Left : Marlboro Series programme 1977-78 Top right : 1979 Yamaha TZ750 Bottom right : Johnny Cecotto ’ s 1978 YZR750 F750 World Championship winner
feat by winning the Imola 200 . The TZ700 had arrived internationally . Having made its debut in New Zealand , the TZ700 was poised to make a huge impact on our most successful international racing series , the Marlboro Series . The 1975 / 76 programme listed thirteen on the grid , six of them international riders . In 1977 / 78 there were 21 , eight of them local and thirteen international . It ’ s hard to say how many of these bikes stayed in New Zealand . I was fortunate enough to do a few laps on one at Pukekohe in 1978 . The machine belonged to Bob Haldane , who raced it in the
Marlboro Series . Bob had lent the bike to Mike Hailwood who was preparing for his monumental return to the Isle of Man in 1978 . At the time it was the fastest bike I had ever ridden . When the TZ700 became the TZ750 there was a major overhaul of both engine and chassis .
THE LEGENDARY TZ750 In 1978 Johnny Cecotto , on a Yamaha YZR750 , won the F750 World Championship in what appeared to be the penultimate running of the F750 World Championship . The final championship in 1979 was won by Frenchman Patrick Pons , also riding a
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