Despite finishing runner-up the previous year, Zündapp had decided to focus solely on off-road racing. The fact that five Italian manufacturers—Gilera, Beta, Aprilia, Aspes, and Ancilotti—were among the top 20 shows just how strong Italian manufacturers were at the time.

Despite finishing runner-up last year, Zündapp decides to focus solely on off-road racing.

The Japanese immediately set the standard in the new 125cc World Championship with their factory Suzuki. It was rev-happy, lightweight, and had state-of-the-art chassis technology. Ideal for the small Rahier. With good starts and his consistency, no one could hold a candle to him.

CZ had also made further improvements to the chassis and increased the angle of the shock absorbers. A strong factory team was able to achieve very good results once again in the World Championship.

Marty Smith had set himself ambitious goals. The previous year, he had won his only World Championship race, the US Grand Prix in Lexington, with ease. Now he and Honda wanted to compete in both the World Championship and the US Championship. It was in Lexington, of all places, that Rahier suffered his only total failure (after setting the fastest time in practice). Honda had dominated at will in the US since the Elsinore's debut and may not have properly assessed the undertaking. In terms of chassis and engine, the RC125 was not yet a match for Suzuki, and Marty struggled with the double burden of US and European races.

Third place in the second race at the season opener in Austria caught people's attention. But Bessone and Beta were unable to repeat this performance over the course of the season.

The 17-year-old talent Michele Rinaldi receives a wildcard for the home GP in Livorno. With 10th place in the second race, he scores his first World Championship point.