RG500 +1 lap 15 Virginio Ferrari Cagiva GP500 +1 lap 16 Marco Greco RG500 +1 lap 17 Jon Ekerold Cagiva GP500 +1 lap 18 Corrado Tuzii Beton Bloc Racing RS500 +1 lap 19 Gary Lingham Myers Motorcycles RG500 +1 lap 20 Steve Parrish Mitsui Yamaha YZR500 +1 lap 21 Alfons Amerschläger Skoal Bandit Heron Suzuki RG500 +2 laps 22 Wolfgang Schwarz ES Motorradzubeh Racing Team RG500 +2 laps Ret Takazumi Katayama HRC-Honda NS500 Accident Ret Gustav Reiner RG500 Accident Ret Boet van Dulmen Shell Nederland-Suzuki RG500 Mechanical Ret Chris Guy RG500 Mechanical Ret Leandro Becheroni RG500 Accident Ret Michel Frutschi RS500 Accident Ret Guido Paci RS500 Accident DNQ Wolfgang von Muralt RG500 Did not qualify DNQ Jean-François Baldé RS500 Did not qualify DNQ Frank Kaserer RG500 Did not qualify DNQ Børge Nielsen RG500 Did not qualify DNQ Philippe Coulon Marlboro-Suzuki RG500 Did not qualify DNQ Andreas Hofmann RG500 Did not qualify DNQ Walter Migliorati Moto Club Carate RG500 Did not qualify DNQ Lorenzo Ghiselli RG500 Did not qualify DNQ Bent Slydal RG500 Did not qualify Sources:
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