Maico factory team rider Åke Jonsson posted consistent results and took the championship points lead going into the final round, but he failed to score any points, allowing Bengt Åberg to overtake him and claim his second consecutive 500cc world championship for the Husqvarna factory racing team.

[2][3] The Suzuki team hired the two top finishers in last years' 250cc World Championship, Joël Robert and Sylvain Geboers.

The two Suzuki teammates dominated the 1970 championship with each rider claiming four Grand Prix victories apiece.

[4][5] As with the previous year, the championship wasn't decided until the final round in Austria where Robert prevailed over his teammate by a slim two point margin.

Heikki Mikkola, another Husqvarna rider, surged in the second half of the season to claim three of the final four Grands Prix to finish just one point behind third-placed Roger De Coster riding for the ČZ factory racing team.