Yamaha's Kenny Roberts claimed his third successive 500cc world championship in a season shortened by the cancellations of the Venezuelan and Austrian rounds.
[1] There were only six rounds in the 350cc class that saw South Africa's Jon Ekerold, a true privateer, take the championship from the Kawasaki factory-sponsored Anton Mang.
[1] Mang would take the 250cc crown from defending champion Ballington while Pier Paolo Bianchi won the 125cc title.
[1] Eugenio Lazzarini won a tight battle from Swiss Stefan Dörflinger to take the 50cc championship by only 2 points.
[2] The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1980:[3][4] Points are awarded to the top ten finishers.