Company messages
Arnaldo Farioli wird italienischer Enduromeister bis 125ccm auf KTM
Torsten Hallman is hired by Yamaha as a consultant to build up the European team.
Minoru Tanaka becomes technical coordinator for Europe and the World Championship for Yamaha
Suzuki signs Roger de Coster for the 500cc class. The offer was originally made to Sylvain Geboers, who decided to remain in the 250cc class.
Can-Am, a Canadian company owned by Bombardier Recreational Products, begins developing motocross (MX) and enduro motorcycles under the leadership of American Gary Robison in collaboration with a team of Canadian and Californian development engineers. The engines are supplied by Austrian company Rotax, another Bombardier subsidiary.
Motocross
Models in this year
250ccm Cross WM
The 250cc World Championship comprised twelve races that year, and Joël Robert won eight of them. He won the opening race in Sabadell, Spain, right from the start. He clearly dominated the season and was crowned world champion for the fifth time.
At the last Grand Prix, Puch's home Grand Prix, Harry Everts scores his first World Championship point.
500ccm Cross WM
Roger won his first race on Suzuki at the season opener in Italy. After retiring in Sittendorf, he was able to regain the lead with further victories and defend it until the end.
In the second half of the season, the strong Maico rider Åke Jonsson emerged as the biggest competitor. Both Suzuki and Maico wanted to win the first world championship title in the premier class. Jonsson had to contend with a loose spark plug right at the start and had to tackle the first race with a considerable deficit. The Maico riders Weil and Bauer were unable to provide any support, and Roger De Coster won this race. Jonsson won the second race, but second place was enough for Roger de Coster to win his first world championship title and, at the same time, Suzuki's first world championship title in the 500cc class.
World champions of the year
- 250ccm Cross WM — Robert Joel — Suzuki
- 500ccm Cross WM — de Coster Roger — Suzuki
500ccm Cross Trans AMA — Geboers Sylvain — Suzuki- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — de Coster Roger — Suzuki
- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — Geboers Sylvain — Suzuki
- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — Rahier Gaston — CZ
- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — van Velthoven Jaak — Husqvarna
- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — Robert Joel — Suzuki
National champions
125ccm Cross DM — Schmider Erwin — Zündapp
125ccm Cross SM — Järvinen Jorma — Husqvarna 
250ccm Cross France Inter — Bacou Serge — Bultaco- 500ccm Cross France Inter — Bacou Serge — Bultaco
250ccm Cross Belgian Inter — Wiertz Marcel — Bultaco
250ccm Cross Svenska Mästerskapet — Andersson Hakan — Husqvarna - 250ccm Cross DM — Bauer Willy — Maico
500ccm Cross KNMV Kampioenschap — Wolsink Gerrit — Husqvarna - 500ccm Cross Belgian Inter — van Velthoven Jaak — Husqvarna
- 500ccm Cross Svenska Mästerskapet — Hammargren Christer — Husqvarna
- 500ccm Cross DM — Weil Adolf — Maico
250ccm Cross Campionato italiano — Cavallero Giuseppe — Husqvarna - 500ccm Cross Campionato italiano — Cavallero Giuseppe — Husqvarna
Enduro
Models in this year
Europe and US champions
50ccm Enduro EM — Brandl Andreas — Zündapp- 100ccm Enduro EM — Salevsky Dieter — Simson
- 125ccm Enduro EM — Witthöft Rolf — Zündapp
- 175ccm Enduro EM — Schmider Erwin — Zündapp
- 250ccm Enduro EM — Mrázek František — Jawa
- 500ccm Enduro EM — Willamowski Fred — MZ
- 80ccm Enduro EM (75ccm -1980) — Wolfgruber Josef — Zündapp