
The1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 33rdF.I.M.Road Racing World Championship season.
In the 500cc world championship, twoSuzuki teams fought for the title withMarco Lucchinelli riding forRoberto Gallina's Italian Suzuki team and,Randy Mamola riding for theHeron Suzuki team backed by the UK Suzuki importer. Mamola started the season strongly with two victories and two second-place finishes to take the lead in the championship but then, Lucchinelli took command with four victories in the next five races to claim the world championship.[1] Mamola finished in second place for the second year in a row.[1]
Barry Sheene would win the final race of his career with a win in Sweden while a young American namedFreddie Spencer made his first foray into the world championships as a member of the Honda factory racing team, riding thefour-strokeHonda NR500 up to fifth place at theBritish Grand Prix before it suffered a mechanical failure.[1]
Germany'sAnton Mang scored double world championship victories, defeating defending champion Jon Ekerold for the 350cc title and, winning ten of twelve 250 events to take that title.[1] FrenchmanMichel Rougerie, who finished second in1975 250 championship, was killed when he was hit by another rider after crashing in the 350 race in Yugoslavia.[2]Angel Nieto won his tenth championship by winning eight of twelve rounds on his Minarelli whileRicardo Tormo won the 50cc crown forBultaco.[1]
Beginning in 1981,motorcycle frame technology evolved quickly as motorcycle manufacturers moved from the steel,featherbed frame chassis first developed in the 1950s, to aluminium frames featuring large, twin beams as first pioneered by Spanish constructor,Antonio Cobas.[3]
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1981:[4][5]
Points are awarded to the top ten finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |