1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

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.^[1] Mamola finished in second place for the second year in a row.^[1]

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.^[1]

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.^[1] 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.^[2] Angel Nieto won his tenth championship by winning eight of twelve rounds on his Minarelli while Ricardo Tormo won the 50cc crown for Bultaco.^[1]

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.^[3]

The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1981:

Round	Date	Grand Prix	Circuit
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 Circuit
Sources:[1][4][5]

• 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.

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		Report
Sources:[1]

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.^[1]

Place Rider Team Machine AUT GER NAT FRA YUG NED BEL SMR GBR FIN SWE Points 1 Marco Lucchinelli Nava Gallina-Suzuki RG500 Ret 3 5 1 2 1 1 1 19 1 9 105 2 Randy Mamola Heron-Suzuki RG500 1 2 Ret 2 1 Ret 3 4 3 2 13 94 3 Kenny Roberts Yamaha International YZR500 Ret 1 1 5 3 Ret 2 DNS 2 7 Ret 74 4 Barry Sheene Akai-Yamaha YZR500 4 6 3 4 5 Ret 4 2 Ret Ret 1 72 5 Graeme Crosby Heron-Suzuki RG500 2 13 2 3 4 Ret 7 3 Ret 5 5 68 6 Boet van Dulmen IMN Yamaha YZR500 5 4 4 8 7 2 5 Ret 6 Ret 2 64 7 Jack Middelburg Racing Westland Suzuki RG500 8 8 7 9 DNS 5 6 7 1 4 3 60 8 Kork Ballington Team Kawasaki KR500 6 Ret Ret 7 DNS 3 19 5 Ret 3 4 43 9 Marc Fontan Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha YZR500 12 9 Ret 10 Ret 13 8 8 5 6 6 25 10 Hiroyuki Kawasaki Heron-Suzuki RG500 3 7 Ret 6 19 11 Bernard Fau GPA Total RG500 Ret 25 12 12 7 10 Ret 4 Ret 10 14 12 Guido Paci Belgarda Yamaha YZR500 6 9 9 12 6 13 Ret Ret 14 13 Franco Uncini Uncini-Suzuki RG500 7 10 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret 7 12 14 Willem Zoet Stimorol Racing RG500 14 4 9 Ret 10 15 Seppo Rossi RG500 15 Ret 16 11 8 11 17 14 8 8 9 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 Ret 6 18 Dave Potter Team BP-Yamaha YZR500 Ret Ret 6 26 NC 5 19 Stuart Avant Ellis Racing RG500 Ret Ret 19 16 19 22 7 4 20 Sergio Pellandini RG500 17 21 10 13 Ret 8 15 11 Ret Ret 16 4 21 Ikujiro Takai Yamaha International YZR500 8 Ret 3 22 Steve Parrish Mitsui Yamaha YZR500 DNQ 18 20 Ret 9 10 15 3 23 Frank Gross RG500 DNQ DNQ 15 DNQ Ret 9 2 24 Wil Hartog Riemersma Racing RG500 9 14 2 25 Christian Sarron Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha YZR500 Ret 9 Ret 17 Ret 12 18 Ret Ret 2 26 Sadao Asami Yamaha International YZR500 23 11 14 Ret Ret 10 11 Ret NC Ret Ret 1 27 Chris Guy RG500 10 1 28 Keith Huewen Heron-Suzuki RG500 Ret 17 Ret DNQ 13 10 Ret 1 29 Kimmo Kopra RG500 16 14 10 20 Ret 15 Ret 18 1 Graziano Rossi Morbidelli Morbidelli 500-4 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 11 0 Philippe Coulon Frankonia-Suzuki RG500 11 12 Ret Ret Ret 15 27 Ret Ret 15 17 0 Dominique Pernet YZR500 26 19 11 18 0 Leandro Beccheroni RG500 11 0 Gianni Rolando RG500 12 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 0 Peter Sjöström RG500 17 21 Ret Ret 12 Ret 22 0 Dick Alblas Hollande Isolatie RG500 12 0 Lars Johansson RG500 12 0 Walter Migliorati RG500 14 18 13 15 Ret 13 0 Alain Roethlisberger RG500 22 22 18 22 13 20 0 Takazumi Katayama HRC-Honda NR500 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret 0 Timo Pohjola RG500 13 0 Borge Nielsen RG500 16 21 Ret 14 14 0 Roberto Pietri RG500 DNQ 21 14 0 Dale Singleton Beaulieu Yamaha YZR500 Ret Ret 14 Ret 0 Gregg Hansford Team Kawasaki KR500 14 Ret 0 Raymond Roche RG500 Ret 15 15 Ret 0 Andreas Hofmann RG500 Ret 20 15 0 Christian Estrosi YZR500 16 19 Ret Ret Ret Ret 29 Ret Ret 0 Josef Hage Dieter Braun Team YZR500 19 23 DNQ 23 17 DNQ 20 0 Jean Lafond RG500 Ret 17 0 Fabio Biliotti RG500 Ret 17 0 Graham Wood YZR500 17 0 Henk de Vries Henk de Vries Motoren YZR500 18 20 0 Marco Greco RG500 29 DNQ 24 18 0 Rafaelle Pasqual YZR500 Ret DNQ 18 0 Jacques Agopian RG500 18 0 Carlo Perugini Sanvenero Sanvenero 500 DNQ DNQ 19 DNQ Ret 23 Ret 0 Virginio Ferrari Cagiva GP500 30 Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 19 0 Åke Grahn YZR500 19 0 Michael Schmid RG500 20 24 DNQ 0 Marco Papa RG500 20 0 Jochen Schmid RG500 20 0 Lennart Bäckström RG500 21 DNQ 0 Alex George YZR500 21 0 Peter Sköld RG500 21 0 Barry Woodland RG500 22 0 Philippe Chaltin RG500 24 0 Dennis Ireland RG500 25 Ret 0 Gerhard Vogt RG500 27 0 Günter Dreier RG500 28 0 Gary Lingham RG500 28 Ret 0 Gustav Reiner Team Solitude Deutschland Solo Ret Ret Ret 0 Jon Ekerold Team Solitude Deutschland Solo Ret Ret DNQ Ret 0 Mike Baldwin RG500 Ret Ret Ret 0 Stefan Klabacher Saga Racing YZR500 Ret Ret 0 Adelio Faccioli RG500 Ret Ret 0 Patrick Fernandez YZR500 Ret 0 Graeme Geddes YZR500 Ret 0 Fritz Kerschbaumer Triumph Club Wien YZR500 Ret 0 Wolfgang von Muralt YZR500 Ret 0 Klaus Klein FKN Ret 0 Peter Ammann RG500 Ret 0 Herve Guilleux YZR500 Ret 0 Hubert Rigal YZR500 Ret 0 Sergio Bertocchi RG500 Ret 0 Freddie Spencer HRC-Honda NR500 Ret 0 Steve Henshaw RG500 Ret 0 John Newbold RG500 Ret 0 Corrado Tuzii RG500 Ret 0 Seppo Korhonen RG500 Ret 0 Bengt Slydal RG500 Ret 0 Gina Bovaird YZR500 DNQ 0 Rob Punt RG500 DNQ 0 Sources:[1][5][6] 350cc standings Place Rider Machine ARG AUT GER NAT YUG NED Points 1 Anton Mang Kawasaki KR350 7 2 1 2 1 1 103 2 Jon Ekerold Yamaha TZ 350 1 3 Ret 1 2 52 3 Jean-François Baldé Kawasaki KR350 2 Ret Ret Ret 6 3 49 4 Patrick Fernandez Yamaha TZ 350 4 1 Ret 4 7 4 46 5 Carlos Lavado Yamaha TZ 350 3 5 Ret 8 3 2 41 6 Keith Huewen Yamaha TZ 350 6 4 Ret Ret 7 29 7 Thierry Espié Yamaha TZ 350 6 8 3 Ret 5 Ret 24 8 Jacques Cornu Yamaha TZ 350 9 7 25 20 4 20 9 Eric Saul Chevallier-Yamaha Ret Ret 2 5 Ret 18 10 Graeme McGregor Yamaha TZ 350 7 7 5 14 11 Graeme Geddes Yamaha TZ 350 8 4 Ret Ret Ret 11 12 Martin Wimmer Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 19 11 10 9 11 13 Gustav Reiner Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 12 Ret 10 14 Massimo Matteoni Yamaha TZ 350 3 Ret Ret 10 15 Jeffrey Sayle Yamaha TZ 350 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 16 Mar Schouten Yamaha TZ 350 6 10 17 Wolfgang Von Muralt Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 13 8 18 Didier de Radiguès Yamaha TZ 350 Ret Ret Ret 8 19 Peter Looijensteijn Yamaha TZ 350 12 Ret 8 9 8 8 20 Charlie Williams Yamaha TZ 350 6 21 Pekka Nurmi Yamaha TZ 350 5 Ret 6 22 Sauro Pazzaglia Yamaha TZ 350 Ret Ret 9 Ret 6 23 Roger Sibille Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 6 Ret Ret 16 5 24 Alan North Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 13 6 Ret 5 25 Reino Eskelinen Yamaha TZ 350 26 16 12 Ret 4 26 Tony Rogers Yamaha TZ 350 11 Ret 8 3 27 Rene Delaby Yamaha TZ 350 17 14 Ret 14 3 28 Edi Stoellinger Kawasaki KR350 10 9 12 Ret 3 29 Donnie Robinson Yamaha TZ 350 2 30 Tony Head Yamaha TZ 350 9 Ret 13 11 11 2 31 Paolo Ferretti Yamaha TZ 350 11 12 10 Ret 14 2 32 Michel Rougerie Yamaha TZ 350 Ret Ret 10 Ret 1 33 Bengt Elgh Yamaha TZ 350 21 15 10 1 34 Vincenzo Cascino Yamaha TZ 350 10 Ret 1 Bruno Kneubuhler Yamaha TZ 350 11 18 Ret Ret 0 Walter Hoffmann Yamaha TZ 350 12 0 Clive Horton Yamaha TZ 350 16 13 0 Yervant Samirdjian Yamaha TZ 350 13 0 Lucilo Baumer Yamaha TZ 350 14 0 Jean-Louis Albera Yamaha TZ 350 14 0 Klaas Hernamdt Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 18 15 0 Limberg Moreira Yamaha TZ 350 15 0 Werner Hilbk Yamaha TZ 350 15 0 Eero Hyvarinen Yamaha TZ 350 15 0 Dimas Anggara Yamaha TZ 350 16 0 Werner Schmied Yamaha TZ 350 16 0 Rinus van Kasteren Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 17 Ret 17 0 Manfred Obinger Yamaha TZ 350 17 0 Mitja Erjavec Yamaha TZ 350 18 0 Mladen Tomic Yamaha TZ 350 18 0 Eduardo Aleman Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 19 Ret 0 Edwin Weibel Yamaha TZ 350 19 0 Manfred Herweh Yamaha TZ 350 20 0 Alois Tost Yamaha TZ 350 22 0 Heinz Chittka Yamaha TZ 350 23 0 Bodo Schmidt Yamaha TZ 350 24 0 Siegfried Minich Yamaha TZ 350 Ret Ret Ret Ret 0 Marcelo Diez Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Claudio Girotto Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Fernando Cerdera Kawasaki KR350 Ret 0 Rafael Olavarria Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Pierre Bolle Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Alfredo Rios Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Pancracio Catania Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Alejandro Aleman Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Walter Villa Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Arturo Venanzi Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Vojko Princic Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Bozo Janesic Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Yoshimasa Matsumoto Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Marijan Kosic Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Marian Srna Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Jacques Bolle Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Richard Schlachter Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Mick Grant Yamaha TZ 350 Ret 0 Sources:[1][7] 250cc standings Place Rider Machine ARG GER NAT FRA ESP NED BEL Points 1 Anton Mang Kawasaki 14 1 3 1 1 1 1 160 2 Jean-François Baldé Kawasaki 1 9 6 4 2 6 3 95 3 Roland Freymond Ad Majora 5 3 Ret Ret 13 4 11 72 4 Carlos Lavado Yamaha Ret 2 Ret 3 3 2 2 56 5 Patrick Fernandez Yamaha 3 Ret 5 7 6 3 12 43 6 Jean-Louis Guignabodet Kawasaki 12 13 10 14 5 7 14 36 7 Jean-Louis Tournadre Yamaha Ret Ret 16 6 34 8 Martin Wimmer Yamaha 6 17 4 16 8 8 Ret 33 9 Didier de Radiguès Yamaha 9 23 13 Ret Ret 10 5 26 10 Richard Schlachter Yamaha 6 Ret Ret 4 9 DNQ 25 11 Thierry Espie Chevallier-Yamaha 10 Ret 7 2 10 Ret Ret 24 12 Maurizio Massimiani Ad Majora 13 14 2 8 7 13 8 22 13 Eric Saul Chevallier-Yamaha 7 1 Ret 20 19 14 Paolo Ferretti Yamaha Ret 4 Ret Ret 19 19 18 16 15 Graeme Geddes Yamaha 2 11 Ret 22 9 13 14 16 Jean Marc Toffolo Armstrong 16 Ret 18 15 Ret 4 12 17 Christian Estrosi Yamaha Ret 12 9 10 18 Ret 12 18 Graeme McGregor Yamaha 10 Ret DNQ 11 Ret 11 19 Roger Sibille Yamaha 11 18 6 Ret 16 11 20 Herve Guilleux Siroko-Rotax 4 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 10 21 Pier Luigi Conforti Kawasaki Ret 8 22 Edi Stoellinger Kawasaki 7 8 7 23 Eero Hyvärinen Yamaha 17 6 24 Jeffrey Sayle Armstrong Ret 14 DNQ 5 Ret 6 25 Angel Nieto Siroko-Rotax Ret 5 Ret DNQ Ret 12 6 26 Pierre Bolle Yamaha 5 Ret 6 27 Bruno Kneubühler Rotax 8 17 15 Ret 14 DNQ 5 28 Sito Pons Siroko-Rotax Ret Ret 7 4 29 Jacques Bolle Yamaha 9 4 30 Loris Reggiani Yamaha 8 Ret Ret 21 14 3 31 Andre Gouin Yamaha 15 13 10 3 32 Steve Tonkin Armstrong DNQ 1 33 Bengt Elgh Yamaha 1 34 Siegfried Minich Bartol-Yamaha Ret DNQ 1 Alan North Yamaha 16 17 11 Ret 0 Franco Marchegiani Yamaha 20 11 18 16 Ret 0 Alain Beraud Yamaha 11 Ret 0 Sauro Pazzaglia MBA Ret DNQ 12 Ret 0 Tony Rogers Yamaha 12 Ret 0 Germano Conti MBA 12 0 Karl-Thomas Grassel Yamaha Ret 16 15 23 17 0 Pierre Tocco Yamaha Ret 20 15 0 Mar Schouten MBA 15 Ret 0 Eduardo Aleman Yamaha 15 0 August Auinger Rotax 17 Ret 0 Jacques Cornu Egli 17 DNQ 0 Lauro Assakawa Yamaha 18 0 Gianpaolo Marchetti MBA Ret 19 Ret 0 Antoine Longo Yamaha 19 0 Gerhard Waibel Yamaha 19 0 Rinus van Kasteren Yamaha 20 0 Olivier Liegeois Yamaha 20 0 Clive Horton Armstrong 25 Ret Ret 21 DNQ 0 Massimo Matteoni Tre Stelle 21 Ret 0 Tony Head Yamaha Ret 21 DNQ 0 Walter Hoffmann Yamaha 22 0 Carlos Morante Yamaha 22 0 Jurgen Schmit Yamaha 24 0 Jean-Louis Albera Kawasaki 24 0 Etienne Geeraerd Yamaha 26 DNQ 0 Bernd Schappacher Rotax 27 0 Johnny Scott Yamaha 28 0 Franz Schwarz Yamaha 29 0 Gerhard Vogt Rotax 30 0 Peter Looijestein Yamaha Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ 0 Eddie Lawson Kawasaki Ret Ret Ret 0 Michel Rougerie Yamaha Ret Ret Ret 0 Klaas Hernamdt Yamaha Ret Ret Ret 0 Hans Müller MBA Ret Ret Ret 0 Pekka Nurmi Yamaha Ret Ret 0 Herbert Hauf FKN Ret Ret 0 Jean-Jacques Peyre Yamaha Ret Ret 0 Ivan Palazzese Yamaha Ret 0 Michael Lederer Yamaha Ret 0 Sadao Asami Yamaha Ret 0 Stefan Jannsen Yamaha Ret 0 Mick Grant Armstrong Ret 0 Michel Simeon Yamaha DNS 0 Sources:[1][8] 125cc standings Place Rider Machine ARG AUT GER NAT FRA ESP YUG NED SMR Points 1 Angel Nieto Minarelli 1 1 1 4 1 1 Ret 1 2 140 2 Loris Reggiani Minarelli 2 2 Ret 2 6 5 1 2 1 95 3 Pier Paolo Bianchi MBA 5 3 Ret Ret 3 3 2 3 3 84 4 Hans Müller MBA 6 3 5 4 4 3 4 17 58 5 Jacques Bolle Motobécane 3 Ret Ret 3 26 6 11 Ret 5 55 6 Guy Bertin Sanvenero Ret Ret Ret 1 2 Ret Ret 10 Ret 40 7 Iván Palazzese MBA Ret 7 2 6 5 Ret 37 8 Ricardo Tormo Sanvenero 12 Ret 8 4 36 9 Maurizio Vitali MBA 8 14 7 5 Ret 4 6 Ret 36 10 Hugo Vignetti MBA Ret Ret Ret 8 7 6 30 11 Stefan Dörflinger MBA 2 6 11 7 5 27 12 Jean Claude Selini MBA Ret 16 9 9 9 18 13 Willy Perez MBA 4 11 17 8 15 11 Ret 15 10 15 14 August Auinger Bartol Ret Ret Ret 8 10 7 9 14 15 Gerhard Waibel MBA 5 12 8 Ret 8 12 16 Johnny Wickstroem MBA 15 8 16 Ret 13 13 10 17 Per Edward Carlsson MBA 7 7 Ret 18 10 11 16 9 18 Eugenio Lazzarini Iprem 4 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret 8 19 Gert Bender Bender 4 8 20 Anton Straver MBA 13 16 Ret Ret 16 12 8 21 Thierry Noblesse MBA 14 5 Ret Ret 11 7 22 Henk Van Kessel EGA 10 6 10 Ret 14 7 23 Ivan Troisi MBA 6 5 24 Michel Galbit MBA 15 13 14 12 5 25 Roberto Ruosi MBA Ret 7 4 26 Janos Drapal MBA 7 Ret Ret 4 27 Fernando González de Nicolas MBA 8 3 28 Hans Hummel MBA 9 Ret 2 29 Joe Genoud MBA 9 Ret 20 13 13 20 15 2 30 Maurizio Musco MBA 9 2 31 Yves Dupont MBA 12 Ret 13 9 Ret Ret 2 32 Jan Bäckström MBA DNQ 2 33 Barry Smith MBA 9 2 34 Olivier Liegeois MBA 14 1 35 Alfred Waibel MBA 10 Ret Ret 1 36 Michele Ettore MBA 10 1 37 Erich Klein MBA Ret 12 22 15 12 Ret 1 38 Norberto Gatti Minarelli 10 1 Stefan Jannsen MBA 11 14 0 Fabian Gonzales MBA 11 0 Peter Hubbard MBA 11 0 Ton Spek MBA 17 12 Ret 0 Jacky Hutteau Afam 13 18 Ret Ret 18 0 Theo Timmer MBA 16 22 Ret 14 14 Ret 0 Bernard Gatti MBA 15 18 0 Libero Piccirillo MBA 15 0 Peter Balaz MBA 24 16 22 19 0 Chris Baert MBA 24 16 20 0 Joel Benniza MBA 17 Ret 0 Paul Bordes MBA 17 0 Janez Pintar Hess 17 0 Jan Eggens EGA 17 0 Jan Huberts Sanvenero 18 18 0 Frédéric Michel MBA 26 19 0 Norbert Peschke MBA 19 0 Marijan Kosic MBA 19 0 Boy van Erp MBA 19 0 Zbynek Havrda MBA 20 0 Lucio Pietroniro MBA 21 23 Ret 0 Robert Bauer MBA 21 0 Werner Schmied MBA 21 0 Peter van Niel MBA 21 0 Walter Kaletsch MBA 23 0 Bady Hassaine MBA 23 0 Joël Malatino MBA 25 Ret 0 François Wirtz MBA 25 0 Spencer Crabbe MBA 27 0 Reiner Koster MBA Ret Ret DNQ 0 Nardone MBA Ret Ret 0 Italo Zerbini MBA Ret Ret 0 Francisco Incorvaia MBA Ret 0 Pierluigi Aldrovandi MBA Ret 0 Ivan Villini MBA Ret 0 John Kernan MBA Ret 0 Rino Zuliani MBA Ret 0 Patrick Herouard Sanvenero Ret 0 Jean-Michel Perret MBA Ret 0 Antonio Garcia MBA Ret 0 Juan Carlos Gonzales MBA Ret 0 Pablo Cegarra MBA Ret 0 Zdravko Ljeljak MBA Ret 0 Vladimir Hegel MBA Ret 0 Alojz Pavlic MBA Ret 0 Maurizio Goretti MBA Ret 0 Place Rider Machine ARG AUT GER NAT FRA ESP YUG NED SMR Points Sources:[1][9] 50cc standings Place Rider Machine GER NAT ESP YUG NED BEL SMR Points 1 Ricardo Tormo Bultaco Ret 1 1 1 1 1 1 90 2 Theo Timmer Bultaco Ret 5 4 4 4 3 3 65 3 Stefan Dörflinger Kreidler 1 2 2 2 Ret 51 4 Hans Hummel Sachs 2 6 8 6 5 5 43 5 Hagen Klein Kreidler Ret 3 6 5 5 Ret 6 40 6 Rolf Blatter Kreidler Ret Ret 5 3 3 4 Ret 39 7 Henk van Kessel Kreidler Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 2 2 36 8 Giuseppe Ascareggi Minarelli 4 4 28 9 Claudio Lusuardi Villa 8 8 7 6 7 23 10 George Looijesteyn Kreidler 5 7 Ret 17 6 8 21 11 Rainer Kunz Kreidler 3 Ret Ret 20 12 Yves Dupont ABF Ret Ret 3 7 Ret Ret 14 13 Joaquim Gali Bultaco 12 12 10 9 9 7 9 11 14 Ingo Emmerich Kreidler Ret 9 8 Ret 7 21 10 10 15 Otto Machinek Kreidler 4 Ret Ret 16 20 13 8 16 Kasimer Rapczynski Kreidler 6 Ret Ret 22 22 6 17 Pascal Kambourian Kreidler 10 9 8 6 18 Gerhard Bauer Kreidler 7 12 11 4 19 Günter Schirnhofer Kreidler Ret 14 12 11 Ret 9 12 4 20 Jos van Dongen Kreidler 15 8 15 3 21 Klaus Kull Kreidler 9 26 23 2 22 Chris Baert Kreidler 19 18 14 10 10 Ret 2 23 Herbert Engelhardt Kreidler 10 1 24 Rainer Scheidhauer Kreidler Ret 15 10 13 1 Yves le Toumelin TYL 11 Ret 11 13 0 Zdravko Matulja Tomos 11 Ret Ret 12 Ret 0 Giuliano Gerani BBFT 16 11 0 Floor Maasland FMT 11 0 Gerhard Singer Kreidler Ret Ret 12 14 19 25 0 Joe Genoud RYB 15 13 18 Ret 14 24 0 Ramon Gali Kreidler 13 15 15 16 16 0 Salvatore Milano UFO 13 Ret 0 Zbynek Havdra Kreidler 13 0 Bruno di Carlo MDC 16 Ret 14 17 0 Claudio Granata Kreidler Ret 14 0 Dieter Göppner Kreidler 14 0 Giuliano Tabanelli Ringhini 19 15 0 Reiner Koster Malanca 17 20 16 Ret 20 Ret 21 0 Zlatko Adamovic Kreidler 16 0 Peter Verbic Kreidler 18 17 Ret Ret 0 Spencer Crabbe MBA Ret 17 25 0 Enrico Cereda Kreidler Ret 17 0 Jose M. Baena Kreidler 17 0 Thomas Engl PCR 18 18 0 Vicente Ferrer Kreidler 18 0 Bertus Grinwis PCR 18 0 Jan Welvaarts Kreidler 19 0 Enzo Saffiotti UFO 19 0 Henry Nagel Kreidler 20 0 Pasquale Buonfante UFO 20 0 Paul Rimmelzwaan Kreidler 21 0 Mika-Sakari Komu Kreidler 23 0 Ove Skifjeld Kreidler 24 0 Dirk van der Donckt Kreidler 27 0 Robert Evrard Kreidler 28 0 Hulric Kreidler Ret 0 Daniel Mateos Kreidler Ret 0 Alfonso Maner Kreidler Ret 0 Pedro Cegarra Kreidler Ret 0 Antonio Garcia Kreidler Ret 0 Hans Spaan Kreidler Ret 0 Bojan Miklos Kreidler Ret 0 Darko Keletic Kreidler Ret 0 Michel De Poligny Kreidler Ret 0 Uli Merz Kreidler Ret 0 Serge Julin JVM Ret 0 Guido Delys Jumathi Ret 0 Renzo Fabbri Kreidler Ret 0 Sources:[1][10] Bibliography Büla, Maurice & Schertenleib, Jean-Claude (2001). Continental Circus 1949-2000. Chronosports S.A. ISBN 2-940125-32-5 References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-874557-83-7 ↑ "Michel Rougerie career profile". Motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 5 December 2012. ↑ "Framing the Future: The Legacy of Antonio Cobas". Superbikeplanet.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2004. Retrieved 5 December 2012. ↑ "Alle Grand-Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden, van 1973 (het jaar dat Jack begon met racen) tot heden". Jumping Jack. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2018. 1 2 "1981 500cc World Championship race results". motorsportmagazine.com. Retrieved 19 March 2026. ↑ "1981 500cc World Championship race results". motogp.com. Retrieved 19 March 2026. ↑ "1981 350cc World Championship race results". motogp.com. Retrieved 19 March 2026. ↑ "1981 250cc World Championship race results". motogp.com. Retrieved 19 March 2026. ↑ "1981 125cc World Championship race results". motogp.com. Retrieved 19 March 2026. ↑ "1981 50cc World Championship race results". motogp.com. Retrieved 19 March 2026. External links "The Official MotoGP website". Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2010-07-06.