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Wim Peters founds the company White Power Suspension in Malden, Netherlands. He has the springs wound by a bed manufacturer, who paints them white, as this is the only color available for hospital beds. The white springs become a global trademark.
SWM switched from the Sachs engines it had used previously to Austrian Rotax engines. The models in the RS-GS series (enduro) and RS-MC series (motocross) were considered to be at the cutting edge of technology at the end of the 1970s. They were light, agile, and delivered enormous power.
Motocross
Models in this year
125ccm Cross WM
Gaston and Suzuki continued to set the standard in the 125cc World Championship, even though the RA77 still had to manage without water cooling.
With the strong Gerard Rond, Yamaha now also managed to get involved in the World Championship, having long since become one of the most important brands in the USA. Yamaha was not only a pioneer in the field of monoshocks with Cantilever, but also equipped the OW27 with water cooling in the World Championship this year.
After achieving average success in the 500cc class in previous years, the second Yamaha rider, Andre Massant, performed particularly well in the second half of the season. He won the Canadian Grand Prix and finished on the podium several times.
Gilbert de Roover finished in a strong 7th place in the final standings. Last year, he scored points several times with the 500cc Beta. This year, however, the Italians focused entirely on the small class and sent de Roover into the race alongside Paolo Piron. At the Belgian home GP in Retinne, he achieved his first podium finish for Beta behind Rahier and Massant.
At the start of the season, it looked like Suzuki would achieve a double victory. Akira Watanabe led Gaston at the start of the season, but broke his leg at the Belgian Grand Prix and was out for the rest of the season.
Ivan Alborghetti and Aprilia focused more on the domestic championship, which he secured in both the 125cc and 250cc classes.
250ccm Cross WM
Puch had ended his project, and since most of the contracts had already been finalized, Harry Everts' only option was Bultaco, where he signed a two-year contract.
125ccm Cross Campionato italiano
Ivan Alborghetti wins Aprilia's first national championship.
125ccm Cross Campionato Italiano Cadetti
Michele Rinaldi wins the 125cc Italian Junior Championship on a TGM
World champions of the year
- 125ccm Cross WM — Rahier Gaston — Suzuki
- 250ccm Cross WM — Moissejew Gennadi — KTM
- 500ccm Cross WM — Mikkola Heikki — Yamaha
500ccm Cross Trans AMA — de Coster Roger — Suzuki- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — de Coster Roger — Suzuki
- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — van Velthoven Jaak — KTM
- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — Everts Harry — Bultaco
- 250ccm Cross Trophée des Nations — Malherbe André — KTM
- 500ccm Cross Motocross des nations (MXDN) — de Coster Roger — Suzuki
- 500ccm Cross Motocross des nations (MXDN) — Malherbe André — KTM
- 500ccm Cross Motocross des nations (MXDN) — Mingels Jean-Paul — Montesa
- 500ccm Cross Motocross des nations (MXDN) — van Velthoven Jaak — KTM
Europe and US champions
National champions
125ccm Cross France Inter / Elite — Boniface Patrick — KTM
125ccm Cross DM — Strößenreuther Harald — KTM
125ccm Cross KNMV Kampioenschap — Zijlstra Dinand — Kawasaki
125ccm Cross Svenska Mästerkapet — Bjurström Jonny — Honda
125ccm Cross 125 Belgian National (-1987) / Inter — Greisch Robert — Yamaha
125ccm Cross SM — Autio Matti — Suzuki- 250ccm Cross Belgian Inter — Malherbe André — KTM
- 250ccm Cross KNMV Kampioenschap — Rond Gérard — Yamaha
- 250ccm Cross Svenska Mästerskapet — Hansen Torleif — Kawasaki
- 125ccm Cross Campionato italiano — Alborghetti Ivan — Aprilia
- 250ccm Cross DM — Maisch Hans — Maico
- 500ccm Cross Belgian Inter — de Coster Roger — Suzuki
500ccm Cross British Open — Noyce Graham — Maico- 500ccm Cross Svenska Mästerskapet — Andersson Hakan — Montesa
- 500ccm Cross KNMV Kampioenschap — Wolsink Gerrit — Suzuki
- 250ccm Cross Campionato italiano — Alborghetti Ivan — Aprilia
- 500ccm Cross DM — Schmitz Herbert — Maico
- 500ccm Cross Campionato italiano — Angiolini Alberto — Maico
Enduro
Models in this year
Europe and US champions
50ccm Enduro EM — Schmider Erwin — Zündapp- 100ccm Enduro EM — Grisse Jürgen — Zündapp
- 125ccm Enduro EM — Strößenreuther Harald — KTM
- 175ccm Enduro EM — Andrioletti Elia — KTM
- 250ccm Enduro EM — Gritti Alessandro — KTM
- 500ccm Enduro EM — Zloch Stanislav — Jawa
- 80ccm Enduro EM (75ccm -1980) — Scaburri Osvaldo — Puch