Reigning champion Roger De Coster (Suzuki) faced off against Finland's Heikki Mikkola (Husqvarna), who became known as the "Flying Finn." Mikkola won the world championship, ending De Coster's three-year winning streak. The press wrote that Mikkola's extreme physicality and aggressiveness compensated for the technical superiority of the Suzuki. It was the first 500cc title for a Husqvarna rider since the 1960s.

The picture shortly after the start in Sittendorf, Austria.

2 van Velthoven Jaak, 10 Weil Adolf, 17 Mikkola Heikki, 15 Pean Daniel, 19 Wolsink Gerrit, 23 Jonsson Ake

Heiki won the first four GPs with six race wins and two second places. He only had to sit out the German GP in Beuern before securing the title with four more wins. The 360cc factory Husqvarna underwent further chassis modifications at the start of the season, with the shock absorbers being significantly tilted.

Willi Bauer was able to secure podium places until the middle of the season, but no more race wins. In the second half of the season, he was forced to withdraw due to injury.