in 1976, agostini returned to mv agusta, as yamaha officially retired from racing in late 1975; read, previously no. 1 rider at mv, switched to suzuki. agostini did not have a usual factory contract, the mv agustas were delivered to the "marlboro-api racing team", but the entire team of factory engineers supported at races. the fim introduced the new noise limit of 113 db(a) and the mv was fitted with a redesigned cylinder head and mufflers to meet the limit. the season started so poorly that agostini used a suzuki rg 500 after the second race. only in the last race of the season at the nürburgring-nordschleife in germany did the mv agusta appear again, now equipped with lighter pistons and a lighter crankshaft. agostini won the race with it in difficult conditions, finishing 52 seconds ahead of second placed marco lucchinelli on a suzuki. this was the last 500 cc gp win by a four-stroke.