Kawasaki H1R

The Kawasaki H1R was racing motorcycle manufactured by Kawasaki which competed in the 500 cc class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Based on the Kawasaki H1 street motorcycle, it was powered by a two stroke, three cylinder engine set across the frame. It was the first multi-cylinder two stroke racing motorcycle to be sold commercially to privateer racing teams.[1]

Kawasaki H1R
ManufacturerKawasaki
Production1970
Classracing (500 ccm class)
Enginetwo stroke, inline triple across the frame

In 1970, Ginger Molloy finished second to Giacomo Agostini on the dominant MV Agusta in the 500 cc world championship. Molloy scored 4 second places during the season as Kawasaki finished second in the constructors championship.[2]

In 1971, Dave Simmonds rode the HR1 to victory at the season ending Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama when Agostini sat out the race after already winning the championship.[3] It would mark Kawasaki's first victory in the premier 500 cc class.[3] Simmonds also finished second to Agostini at the Finnish Grand Prix and had third places in Holland and Italy to secure fourth place in the riders championship while Kawasaki was third in the constructors championship.[4]

After the 1972 season, Kawasaki finished the constructors' championship in fourth place. The best results of the year were a second place in Spain and a third at the East German GP.[5]

References
  1. Cathcart, Alan (2019), "Eric Offenstadt's Monocoque Triple", Classic Racer, Mortons Motorcycle Media Group Ltd, ISSN 1470-4463, But for 1970 he decided to take advantage of the arrival of the world's first multi-cylinder two stroke 500 GP customer racer, the Kawasaki H1R triple
  2. http://racingmemo.free.fr/MOTO-GP-classements_70-500.htm
  3. Cox, Bruce (2018), "Dave Simmonds and Kawasaki's red tank racers", Classic Racer, Mortons Media Group Ltd, ISSN 1470-4463
  4. http://racingmemo.free.fr/MOTO-GP-classements_71-500.htm
  5. http://racingmemo.free.fr/MOTO-GP-classements_72-500.htm
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