The title chase went down to the final race in the Netherlands, when Bauer had a mechanical breakdown, losing the championship by two points.
Bauer ended the season in third place behind Harry Everts and Hakan Andersson.
Bauer moved back to the 500cc class with the KTM factory racing team in 1976 and placed tenth in the world championship.
At the 1978 British motocross Grand Prix held at Kilmartin, Scotland, Bauer crashed and had spinal cord injuries that left him paralyzed.
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