# 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

The 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 35th F.I.M. Road racing World Championship season.

## Season summary

The 1983 battle for 500 cc supremacy between Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts would be one of the most dramatic seasons since the 1967 duel between Giacomo Agostini and Mike Hailwood. As was the case in 1967, the battle for the 500 cc crown would pit a former world champion riding a powerful but, ill-handling four cylinder motorcycle against a young upstart riding a less powerful but better handling three cylinder motorcycle. Also as in 1967, the title chase wouldn't be decided until the final race of the season.
1983 would be the last year for the 50cc class as it would be upgraded to 80cc for the 1984 season. Stefan Dörflinger would take the honor of being the last 50cc World Champion. Angel Nieto won the 125 cc crown in dominating fashion, making it his 12th world championship. Carlos Lavado would capture his first 250 cc world championship in a season that saw eight riders share wins over eleven races, Lavado being the only competitor to win more than once. Eighteen-year-old British rider, Alan Carter, created excitement by winning the 250cc French Grand Prix in only his second world championship race, becoming the youngest winner of a 250cc Grand Prix race. Despite the auspicious start to his career, it would be Carter's only Grand Prix victory.
The departure of Kawasaki from the 500cc class left the remaining three Japanese factories to contend for the premier division. Suzuki returned with defending champion, Franco Uncini, Loris Reggiani and Randy Mamola aboard a new version of the RG500 which featured a square tube, welded aluminium frame. The Honda team of Freddie Spencer, Marco Lucchinelli and Takazumi Katayama was made even stronger with the addition of British rider, Ron Haslam, all competing on the three-cylinder NS500. Honda also introduced a production version of the NS500 called the RS500 for privateer racers. These were very similar to the NS500 machines used by the factory racing team but, lacked the special exhaust system. Yamaha team manager Giacomo Agostini had been unable to agree on a contract with rider Graeme Crosby, so AMA Superbike champion Eddie Lawson was brought in as Kenny Roberts' new teammate, both competing with the OW70 YZR500 with a V4 engine. Before the season began, Roberts announced that the 1983 season would be his final year in Grand Prix competition. Cagiva continued to campaign bikes ridden by Jon Ekerold and Virginio Ferrari.
Uncini's title defense was hampered as Suzuki experienced development problems with their chassis which left the team struggling to post good results. Suzuki's pursuit of a lightweight and compact machine had led to a myriad of handling problems associated with the flexing of the thin aluminum frame tubing. Roberts began the season with his YZR500 having problems with overheating and rear suspension, while Spencer started strongly, winning the first three races and five out of the first seven. Roberts was leading the second race in France, when his Yamaha split an expansion chamber causing it to lose power as Spencer won, with Roberts falling to fourth place. The French Grand Prix was marred by the deaths of Japanese rider Iwao Ishikawa during practice after colliding with Reggiani, while Swiss rider, Michel Frutschi, died from injuries sustained during the 500cc race. In Round 3 at Monza, Roberts crashed while leading Spencer three laps from the finish. Roberts came back to win the German Grand Prix, but then finished second to Spencer in Spain in a race Spencer called one of the toughest of his career.
Things began to go Roberts' way at the Austrian Grand Prix as Roberts won while Spencer's Honda suffered a crankshaft failure. In the Yugoslavian Grand Prix, Roberts' Yamaha failed to start immediately, while Spencer charged to an early lead, leaving Roberts to fight through the field to finish in fourth place. Roberts then went on a three-race winning streak with victories in the Netherlands, Belgium and England, while Spencer stayed close with a third place and two second-place finishes. Uncini was injured in an accident at the Dutch TT when he crashed while exiting a curve, then was struck in the helmet by Wayne Gardner's motorcycle as he tried to run off the track. The injury left Uncini in a coma, from which he recovered, but which forced him to sit out the remainder of the season.
The British Grand Prix gave Kenny Roberts a third victory in a row, after a race split in two stages following the deaths of Swiss rider Peter Huber and Northern Irish rider Norman Brown during lap 6 of the first stage. The race was subsequently stopped following some confusion over whether the race had been suspended or not. The event was then decided by aggregate times over the two stages, with Roberts leading both stages of the race, taking victory with Freddie Spencer in second.
The championship then moved to the penultimate round at the Swedish Grand Prix with Spencer holding a two-point lead over Roberts. Roberts led Spencer going into the last lap of the race. Heading down the back straight, Spencer placed his Honda right behind Roberts' Yamaha as they reached the penultimate corner, a ninety degree right-hander. As both riders applied their brakes, Spencer came out of Roberts' slipstream and managed to get inside of the Yamaha. As they exited the corner, both riders ran wide off the track and into the dirt. Spencer was able to get back on the track and back on the power first, crossing the finish line just ahead of Roberts for a crucial victory. Roberts considered Spencer's pass to be foolish and dangerous, and exchanged angry words with him on the podium.
Roberts would have to win the final round at the San Marino Grand Prix with Spencer finishing no better than third place in order for Roberts to win his fourth world championship. In a fitting end to a successful career, Roberts won his last-ever Grand Prix race, however Spencer was able to secure second place to claim the world championship. The two riders dominated the season with each claiming six victories and six pole positions in the 12 race series.

## 1983 Grand Prix season calendar

The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1983:
| Round | Date | Grand Prix | Circuit |
| 1 | 19 March †† | Nashua Motorcycle Grand Prix | Kyalami |
| 2 | 3 April | Grand Prix de France | Bugatti Circuit |
| 3 | 24 April | Gran Premio delle Nazioni | Autodromo Nazionale Monza |
| 4 | 8 May | Großer Preis von Deutschland | Hockenheimring |
| 5 | 22 May | Marlboro Gran Premio de España de Motociclismo | Circuito Permanente Del Jarama |
| 6 | 29 May | Großer Preis von Österreich | Salzburgring |
| 7 | 12 June | Yu Grand Prix | Automotodrom Rijeka |
| 8 | 25 June †† | Dutch TT Assen | TT Circuit Assen |
| 9 | 3 July | Johnson GP of Belgium | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps |
| 10 | 31 July | Marlboro British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit |
| 11 | 6 August | Swedish TT | Scandinavian Raceway |
| 12 | 4 September | Grand Prix S. Marino | Autodromo Dino Ferrari |
†† = Saturday race

### Calendar changes

* The Argentine Grand Prix was taken off the calendar due to the high costs to host the event.
* The South African Grand Prix was added to the calendar.
* The French Grand Prix moved from the Nogaro circuit to the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans after a strike by all the factory teams, as well as some private drivers, due to the very dangerous track conditions.
* The Nations Grand Prix moved from the Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
* The German Grand Prix was moved forward, from 26 September to 8 May.
* The Austrian Grand Prix was moved back, from 2 to 29 May.
* The Yugoslavian Grand Prix was moved forward, from 18 July to 12 June.
* The Finnish and Czechoslovak Grand Prix were taken off the calendar due to dangerous track conditions.
* The San Marino Grand Prix moved from the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello to the Autodromo Dino Ferrari.

## Calendar and Results
### 1983 Grand Prix season results

| Round | Date | Race | Location | 50cc winner | 125cc winner | 250cc winner | 500cc winner | Report |
| 1 | 19 March | South African Grand Prix | Kyalami | | | Jean-François Baldé | Freddie Spencer | Report |
| 2 | 3 April | French Grand Prix | Le Mans | Stefan Dörflinger | Ricardo Tormo | Alan Carter | Freddie Spencer | Report |
| 3 | 24 April | Nations Grand Prix | Monza | Eugenio Lazzarini | Ángel Nieto | Carlos Lavado | Freddie Spencer | Report |
| 4 | 8 May | German Grand Prix | Hockenheim | Stefan Dörflinger | Ángel Nieto | Carlos Lavado | Kenny Roberts | Report |
| 5 | 22 May | Spanish Grand Prix | Jarama | Eugenio Lazzarini | Ángel Nieto | Hervé Guilleux | Freddie Spencer | Report |
| 6 | 29 May | Austrian Grand Prix | Salzburgring | | Ángel Nieto | Manfred Herweh | Kenny Roberts | Report |
| 7 | 12 June | Yugoslavian Grand Prix | Rijeka | Stefan Dörflinger | Bruno Kneubühler | Carlos Lavado | Freddie Spencer | Report |
| 8 | 25 June | Dutch TT | Assen | Eugenio Lazzarini | Ángel Nieto | Carlos Lavado | Kenny Roberts | Report |
| 9 | 3 July | Belgian Grand Prix | Spa-Francorchamps | | Eugenio Lazzarini | Didier de Radiguès | Kenny Roberts | Report |
| 10 | 31 July | British Grand Prix | Silverstone | | Ángel Nieto | Jacques Bolle | Kenny Roberts | Report |
| 11 | 6 August | Swedish Grand Prix | Anderstorp | | Bruno Kneubühler | Christian Sarron | Freddie Spencer | Report |
| 12 | 4 September | San Marino Grand Prix | Imola | Ricardo Tormo | Maurizio Vitali | | Kenny Roberts | Report |

## Participants and Standings
### 500cc participants

| Team | Constructor | Motorcycle | No. | Rider | Rounds |
| Team HB Suzuki | Suzuki | ??? | 1 | Franco Uncini | 1–8 |
| Team HB Suzuki | Suzuki | ??? | 12 | Boet van Dulmen | All |
| Team HB Suzuki | Suzuki | ??? | 12 | Loris Reggiani | 1, 10–11 |
| Honda Racing Company | Honda | Honda NS500 | 3 | Freddie Spencer | All |
| Honda Racing Company | Honda | Honda NS500 | 5 | Marco Lucchinelli | All |
| Honda Racing Company | Honda | Honda NS500 | 8 | Takazumi Katayama | 1–11 |
| Honda Racing Company | Honda | Honda NS500 | 9 47 43 35 | Ron Haslam | 1–7, 9–12 |
| Yamaha Marlboro | Yamaha | Yamaha YZR500 (OW70) | 4 | Kenny Roberts | All |
| Yamaha Marlboro | Yamaha | ??? | 22 | Carlos Lavado | ??? |
| Yamaha Marlboro | Yamaha | Yamaha OW70 | 27 | Eddie Lawson | All |
| Team HB Suzuki | Suzuki | Suzuki XR45 | 6 | Randy Mamola | All |
| Team HB Suzuki | Suzuki | ??? | 16 | Anton Mang | 6, 10–12 |
| Heron Team Suzuki | Suzuki | Suzuki XR40 | 7 | Barry Sheene | 1–4, 6–8, 10–12 |
| Heron Team Suzuki | Suzuki | ??? | 25 | Rob McElnea | 10 |
| Heron Team Suzuki | Suzuki | Suzuki RG 500 gamma | 47 55 29 | Keith Huewen | 2–12 |
| Team Sonauto Gauloises | Yamaha | ??? | 10 | Marc Fontan | All |
| Cagiva Motor Italia | Cagiva | ??? | 11 | Virginio Ferrari | 1–4, 6, 10, 12 |
| Cagiva Motor Italia | Cagiva | ??? | 20 | Jon Ekerold | 1–2, 8, 12 |
| Shell Nederland | Suzuki | ??? | 12 | Boet van Dulmen | All |
| Honda Switzerland | Honda | Honda RS500 | 14 | Michel Frutschi | 1–2* |
| Marlboro-Tissot | Suzuki | ??? | 15 | Sergio Pellandini | 1–10 |
| Krauter-Vertrieb Racing | Suzuki | ??? | 17 | Gustav Reiner | 1–5, 7 |
| Team Johnson Elf | Honda | Honda RS500 | 18 | Didier de Radiguès | 2, 5, 9–12 |
| ??? | Suzuki | ??? | 19 | Wolfgang von Muralt | 2–12 |
| ??? | Suzuki | ??? | 20 | Jon Ekerold | ??? |
| ??? | Honda | Honda RS500 | 23 | Fabio Biliotti | 1, 4–8, 12 |
| HIRT Giapauto | Honda | ??? | 28 | Gianni Pelletier | 3–7 |
| Stichting Ned. | Honda | ??? | 30 22 | Jack Middelburg | 2–10, 12 |
| ??? | Honda | Honda RS500/Honda NS500 | 35 | Raymond Roche | 1–8, 11–12 |
| ??? | Suzuki | ??? | 38 39 | Leandro Becheroni | 1–4, 6, 10–12 |
| ??? | Honda | Honda RS500 | 39 | Guido Paci | 1-2** |
| Marlboro | Suzuki | ??? | 41 33 | Philippe Coulon | 2–12 |
| Mitsui Yamaha | Yamaha | ??? | 43 26 | Steve Parrish | 1–6, 8–12 |
| Honda Britain Racing | Honda | ??? | 47 | Roger Marshall | 8 |
| Honda Britain Racing | Honda | Honda NS500 | 51 | Wayne Gardner | 8, 10 |
| ??? | Suzuki | ??? | 49 46 13 | Chris Guy | All |
| Jeb's Helmet Sweden | Suzuki | ??? | 50 41 | Peter Sjöstrom | 2–4, 6, 8–12 |
| ??? | Suzuki | ??? | 51 | Ernst Gschwender | 2–4, 6–9, 12 |
| Honda Italia | Honda | Honda RS500 | 59 52 | Maurizio Massimiani | 1–2, 6–7, 10, 12 |
| ??? | Suzuki | ??? | ??? | Franz Kaserer | ??? |
| ??? | Suzuki | ??? | ??? | Børge Nielsen | ??? |
| Source: ||||||
Key :
* Regular Rider
* Wildcard Rider
* Replacement Rider

#### Notes

* * Frutschi was killed at the second round of the season, the French GP.
* ** Paci was killed during a motorcycle endurance race in Imola.

### 250cc participants

| Team | Constructor | Motorcycle | No. | Rider | Rounds |
| Team Sonauto Gauloises | Yamaha | ??? | 1 | Jean-Louis Tournadre | 1–7, 10–11 |
| Team Sonauto Gauloises | Yamaha | ??? | 10 | Christian Sarron | All* |
| Team Sonauto Gauloises | Yamaha | ??? | 26 | Thierry Rapicault | All |
| Höstettler | Yamaha | ??? | 2 | Jacques Cornu | 1–4, 6, 8–9, 11 |
| Elf Moto Racing Team | Armstrong-Rotax | ??? | 3 | Roland Freymond | All |
| Team Mitsui Yamaha | Yamaha | ??? | 4 | Martin Wimmer | All |
| Team Mitsui Yamaha | Yamaha | ??? | 21 | Donny Robinson | 2–6 |
| Team Mitsui Yamaha | Yamaha | ??? | 32 28 | Alan Carter | 1–6, 8–11 |
| Team Mitsui Yamaha | Yamaha | ??? | 62 | Paul Tinker | ??? |
| Venemotos Racing Team | Yamaha | ??? | 5 | Carlos Lavado | All |
| Venemotos Racing Team | Yamaha | ??? | 23 | Iván Palazzese | All |
| Team Johnson Elf | Chevallier | ??? | 6 | Didier de Radiguès | All |
| Lumaca | MBA/Yamaha | ???/??? | 7 | Paolo Ferretti | 1–2, 4, 7–9 |
| Team Green | Yamaha | ??? | 8 | Jean-Louis Guignabodet | All |
| Team Emco | Bartol | ??? | 9 | Jeff Sayle | ??? |
| Pernod | Pernod | ??? | 11 | Christian Estrosi | 1–3, 5–6, 8–11 |
| Pernod | Pernod | ??? | 32 | Jacques Bolle | 1–2, 5–7 |
| TopCard Krauser | Chevallier | ??? | 12 | Jean-François Baldé | 1–8 |
| TopCard Krauser | Chevallier | ??? | ??? | Bernad Fau | 1–2, 4–11 |
| ??? | Bartol/Yamaha | ???/??? | 14 | Patrick Fernandez | All |
| Cobas Motorcycles | Cobas | ??? | 15 | Sito Pons | 1–6 |
| ??? | Yamaha | ??? | 16 | Ángel Nieto | 5–7 |
| Massa Real Racing Team | Real-Rotax | ??? | 19 | Manfred Herweh | 1, 3–9 |
| ??? | Armstrong-Rotax | ??? | 20 | Tony Head | 1–4, 6–11 |
| Römer Racing Team | Yamaha | ??? | 25 | Reinhold Roth | All |
| ??? | Yamaha | ??? | 34 30 | Bruno Lüscher | 4 |
| Team Forever | Yamaha | ??? | 34 | Massimo Matteoni | 3–5, 7–9 |
| Team Go-West | Yamaha | ??? | 35 | Jacques Bolle | 10–11 |
| ??? | Yamaha | ??? | 36 58 | Jean-Michel Mattioli | 2, 4–5, 7–11 |
| ??? | Yamaha | ??? | 41 33 | Bernard Fau | 1–2, 4–11 |
| ??? | MBA | ??? | 42 | Guy Bertin | 2, 4–9, 11 |
| Kawasaki | Kawasaki | ??? | 44 47 2 31 | Hervé Guilleux | 1, 3–11 |
| ??? | Yamaha | ??? | 46 | Teruo Fukuda | 7–11 |
| RK | Morena-Rotax | ??? | 48 37 | Jean-Marc Toffolo | 2, 7, 9 |
| Dalmac Racing | Yamaha | ??? | 49 39 | Donnie Mcleod | 4–6, 8–11 |
| ??? | Yamaha | ??? | 54 50 | Edwin Weibel | 3–4 |
| ??? | Yamaha | ??? | 56 35 | Harald Eckl | 2–4, 6–11 |
| Chevallier Elf | Chevallier | ??? | 57 21 | Thierry Espié | All |
| J.J. Moto Club | Cobas-Rotax | ??? | 59 36 | Carlos Cardús | 1–2, 4–5, 8–11 |
| Source: ||||||
Key :
* Regular Rider
* Wildcard Rider
* Replacement Rider

#### Notes

* * The 250cc did not participate in round 12 of the championship, the San Marino GP.

### 500cc riders' standings
#### Scoring system

Points are awarded to the top ten finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| Points | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Place | Rider | Team | Machine | RSA | FRA | NAT | GER | ESP | AUT | YUG | NED | BEL | GBR | SWE | RSM | Points |
| 1 | Freddie Spencer | HRC-Honda | NS500 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 144 |
| 2 | Kenny Roberts | Marlboro Agostini-Yamaha | YZR500 | 2 | 4 | Ret | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 142 |
| 3 | Randy Mamola | HB Sinclair-Suzuki | RG500 | 5 | Ret | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 89 |
| 4 | Eddie Lawson | Marlboro Agostini-Yamaha | YZR500 | 8 | Ret | 3 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 78 |
| 5 | Takazumi Katayama | HRC-Honda | NS500 | Ret | DNS | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | DNS | 77 |
| 6 | Marc Fontan | Sonauto Gauloises-Yamaha | YZR500 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 64 |
| 7 | Marco Lucchinelli | HRC-Honda | NS500 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 3 | Ret | 7 | 9 | Ret | 7 | Ret | 6 | 4 | 48 |
| 8 | Ron Haslam | HRC-Honda | NS500 | 3 | 3 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 31 |
| 9 | Franco Uncini | HB Gallina-Suzuki | RG500 | 6 | Ret | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | Ret | Ret | | | | | 31 |
| 10 | Raymond Roche | Moto Club Paul Ricard | NS500 | 7 | Ret | 6 | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9 | DNS | | 8 | 7 | 22 |
| 11 | Boet van Dulmen | Shell Nederland-Suzuki | RG500 | Ret | DNS | Ret | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 17 |
| 12 | Jack Middelburg | Stichting Ned-Honda | NS500 | | 10 | Ret | 11 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 6 | Ret | Ret | DNS | Ret | 12 |
| 13 | Sergio Pellandini | Marlboro Tissot-Suzuki | RG500 | 12 | 9 | 8 | Ret | 9 | 9 | 10 | Ret | 10 | Ret | | | 11 |
| 14 | Barry Sheene | Heron-Suzuki | RG500 | 10 | 7 | 9 | Ret | | 13 | 13 | Ret | DNS | 9 | Ret | Ret | 9 |
| 15 | Keith Huewen | Heron-Suzuki | RG500 | | 5 | Ret | 17 | 10 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 11 | 11 | 11 | Ret | 7 |
| 16 | Gianni Pelletier | HIRT Giapauto-Honda | RS500 | | | Ret | 13 | 12 | 11 | 8 | | | | | | 3 |
| 17 | Guido Paci | | RS500 | Ret | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 18 | Anton Mang | HB Gallina-Suzuki | RG500 | | | | | | Ret | | | | 12 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| 19 | Paul Lewis | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | 1 |
| 20 | Mark Salle | Royal Cars Suzuki | RG500 | | | | | | | | 10 | 12 | 14 | | | 1 |
| | Wolfgang von Muralt | | RG500 | DNQ | 11 | 17 | 21 | Ret | 23 | 15 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 17 | 12 | 0 |
| | Leandro Beccheroni | | RG500 | Ret | Ret | 22 | 12 | Ret | 21 | Ret | | | Ret | 18 | 11 | 0 |
| | Virginio Ferrari | Cagiva | GP500 | 15 | Ret | 11 | Ret | | 26 | Ret | | | Ret | | Ret | 0 |
| | Loris Reggiani | HB Gallina-Suzuki | RG500 | 11 | | | | | | | | | Ret | 15 | DNS | 0 |
| | Stu Avant | | RG500 | | 17 | | 30 | | | | 11 | 16 | | | | 0 |
| | Walter Magliorati | Moto Club Carate | RG500 | DNQ | 16 | 12 | 14 | | 25 | 12 | | | | | 17 | 0 |
| | Philippe Coulon | Marlboro-Suzuki | RG500 | DNQ | 12 | Ret | 23 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 18 | Ret | 24 | 19 | 13 | 0 |
| | Norman Brown† | Hector Neill Racing | RG500 | | | | | | | | 12 | DNS | Ret† | | | 0 |
| | Chris Guy | | RG500 | Ret | Ret | 24 | 25 | 18 | 14 | 23 | Ret | Ret | 13 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| | Peter Sjostrom | Jeb's Helmet Sweden | RG500 | | 13 | 14 | 15 | | 17 | | Ret | Ret | 22 | 16 | 20 | 0 |
| | Maurizio Massimiani | Honda-Italia | RS500 | 13 | 14 | | | | 15 | Ret | | | 23 | | Ret | 0 |
| | Gustav Reiner | Krauter-Vertrieb Racing | RG500 | Ret | Ret | 13 | 16 | 14 | Ret | 17 | | | | | | 0 |
| | Steve Parrish | Mitsui Yamaha | YZR500 | 20 | Ret | 15 | 18 | 15 | 20 | | Ret | DNQ | Ret | 13 | 16 | 0 |
| | Eero Hyvarinen | | RG500 | | Ret | | | | | 19 | 15 | 13 | | | | 0 |
| | Didier de Radigues | Team Johnson Elf | RS500 | | Ret | Ret | DNQ | 13 | Ret | | | Ret | Ret | 20 | Ret | 0 |
| | Henk de Vries | Henk de Vries Motoren | RG500 | | | | 24 | | | | 13 | | | | | 0 |
| | Fabio Biliotti | Moto Club Condor | RS500 | 14 | | | 22 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | DNS | DNQ | | 21 | 0 |
| | Franck Gross | | RS500 | | | | | | | 16 | Ret | 14 | 18 | | 19 | 0 |
| | Rob Punt | M. Woestenburg | RG500 | | | | | | | | 14 | 18 | 20 | | | 0 |
| | Louis-Luc Maisto | | RG500 | | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Kevin Wrettom | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | | 0 |
| | Massimo Broccoli | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | 0 |
| | Ernst Gschwender | MO Motul Racing Team | RG500 | | 18 | Ret | 19 | | 18 | 21 | 16 | 17 | | | 22 | 0 |
| | Marco Greco | | RG500 | 16 | Ret | 18 | 31 | Ret | | Ret | | | DNQ | | | 0 |
| | Wayne Gardner | Honda Britain Racing | NS500 | | | | | | | | Ret | | 16 | | | 0 |
| | Marco Papa | | RG500 | | | 16 | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Jon Ekerold | Cagiva | GP500 | 17 | 19 | DNQ | | | | | Ret | | DNQ | | 24 | 0 |
| | Steve Henshaw | Harold Coppock | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | 0 |
| | Corrado Tuzii | Beton Bloc Racing | RS500 | 18 | DNQ | 23 | 28 | 19 | | | | | DNQ | | Ret | 0 |
| | Paolo Ferretti | | YZR500 | | Ret | 20 | 29 | | Ret | | | | | | 18 | 0 |
| | Peter Huber† | | RG500 | | DNQ | 26 | 33 | | | 22 | | 19 | Ret† | | | 0 |
| | Gary Lingham | Myers Motorcycles | RG500 | 19 | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
| | Lorenzo Ghiselli | | RG500 | DNQ | | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Rinus van Kasteren | | RG500 | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | 0 |
| | Alan Irwin | D. McManus | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | 0 |
| | Borge Nielsen | | RG500 | DNQ | DNQ | | Ret | | 28 | Ret | 20 | 20 | | 29 | 23 | 0 |
| | Bent Slydal | | RG500 | DNQ | | | | | 27 | 20 | | Ret | DNQ | Ret | | 0 |
| | Walter Hoffmann | Deutsche Tecalemit | RG500 | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Francisco Rico | | RG500 | | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Alfons Ammerschlager | Skoal Bandit Heron Suzuki | RG500 | 21 | | | Ret | 22 | 22 | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Franz Kaserer | | RG500 | DNQ | | 25 | Ret | | 29 | 24 | 21 | Ret | | | 26 | 0 |
| | Andreas Hofmann | | RG500 | DNQ | Ret | 21 | Ret | Ret | Ret | | | | DNQ | | 27 | 0 |
| | Dennis Ireland | | RG500 | | | | 34 | | | | Ret | 21 | DNQ | | | 0 |
| | Con Law | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | Ret | 21 | | | 0 |
| | Carlos Morante | | YZR500 | | | | | 21 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Peter Skold | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | 0 |
| | Johan van Eijk | | RG500 | | | | | | | | 22 | 22 | | | | 0 |
| | Wolfgang Schwarz | ES Motorradzubeh Racing Team | RG500 | 22 | | | 27 | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Lars Johansson | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | | 0 |
| | Jose Parra | | RG500 | | | | | 23 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Jean-Philippe Delers | | YZR500 | | | | | | | | | 23 | | | | 0 |
| | Ake Grahn | | YZR500 | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | 0 |
| | Josef Ragginger | | RG500 | | | | | | 24 | 25 | | | | | | 0 |
| | Steve Williams | DTR Fowler Yamaha | YZR500 | | | | Ret | | | | | | DNQ | 24 | | 0 |
| | Dimitrios Papandreou | | YZR500 | | | | | | | Ret | | | | | 25 | 0 |
| | Esko Kuparinen | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | | 0 |
| | Dave Dean | | RG500 | | | Ret | 26 | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
| | Timo Pohjola | | YZR500 | | | | | | | | | | | 26 | | 0 |
| | Kjeld Sorensen | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | 27 | | 0 |
| | Alf Graarud | | YZR500 | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | | 0 |
| | Jan-Olof Odeholm | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | 30 | | 0 |
| | Alain Roethlisberger | | YZR500 | | Ret | Ret | 32 | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Dieter Klopfer | DIKO | | | | | 35 | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Jean Lafond | Claude Fior | | | Ret | | Ret | | | | | DNS | | | | 0 |
| | Michel Frutschi† | Honda Switzerland | RS500 | Ret | Ret† | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Roger Marshall | Honda Britain Racing | RS500 | | | | | | | | Ret | | Ret | | | 0 |
| | Klaus Klein | | RG500 | | | | Ret | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Gerhard Treusch | | RG500 | | | | Ret | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Marco Grino | | RG500 | | | | | Ret | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Bernard Denis | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | | 0 |
| | Rob McElnea | Heron-Suzuki | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
| | John Pace | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
| | Graham Wood | DTR Fowler Yamaha | YZR500 | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
| | Chris Fisker | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | 0 |
| | Peter Linden | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | 0 |
| | Risto Korhonen | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | 0 |
| | Peter Karlsson | | YZR500 | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | 0 |
| | Attilio Riondato | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | 0 |
| | Carlos Lavado | Marlboro-Yamaha | YZR500 | | | | | | | | | | | | DNS | 0 |
| | Jean-François Baldé | | NS500 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Cai Hedstrom | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Harry Heutmekers | | RG500 | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Simon Buckmaster | | RG500 | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | 0 |