Hurley Wilvert leading the FIM Formula 750 Championship race at Assen in 1975. (Bob Pepper Collection)

Hurley Wilvert was one of the leading AMA road racers of the mid-1970s. In 1975 he was invited to race in the FIM Formula 750 class at Assen, Holland.

At the time Formula 750 was an unofficial  world championship series derived from the American 750cc racing formula. The class was granted full world-championship status in 1977, but was discontinued after 1979. The bikes primarily raced were Yamaha TZ700/750, Kawasaki Triples and Suzuki 500cc GP bikes.

That year the F750 races were scored by combining the results of two legs (similar to motocross scoring). Wilvert, little known outside the U.S., stunned the Dutch crowd by leading nearly the entire second race until being passed on the final corner.

Overall Wilvert scored a solid fourth-place behind winner Yvon DuHamel, second-place Jack Findlay of Australia and England’s John Newbold.

Findlay, who was 41 years old, went on to win the championship.