Derbi would pull out of the World Championship in 1973. The decision had been announced the year before, as the factory had elected to centre their attentions on the cross bikes which they considered more sellable. The race team was also tired of so many comings and goings in the previous years, and the demands of producing new models for the market. With Derbi’s withdrawal from road racing, Repsol continued to support the motocross team which would win the Spanish Championship that year.
Meanwhile, Angel Nieto reached an agreement with Giancarlo Morbidelli to ride in 125cc and 250cc. However, a limited budget for the Italian factory did not allow for the rider to earn the desired results. Unfortunately, the Morbidelli bike was not at the level of the Yamaha machinery run by rivals Andersson and Mortimer. Thus, 1973 was a write–off, sporting–wise, for the then five–time World Champion.
