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1976

View an archive of races Yamaha competed in 1976.

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1976Yamaha suspends activities as factory team

J. Cecotto won the Daytona race prior to the start of the GP season
J. Cecotto won the Daytona race prior to the start of the GP season

500cc

Yamaha suspends team entry, and Cecotto takes 2nd in Le Mans.

In 1976, Yamaha decided to stop all race activities by works teams except those in Japan because of the global economic downturn. The much talked about rider in the opening round in France was Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto. Riding the YZR500 (0W23), Cecotto took 2nd place behind top championship contender, Barry Sheene (Suzuki). However, Suzuki's dominance continued. They took eight wins in the 10-race series, while MV Agusta and Yamaha only managed one win each. Both the manufacturer and the rider titles went to Suzuki, and Sheen was crowned rider champion. Yamaha's only win came in the fourth round, the Isle of Man TT, won by Ireland's Tom Herron riding a modified version of the TZ350.

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350cc

Yamaha takes manufacturer's title for third year in a row

In the Isle of Man  Chas Mortimer won the 350cc class
In the Isle of Man Chas Mortimer won the 350cc class

In the Isle of Man TT race held June 5-11, British rider Chas Mortimer won the 350cc class race. Yamaha riders dominated the Isle of Man by also winning in the 500cc and 250cc classes. In addition to this, five of the 10 races in the series were won by Yamaha riders, giving Yamaha its third successive manufacturer's title.

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250cc

Winning three classes of the Isle of Man TT

At the Sweden GP T. Katayama won and D.Braun 2nd.
At the Sweden GP T. Katayama won and D.Braun 2nd.

In the 250cc class of the Isle of Man TT race, Irishman Tom Herron took the checkered flag in 1st position on a Yamaha. This gave Yamaha a clean sweep of all three classes of the TT this year. In the 250cc class, privateer Takazumi Katayama finished 2nd in the ranking after winning one race along with other strong results.

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Ranking
  • 500cc
Pos.Cate.RiderConstructorPoint
1 500cc B. Sheene Suzuki 72(87)
2 500cc T. Lasivuori Suzuki 48(54)
3 500cc P. Hennen Suzuki 46
4 500cc M. Lucchinelli Suzuki 40
5 500cc J. Newbold Suzuki 31(34)
6 500cc P. Coulon Suzuki 28
6 500cc J. Cecotto Yamaha 12
Constructors Ranking
  • 500cc
Pos.ConstructorPoint
1 Suzuki 90(136)
2 Yamaha 48(55)
3 MV Agusta 26
4 Hermetite 1
5 Nava 1
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