ČZ factory sponsored Paul Friedrichs overcame a late season charge by BSA factory team rider John Banks to win his third consecutive 500cc World Championship by a single point over his British competitor.

Friedrichs won the season ending Swiss Grand Prix to claim the 500cc World Championship by a narrow margin over Banks.

Friedrichs won four of the thirteen Grand Prix events to become the first three-time winner of the premier 500cc displacement class since the inception of the Motocross World Championships in 1957.

[3] After Robert won three consecutive Grand Prix races in France, Holland and West Germany to take the early points lead, Hallman then won three races in Russia, Yugoslavia and Sweden to tie Robert for the championship points lead as they went into the final round in Austria where Roberts won the event to clinch the World Championship by two points over Hallman.

[3][4][5][6] Suzuki became the first Japanese manufacturer to win a Motocross World Championship heat race when Olle Pettersson rode a Suzuki to win the first heat race at the 250cc Belgian Grand Prix in Genk.