At the season finale in Wohlen (Switzerland), Gennadij Moiseev loses to Jaroslav Falta despite massive support from his teammates, but he is nevertheless crowned world champion due to opaque machinations behind closed doors. It is the first world championship title for KTM.

Falta wins the Grand Prix in Gallarate (Italy) and also the first race of his home Grand Prix in Holice (CSSR). In the season finale in Wohlen (Switzerland), there was an ultimate showdown between Falta and Moiseev. The Russian led by 5 points, but Falta took the lead in the first race, while Moiseev fell back with chassis problems on his KTM. When Falta tried to lap him, he attempted to push him off the track and hold him up, allowing Harry Everts (Puch) and Håkan Andersson (Yamaha) in 2nd and 3rd place to close in on the lead. Falta had to pass the Russian and a collision ensued. He crashed and had to settle for third place before the decisive second race. Falta was under pressure ahead of the big showdown and a huge crowd in Wohlen. He had to win this last race to become world champion. He kept his nerve and took the lead, while Moiseev once again struggled with technical problems and dropped out completely in the seventh lap. When Falta caught up with the lapped Russians Victor Popenko and Evgeny Rybalchenko, who, unlike KTM rider Moiseev, were riding the inferior CZ like Falta, they obviously hindered the Czech. Rybalchenko took it to the extreme and knocked Falta off his motorcycle again. The leading Czech fell back to third place due to the crash. The two Russians were disqualified with a black flag for their unsportsmanlike behavior, while Falta mobilized all his strength and caught up with both Caston Rahier (Suzuki) and Harry Everts (Puch) before the finish line. He won the second race and with it the 1974 World Championship! Despite the obvious obstruction by the two Soviets, Falta achieved the impossible in the last race of the year. This would have made him the last world champion on a CZ to date. But history took a different turn. The Soviet Federation refused to accept defeat and lodged a protest against Falta's victory. Their reasoning: Falta allegedly started the second race early. At that time, the start was made via a closed starting ramp that sloped in the direction of travel. How the jury was able to make its decision in favor of the Soviets is still a matter of controversy today, as there was no evidence in the form of moving images or photos, either then or now. No valid reason was ever given as to why the jury in Wohlen ultimately agreed with the Soviet team's opinion. As a penalty, they moved Falta, who had been deliberately knocked off his bike twice in this race, back one minute. This dropped Falta to eighth place. Moiseev was crowned world champion at the green table.

In the shadow of Falta and Moissejew, young Harry Everts custom-built a motorcycle for Puch at enormous expense.

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

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.

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.

Harry Everts wins a race in Puyallup, Washington, in the American Trans-AMA Championship. Puch's only major victory in American motocross.

Marty Smith wins the newly created 125cc US Motocross Championship for Honda on the legendary Elsignore. Honda riders take second to fourth place.

Malherbe confirms his title from the previous year and secures Zündapp's second European Championship.

Fritz Schneider from Hornberg becomes European vice-champion and completes Zündapp's success.

First DM title for Maico Junior boss Hans Maisch.

Alberto Angiolini wins Maico's second title in Italy