Randy Mamola
Defending champion Freddie Spencer was the pre-season favorite to win the championship however, teething problems with Honda's new V4 and early season injuries squelched his hopes to repeat. In spite of his problems, Spencer still took five wins. Eddie Lawson lived up to his nickname of Steady Eddie with four wins and four second places to secure his first 500cc world championship on a Yamaha. Randy Mamola also had three wins to finish second on a factory backed Honda.