1981 FIM Motocross World Championship

1981 FIM Motocross World Championship
OrganizerFIM
Duration29 March/16 August
Number of races36
Number of manufacturers14
Champions
500cc André Malherbe
250cc Neil Hudson
125cc Harry Everts

The 1981 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 25th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.

Summary

500 class

The reigning 500cc World Champion André Malherbe (Honda) successfully defended his title after a season-long battle with his Honda teammate Graham Noyce who had missed most of the 1980 season after sustaining a broken leg. As in 1980, the championship wasn't decided until the final race in Luxembourg where Malherbe would prevail to score his second consecutive World Championship.[1][2][3]

Malherbe began the year by winning the 500cc Austrian Grand Prix but then suffered a dislocated shoulder at the second round in Switzerland. He also experienced mechanical problems Sweden, France, and Great Britain which allowed Noyce to take the championship points lead at mid-season.[4] Malherbe then reclaimed the championship points lead at his home Grand Prix in Belgium when Noyce withdrew with a mechanical failure. Noyce was 10 points behind Malherbe with one race left in the season however, Malherbe clinched the World Championship when he finished in second place behind Håkan Carlqvist (Yamaha) at the season-ending 500cc Luxembourg Grand Prix.

Carlqvist took third place in the championship with six podium results in the final six races of the season, including victories in the final two races of the year.[4] Suzuki returned to Grand Prix motocross after a three-year hiatus and hired Brad Lackey, the 1980 500cc class runner-up. Lackey struggled with injuries and mechanical problems while developing a new motorcycle and dropped to sixth in the 1981 world championship.[5]

Two-time 500cc Class Vice Champion, Gerrit Wolsink retired after the 1981 season. Future three-time World Champion David Thorpe competed in his first Motocross World Championship event at the 1981 500cc French Grand Prix riding for the Kawasaki-UK team.[4]

250 class

Georges Jobé (Suzuki) won five of the first seven Grand Prix races to lead the 1981 250cc Motocross World Championship by 53 points over his closest rival, Neil Hudson (Yamaha) with four rounds remaining and appeared to be heading towards a second consecutive World Championship when he was injured while competing in a Belgian National Championship race.[6] He attempted to compete in the penultimate round in Russia but was injured again, allowing Hudson to overtake him and win the World Championship by only two points in the final standings.[6][7]

125 class

The 1981 125cc Motocross World Championship developed into a four-way battle between the defending champion Harry Everts (Suzuki), Michele Rinaldi (Gilera), Eric Geboers (Suzuki), and Marc Velkeneers (Yamaha). After the first ten rounds of the championship the four competitors were 12 points apart but, Everts won the last two Grand Prix races of the year to claim his third consecutive 125cc Motocross World Championship ahead of his Suzuki teammate, Geboers.[8]

Grands Prix

500cc

Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 April 5 Austrian Grand Prix Sittendorf André Malherbe André Malherbe André Malherbe Report
2 April 26 Swiss Grand Prix Payerne Håkan Carlqvist André Vromans Håkan Carlqvist Report
3 May 17 Finnish Grand Prix Ruskeasanta André Vromans Tapani Pikkarainen André Malherbe Report
4 May 24 Swedish Grand Prix Västerås Graham Noyce André Malherbe Graham Noyce Report
5 May 31 Italian Grand Prix Cingoli Jean-Jacques Bruno André Malherbe André Malherbe Report
6 June 14 French Grand Prix Metz Graham Noyce Håkan Carlqvist Brad Lackey Report
7 June 21 United States Grand Prix Carlsbad Broc Glover Chuck Sun Chuck Sun Report
8 July 5 British Grand Prix Farleigh Castle Håkan Carlqvist Håkan Carlqvist Håkan Carlqvist Report
9 July 19 Dutch Grand Prix Lichtenvoorde Graham Noyce André Vromans André Malherbe Report
10 July 26 Czechoslovak Grand Prix Sverepec André Vromans Jean-Jacques Bruno Jean-Jacques Bruno Report
11 August 2 Belgian Grand Prix Namur Jean-Jacques Bruno André Malherbe Håkan Carlqvist Report
12 August 9 Luxembourg Grand Prix Ettelbruck Håkan Carlqvist André Vromans Håkan Carlqvist Report
Sources:[4][9]

250cc

Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 March 29 French Grand Prix Cognac Fritz Schneider Kees van der Ven Georges Jobé Report
2 April 5 Spanish Grand Prix Sabadell Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Report
3 May 3 Austrian Grand Prix Schwanenstadt Neil Hudson Georges Jobé Neil Hudson Report
4 May 17 Italian Grand Prix Gallarate Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Report
5 May 24 Czechoslovak Grand Prix Holice Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Report
6 May 31 Bulgarian Grand Prix Samokov Neil Hudson Georges Jobé Neil Hudson Report
7 June 14 Swiss Grand Prix Roggenburg Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Report
8 June 21 British Grand Prix Hawkstone Park Kees van der Ven Neil Hudson Kees van der Ven Report
9 July 5 West German Grand Prix Beuren Hans Maisch Georges Jobé Georges Jobé Report
10 July 26 United States Grand Prix Unadilla Donnie Hansen Steve Wise Neil Hudson Report
11 August 9 Russian Grand Prix Leningrad Neil Hudson Neil Hudson Neil Hudson Report
12 August 16 Dutch Grand Prix Apeldoorn Kees van der Ven Kees van der Ven Kees van der Ven Report
Sources:[6][10]

125cc

Round Date Grand Prix Location Race 1 Winner Race 2 Winner Overall Winner Report
1 March 30 Italian Grand Prix Lovolo Giuseppe Andreani Michele Rinaldi Michele Rinaldi Report
2 April 5 Dutch Grand Prix Valkenswaard Eric Geboers Marc Velkeneers Marc Velkeneers Report
3 April 12 Austrian Grand Prix Launsdorf Akira Watanabe Harry Everts Akira Watanabe Report
4 April 26 West German Grand Prix Niederwurzb Giuseppe Andreani Giuseppe Andreani Giuseppe Andreani Report
5 May 3 French Grand Prix Berchères Eric Geboers Akira Watanabe Eric Geboers Report
6 May 24 Yugoslavian Grand Prix Tržič Harry Everts Harry Everts Harry Everts Report
7 May 31 Polish Grand Prix Szczecin Marc Velkeneers Eric Geboers Harry Everts Report
8 July 5 Swiss Grand Prix Frauenfeld Michele Rinaldi Matti Autio Eric Geboers Report
9 July 19 United States Grand Prix Lexington Mark Barnett Mark Barnett Mark Barnett Report
10 August 2 Finnish Grand Prix Salo Eric Geboers Michele Rinaldi Michele Rinaldi Report
11 August 9 Czechoslovak Grand Prix Dalečín Harry Everts Harry Everts Harry Everts Report
12 August 16 Spanish Grand Prix Montgai Harry Everts Eric Geboers Eric Geboers Report
Sources:[8][11]

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 AUT
 CH
 FIN
 SWE
 ITA
 FRA
 USA
 UK
 NED
 CZE
 BEL
 LUX
 Points
1 André Malherbe Honda 1 1 4 2 2 2 1 3 1 3 2 7 2 2 5 4 5 1 2 8 214
2 Graham Noyce Honda 5 2 3 4 2 1 2 2 1 4 3 6 3 2 1 6 4 5 4 3 4 207
3 Håkan Carlqvist Yamaha 1 4 8 3 2 5 1 2 8 1 1 5 3 3 2 3 2 1 2 201
4 André Vromans Yamaha 3 5 1 1 5 4 8 5 9 10 1 1 3 2 3 6 1 154
5 Jean-Jacques Bruno Suzuki 2 2 3 3 1 4 2 10 3 7 2 1 1 5 3 152
6 Brad Lackey Suzuki 3 6 7 5 2 2 6 3 6 3 6 6 9 4 99
7 Gérard Rond KTM 10 7 6 4 7 3 3 7 9 5 4 4 8 8 6 8 84
8 Jaak van Velthoven KTM 3 6 6 5 8 6 6 6 5 9 4 7 7 6 7 5 83
9 Yvan van den Broeck Maico 8 9 6 4 5 10 10 7 5 9 9 7 8 10 48
10 Gerrit Wolsink Honda 7 3 4 7 8 7 5 6 9 46
11 Tapani Pikkarainen Maico 8 9 5 9 1 9 7 34
12 Conny Carlsson Husqvarna 9 4 9 6 10 8 8 5 30
13 Georg Reiter KTM 5 4 10 7 8 9 8 27
14 Chuck Sun Honda 5 1 21
15 David Thorpe Kawasaki 9 8 4 6 18
16 Laurence Spence Yamaha 6 10 10 10 9 7 9 16
17 Broc Glover Yamaha 1 15
Franco Picco Yamaha 8 4 7 15
19 Toon Karsmakers Honda 8 4 11
20 Danny LaPorte Honda 9 4 10
Geoff Mayes Suzuki 7 8 9 10 10
22 Mike Bell Yamaha 8 5 9
23 Herbert Schmitz Maico 4 8
Ludwig Reinbold KTM 8 6 8
Walter Gruhler Suzuki 7 9 10 10 8
Jukka Sintonen Suzuki 8 9 8 8
27 Arne Lindfors Yamaha 5 6
Billy Aldbridge Suzuki 10 6 6
Marty Tripes Husqvarna 9 7 6
30 Steve Beamish Suzuki 6 5
31 Arne Lodal Yamaha 7 4
Lasse Karlsson KTM 7 4
Marty Smith Suzuki 7 4
Eddy Sterckx Yamaha 10 10 9 4
35 Gieljo Van Zoggel Maico 9 2
Bertil Ovgard Husqvarna 10 10 2
37 Patrick Boniface Honda 10 1
Gunnar Lindqvist Suzuki 10 1
Inge Edberg Husqvarna 10 1
Steve Rhyan Husqvarna 10 1
Daniel Péan Kawasaki 10 1
Sources:[4][12]

250cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

Pos Rider Machine FRA
 ESP
 AUT
 ITA
 CZE
 BUL
 CH
 UK
 GER
 USA
 USR
 NED
 Points
1 Neil Hudson Yamaha 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 6 2 2 2 1 1 4 6 235
2 Georges Jobé Suzuki 5 2 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 233
3 Kees van der Ven Maico 8 1 9 3 7 3 3 3 5 8 9 1 2 10 5 3 3 1 1 159
4 Rolf Dieffenbach Honda 7 4 6 2 4 6 10 3 3 3 9 5 3 3 101
5 Heinz Kinigadner Puch 3 8 3 8 7 8 8 8 4 5 4 7 8 7 4 80
6 Mike Guerra Husqvarna 10 7 9 5 6 5 6 4 3 5 3 7 3 77
7 Jean-Claude Laquaye SWM 4 2 9 5 4 2 6 7 6 9 10 65
8 Dave Watson Yamaha 2 10 7 8 5 4 7 9 6 5 5 5 63
9 Dimitar Rangelov Husqvarna 4 8 5 4 4 10 10 4 2 55
10 Matti Tarkkonen Yamaha 2 9 3 10 10 7 7 7 6 4 51
11 Henk Van Mierlo Husqvarna 5 5 2 2 36
Soren Mortensen KTM 7 3 6 9 4 7 10 9 36
13 Morizio Dolce Maico 8 6 7 3 7 9 7 8 35
14 Hans Maisch Maico 6 6 7 1 6 34
15 Jean-Paul Mingels Yamaha 3 4 3 10 29
16 Raymond Boven Husqvarna 5 9 5 7 8 7 25
17 Steve Wise Honda 4 1 23
18 Peter Groeneveld Honda 6 10 6 6 6 21
19 Donnie Hansen Honda 1 15
Fritz Schneider Sachs 1 15
Fritz Kobele Honda 4 8 10 8 15
22 Sven Berggren Husqvarna 9 3 9 14
Erkki Sundstrom Honda 10 6 8 10 7 14
24 Benny Wilken Honda 9 8 9 5 13
25 Simo Taimi Husqvarna 6 10 5 12
Patrick Fura Husqvarna 7 9 10 6 12
27 Paul Decendre Husqvarna 4 8 11
Michele Magarotto Gilera 5 6 11
29 Willy Willinger Puch 3 10
Arno Drechsel Kawasaki 9 4 10
31 Magnus Nyberg KTM 4 8
JoJo Keller Suzuki 4 8
Steve Martin Suzuki 9 5 8
34 Gennady Moiseyev ČZ 8 10 10 10 6
Jan Kristoffersen Yamaha 5 6
36 Kris Bigelow Yamaha 6 5
Vladimir Kavinov ČZ 9 8 5
38 David Bailey Kawasaki 7 4
39 Patrick Gervaise Maico 8 3
Vilen Toman Suzuki 8 3
Chad Pedersen Kawasaki 8 3
Dinant Zijlstra Yamaha 8 3
Steve Russell Suzuki 10 9 3
44 Alberto Dotti Puch 9 2
Rob Hooper Maico 9 2
Leif Nicklasson Husqvarna 9 2
47 Rolf Wicksell Husqvarna 10 1
Zdeněk Velký ČZ 10 1
Henk Bloemert Husqvarna 10 1
Sources:[6][13]

125cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

Pos Rider Machine ITA
 NED
 AUT
 GER
 FRA
 YUG
 POL
 CH
 USA
 FIN
 CZE
 ESP
 Points
1 Harry Everts Suzuki 8 2 3 4 1 2 4 9 1 1 2 4 7 5 5 5 2 1 1 1 2 211
2 Eric Geboers Suzuki 3 1 6 4 2 1 3 5 7 1 4 3 6 1 3 3 2 2 1 197
3 Michele Rinaldi Gilera 2 1 6 4 3 3 4 2 3 3 6 1 6 2 1 4 3 170
4 Marc Velkeneers Yamaha 9 3 1 2 3 7 6 2 2 3 1 5 4 8 3 4 2 3 164
5 Akira Watanabe Suzuki 3 2 1 2 6 5 1 8 2 2 2 3 5 3 5 146
6 Giuseppe Andreani KTM 1 7 3 8 1 1 3 4 10 5 4 4 6 108
7 Gaston Rahier Gilera 6 4 4 5 5 7 5 4 8 6 2 4 8 7 8 4 97
8 Corrado Maddii Aprilia 4 6 10 4 10 8 6 7 6 5 8 9 8 5 5 6 71
9 Jacky Vimond Yamaha 7 10 6 8 4 3 3 10 6 8 10 7 55
10 Alain Lejeune Cagiva 7 8 9 9 9 9 10 8 6 7 9 6 4 43
11 Matti Autio Honda 10 8 6 9 1 9 6 9 7 39
12 Hank Seppenwoolde Honda 5 7 9 9 7 5 10 7 6 34
13 Mark Barnett Suzuki 1 1 30
Mauro Miele KTM 5 5 8 8 5 6 10 30
15 Johan Martens Yamaha 2 6 7 7 9 27
16 Jean-Marie Milissen TGM 10 7 8 7 5 7 9 24
17 Yuri Khudiakov ČZ 9 5 5 8 17
18 Johnny O'Mara Honda 10 2 13
19 Jim Gibson Honda 2 12
20 Richard Coon Honda 3 10
21 Ricky Johnson Yamaha 4 8
Donnie Cantaloupe Yamaha 4 8
Scott Durnworth Yamaha 7 7 8
24 Fernando Muñoz Gilera 10 5 7
Robert Greisch Honda 10 8 8 7
26 Dario Nani TGM 6 5
Jonathan Wright Kawasaki 9 8 5
Danny Bentley Suzuki 8 9 5
Ari Viiri Suzuki 10 10 9 10 5
30 Friedrich Grabner Yamaha 7 4
Andre Sprengelmayer Yamaha 7 4
32 Erik Van Essen Suzuki 8 3
Jeff Nilsson Yamaha 10 9 3
34 Johan Van Poppel KTM 9 2
Helmut Frauwellner Puch 9 2
Danny Chandler Suzuki 9 2
Seppo Isomaki Suzuki 9 2
38 Johny Ponjee Honda 10 1
Albert Ensing Suzuki 10 1
Alain Fura TGM 10 1
Guy Van Gysegheim Honda 10 1
Phil Larson Yamaha 10 1
Pablo Colomina Gilera 10 1
Sources:[8][14]

References

  1. ^ "André Malherbe: a life full of struggle". mxmag.net. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Jack Burnicle looks back at Andre Malherbe's remarkable career". dirtbikerider.com. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  3. ^ Mueller, Tom (1 June 1982). "Malherbe Aims For Number 3". Cycle World. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e "1981 500cc motocross world championship final results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d "1981 250cc motocross world championship final results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Remembered – Georges Jobe". mxlarge.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "1981 125cc motocross world championship final results"" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  9. ^ "1981 500cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  10. ^ "1981 250cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. ^ "1981 125cc motocross world championship race results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  12. ^ "1981 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  13. ^ "1981 250cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  14. ^ "1981 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
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