# 1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

The 1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 26th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.

## Season summary

MV Agusta and Phil Read claimed a second successive 500cc crown. It would be the Italian firm's last world championship and their seventeenth 500cc title in a row. Giacomo Agostini switched to the two-stroke Yamahas but was troubled by injuries and mechanical troubles. Suzuki started to get competitive with Barry Sheene and Jack Findlay on four cylinder two-strokes. MV Agusta pulled out of the 350cc class, giving Agostini a free run, taking his fourteenth world title. Walter Villa took over for the deceased Renzo Pasolini and won the 250cc crown giving Harley-Davidson the title after they bought the Aermacchi factory, reworked and renamed the bikes. Kent Andersson won his second championship title in the 125cc class. Kreidler continued to dominate the 50cc class with Dutchman Henk Van Kessel winning the crown.
Safety continued to be an issue with most riders boycotting the rainy German round at the improved Nürburgring Nordschleife as the track had not been fitted with straw bales to accommodate automobile racing on the same day. Thus, rather unknown German riders took all wins. It served as a focal point in the increasingly bitter debate about safety. British rider Billie Nelson died after crashing into the crowd during the 250cc Yugoslavian Grand Prix, injuring several spectators. He died later that night at a hospital.

## 1974 Grand Prix season calendar

| Round | Date | Race | Location | 50cc winner | 125cc winner | 250cc winner | 350cc winner | 500cc winner | Report |
| 1 | April 21 | French Grand Prix | Charade | Henk van Kessel | Kent Andersson | | Giacomo Agostini | Phil Read | Report |
| 2 | April 28 | German Grand Prix | Nürburgring Nordschleife | Ingo Emmerich | Fritz Reitmaier | Helmut Kassner | Helmut Kassner | Edmund Czihak | Report |
| 3 | May 5 | Austrian Grand Prix | Salzburgring | | Kent Andersson | | Giacomo Agostini | Giacomo Agostini | Report |
| 4 | May 19 | Nations Grand Prix | Imola | Henk van Kessel | Angel Nieto | Walter Villa | Giacomo Agostini | Franco Bonera | Report |
| 5 | June 6 | Isle of Man TT | Snaefell Mountain | | | Charlie Williams | Tony Rutter | Phil Carpenter | Report |
| 6 | June 29 | Dutch TT | Assen | Herbert Rittberger | Bruno Kneubühler | Walter Villa | Giacomo Agostini | Giacomo Agostini | Report |
| 7 | July 7 | Belgian Grand Prix | Spa | Gerhard Thurow | Angel Nieto | Kent Andersson | | Phil Read | Report |
| 8 | July 21 | Swedish Grand Prix | Anderstorp | Henk van Kessel | Kent Andersson | Takazumi Katayama | Teuvo Lansivuori | Teuvo Lansivuori | Report |
| 9 | July 28 | Finnish Grand Prix | Imatra | Julien van Zeebroeck | | Walter Villa | John Dodds | Phil Read | Report |
| 10 | August 25 | Czechoslovakian Grand Prix | Brno | Henk van Kessel | Kent Andersson | Walter Villa | | Phil Read | Report |
| 11 | September 8 | Yugoslavian Grand Prix | Opatija | Henk van Kessel | Kent Andersson | Chas Mortimer | Giacomo Agostini | | Report |
| 12 | September 22 | Spanish Grand Prix | Montjuich | Henk van Kessel | Benjamin Grau | John Dodds | Víctor Palomo | | Report |

## Final standings
### 1974 500 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Phil Read | 1 | United Kingdom | MV Agusta | 82 | 4 |
| 2 | Franco Bonera | | Italy | MV Agusta | 69 | 1 |
| 3 | Teuvo Lansivuori | | Finland | Yamaha | 67 | 1 |
| 4 | Giacomo Agostini | 3 | Italy | Yamaha | 47 | 2 |
| 5 | Jack Findlay | 5 | Australia | Suzuki | 34 | 0 |
| 6 | Barry Sheene | | United Kingdom | Suzuki | 30 | 0 |
| 7 | Dieter Braun | | West Germany | Yamaha | 22 | 0 |
| 8 | Pentti Korhonen | | Finland | Yamaha | 22 | 0 |
| 9 | Billie Nelson | | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 21 | 0 |
| 10 | Charlie Williams | | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 18 | 0 |
| 11 | John Williams | | | | 18 | |
| 12 | Helmut Kassner | | | | 17 | |
| 13 | Karl Auer | | | | 17 | |
| 14 | Phil Carpenter | | | | 15 | 1 |
| 15 | Edmund Czihak | | | | 15 | 1 |
| 16 | Michel Rougerie | | | | 14 | |
| 17 | Werner Giger | | | | 13 | |
| 18 | Tony Rutter | | | | 10 | |
| 19 | Walter Kaletsch | | | | 10 | |
| 20 | Christian Leon | | | | 9 | |
| 21 | Udo Kochanski | | | | 8 | |
| 22 | Billie Guthrie | | | | 8 | |
| 23 | Patrick Pons | | | | 8 | |
| 24 | Paul Cott | | | | 6 | |
| 25 | Roberto Gallina | | | | 6 | |
| 26 | Victor Palomo | | | | 6 | |
| 27 | Alex George | | | | 5 | |
| 28 | Chas Mortimer | | | | 4 | |
| 29 | Paul Eickelberg | | | | 4 | |
| 30 | Pete McKinley | | | | 3 | |
| 31 | Selwyn Griffiths | | | | 2 | |
| 32 | Philippe Coulon | | | | 2 | |
| 33 | R.Jimenez | | | | 2 | |
| 34 | Tom Herron | | | | 2 | |
| 35 | Jean Paul Boinet | | | | 1 | |
| 36 | Geoff Barry | | | | 1 | |
| 37 | Philippe Gerard | | | | 1 | |

### 1974 350 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Giacomo Agostini | 1 | Italy | Yamaha | 75 | 5 |
| 2 | Dieter Braun | 8 | West Germany | Yamaha | 62 | 0 |
| 3 | Patrick Pons | | France | Yamaha | 47 | 0 |
| 4 | John Dodds | 4 | Australia | Yamaha | 31 | 1 |
| 5 | Chas Mortimer | | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 29 | 0 |
| 6 | Teuvo Lansivuori | | Finland | Yamaha | 27 | 1 |
| 7 | Pentti Korhonen | 10 | Finland | Yamaha | 25 | 0 |
| 7 | Michel Rougerie | | France | Harley-Davidson | 25 | 0 |
| 9 | Víctor Palomo | | Spain | Yamaha | 24 | 1 |
| 10 | Billie Nelson | 5 | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 21 | 0 |
| 11 | Eddie Grant | | | | 18 | |
| 12 | Bruno Kneubühler | | | | 17 | |
| 13 | Tony Rutter | | | | 16 | |
| 14 | Helmut Kassner | | | | 15 | |
| 15 | Olivier Chevallier | | | | 15 | |
| 16 | Walter Villa | | | | 15 | |
| 17 | W.Stephan | | | | 12 | |
| 18 | Mario Lega | | | | 12 | |
| 19 | Christian Bourgeois | | | | 11 | |
| 20 | Paul Cott | | | | 10 | |
| 21 | Franz Weidacher | | | | 10 | |
| 22 | Tom Herron | | | | 10 | |
| 23 | Kjell Solberg | | | | 9 | |
| 24 | Karl Auer | | | | 9 | |
| 25 | Alex George | | | | 8 | |
| 26 | Walter Kaletsch | | | | 8 | |
| 27 | Werner Giger | | | | 8 | |
| 28 | F.V. Henderson | | | | 8 | |
| 29 | John Williams | | | | 7 | |
| 30 | Tapio Virtanen | | | | 6 | |
| 31 | Alfred Heck | | | | 6 | |
| 32 | Hans Mühlebach | | | | 5 | |
| 33 | Giovanni Proni | | | | 5 | |
| 34 | Billie Guthrie | | | | 5 | |
| 35 | Winfried Fries | | | | 5 | |
| 36 | G.Elementi | | | | 4 | |
| 37 | Tony Rogers | | | | 4 | |
| 38 | Udo Kochanski | | | | 4 | |
| 39 | R.Jimenez | | | | 4 | |
| 40 | John Newbold | | | | 4 | |
| 41 | Wolfgang Rubel | | | | 3 | |
| 42 | Ulrich Graf | | | | 3 | |
| 43 | Roger Nichols | | | | 3 | |
| 44 | G.Debrok | | | | 3 | |
| 45 | Phil Gurner | | | | 2 | |
| 46 | Nico Van Der Zanden | | | | 2 | |
| 47 | Adu Celso | | | | 2 | |
| 48 | Hans Dittberner | | | | 2 | |
| 49 | Armando Toracca | | | | 1 | |
| 50 | Noel Clegg | | | | 1 | |

### 1974 250 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Walter Villa | | Italy | Aermacchi Harley-Davidson | 77 | 4 |
| 2 | Dieter Braun | 1 | West Germany | Yamaha | 58 | 0 |
| 3 | Patrick Pons | 6 | France | Yamaha | 50 | 0 |
| 4 | Takazumi Katayama | | Japan | Yamaha | 43 | 1 |
| 5 | Bruno Kneubühler | 9 | Switzerland | Yamaha | 43 | 0 |
| 6 | Chas Mortimer | 6 | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 41 | 1 |
| 7 | John Dodds | 3 | Australia | Yamaha | 38 | 1 |
| 8 | Kent Andersson | | Sweden | Yamaha | 34 | 1 |
| 9 | Michel Rougerie | 5 | France | Harley-Davidson | 21 | 0 |
| 10 | Mick Grant | | United Kingdom | Yamaha | 18 | 0 |
| 10 | Pentti Korhonen | 4 | Finland | Yamaha | 18 | 0 |
| 12 | Charlie Williams | | | | 15 | |
| 13 | Helmut Kassner | | | | 15 | |
| 14 | Tom Herron | | | | 14 | |
| 15 | Hans Mühlebach | | | | 13 | |
| 16 | Horst Lahfeld | | | | 12 | |
| 17 | Rolf Minhoff | | | | 11 | |
| 18 | Victor Palomo | | | | 11 | |
| 19 | Harry Hoffman | | | | 10 | |
| 20 | Kenny Roberts | | | | 10 | |
| 21 | Tony Rutter | | | | 10 | |
| 22 | Fritz Reitmaier | | | | 8 | |
| 23 | Giovanni Proni | | | | 8 | |
| 24 | Matti Salonen | | | | 7 | |
| 25 | Olivier Chevallier | | | | 7 | |
| 26 | Janos Reisz | | | | 6 | |
| 27 | Tapio Virtanen | | | | 6 | |
| 28 | Pete McKinley | | | | 5 | |
| 29 | Alfred Heck | | | | 5 | |
| 30 | Armando Toracca | | | | 5 | |
| 31 | Jean Louis Guignabodet | | | | 4 | |
| 32 | Ian Richards | | | | 4 | |
| 33 | Reinhard Scholtis | | | | 4 | |
| 34 | Tierry Tchernine | | | | 4 | |
| 35 | H.Kittler | | | | 3 | |
| 36 | Gerry Mateer | | | | 3 | |
| 37 | Paolo Pileri | | | | 3 | |
| 38 | Alex George | | | | 2 | |
| 39 | G.Forderer | | | | 2 | |
| 40 | A.Van Den Broecke | | | | 2 | |
| 41 | Brian Warburton | | | | 2 | |
| 42 | John Williams | | | | 2 | |
| 43 | Leif Gustafsson | | | | 2 | |
| 44 | Jean Paul Boinet | | | | 1 | |
| 45 | Barry Randle | | | | 1 | |
| 46 | Kjell Solberg | | | | 1 | |

### 1974 125 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Kent Andersson | 1 | Sweden | Yamaha | 87 | 5 |
| 2 | Bruno Kneubühler | | Switzerland | Yamaha | 63 | 1 |
| 3 | Angel Nieto | 7 | Spain | Derbi | 60 | 2 |
| 4 | Otello Buscherini | 6 | Italy | Malanca | 60 | 0 |
| 5 | Henk van Kessel | | Netherlands | Bridgestone | 30 | 0 |
| 6 | Thierry Tchernine | | France | Yamaha | 25 | 0 |
| 7 | Harald Bartol | | Austria | Suzuki | 23 | 0 |
| 8 | Leif Gustafsson | 4 | Sweden | Maico | 23 | 0 |
| 9 | Benjamin Grau | | Spain | Derbi | 21 | 1 |
| 10 | Gert Bender | | West Germany | Bender | 20 | 0 |

### 1974 50 cc Roadracing World Championship final standings

| Place | Rider | Number | Country | Machine | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Henk van Kessel | 5 | Netherlands | Van Veen Kreidler | 90 | 6 |
| 2 | Herbert Rittberger | | West Germany | Kreidler | 65 | 1 |
| 3 | Julien van Zeebroeck | | Belgium | Kreidler | 59 | 1 |
| 4 | Gerhard Thurow | 4 | West Germany | Kreidler | 57 | 1 |
| 5 | Rudolf Kunz | 9 | West Germany | Kreidler | 52 | 0 |
| 6 | Ulrich Graf | 7 | West Germany | Kreidler | 44 | 0 |
| 7 | Jan Bruins | | Netherlands | Jamathi | 27 | 0 |
| 8 | Otello Buscherini | 8 | Italy | Malanca | 26 | 0 |
| 9 | Stefan Dörflinger | | Switzerland | Kreidler | 25 | 0 |
| 10 | Jan Huberts | 8 | Netherlands | Van Veen Kreidler | 25 | 0 |