Brazil  1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
Race details
Race 15 of 15 races in the
1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Date17 September 1989
Official nameGrande Prémio do Brasil
LocationAutódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna
Course
  • Permanent racing facility
  • 3.835 km (2.383 mi)
500 cc
Pole position
Rider United States Wayne Rainey
Time 1:25.440
Fastest lap
Rider United States Eddie Lawson
Time 1:26.980
Podium
First United States Kevin Schwantz
Second United States Eddie Lawson
Third United States Wayne Rainey
250 cc
Pole position
Rider Italy Loris Reggiani
Time 1:28.980
Fastest lap
Rider Italy Luca Cadalora
Time 1:29.260
Podium
First Italy Luca Cadalora
Second Japan Masahiro Shimizu
Third Italy Loris Reggiani

The 1989 Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix was the last round of the 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 15–17 September 1989 at the Goiânia circuit.

500 cc race report

Wayne Rainey has to win and Eddie Lawson has to finish outside the top 11 in order for Lawson to lose the championship. Reflecting on the mistake in Sweden that turned the championship around, Rainey says: “It’s really hard to tell you what I feel like. I just feel like I’ve been beat up by everybody in the world, and I just feel so down and disappointed in myself. I just felt I really let myself down and my team. You know, it makes you feel like crap.”[1]

Though he can phone in the race and still win the championship, Lawson gets the start and the first apex, followed by Kevin Schwantz and Rainey. Rainey passes Schwantz, who nearly highsides in third spot. The track surface is slippery, and Mick Doohan shows it by doing a big rear-end slide.

Schwantz passes Rainey, but it almost doesn't stick, as Rainey tries to deny him the pass and they almost touch. Lawson is getting a small gap in the lead.

Going through dense backmarker traffic, Schwantz catches Lawson. Both bikes are squirming and bucking under acceleration. In Lawson's draft on the straight, Schwantz pops out and passes on the brakes. Schwantz shows he can slide with the best of them as he gets the back-end spinning on the exits.

Schwantz manages to put a #32 between him and Lawson. Vince Cascino, perhaps trying to match Schwantz’ pace, crashes right in front of Lawson, who manages to avoid the bike and rider but the distraction costs him some tenths.

Last lap, Schwantz wins with a gap between him and Lawson, and Rainey takes third.

500 cc classification

Pos. Rider Team Manufacturer Laps Time/Retired Points
1 United States Kevin Schwantz Suzuki Pepsi Cola Suzuki 32 46:44.390 20
2 United States Eddie Lawson Rothmans Kanemoto Honda Honda 32 +1.710 17
3 United States Wayne Rainey Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha 32 +11.220 15
4 Australia Mick Doohan Rothmans Honda Team Honda 32 +19.120 13
5 United Kingdom Ron Haslam Suzuki Pepsi Cola Suzuki 32 +24.250 11
6 Australia Kevin Magee Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha 32 +33.420 10
7 Australia Wayne Gardner Rothmans Honda Team Honda 32 +33.630 9
8 France Christian Sarron Sonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1 Yamaha 32 +38.610 8
9 United Kingdom Niall Mackenzie Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini Yamaha 32 +1:06.640 7
10 France Adrien Morillas Team ROC Elf Honda Honda 32 +1:10.020 6
11 United States Randy Mamola Cagiva Corse Cagiva 32 +1:11.650 5
12 United Kingdom Rob McElnea Cabin Racing Team Honda 32 +1:12.430 4
13 Italy Alessandro Valesi Team Iberia Yamaha 31 +1 Lap 3
14 United Kingdom Simon Buckmaster Racing Team Katayama Honda 31 +1 Lap 2
15 Spain Juan Lopez Mella Club Motocross Pozuelo Honda 30 +2 Laps 1
16 Spain Francisco Gonzales Club Motocross Pozuelo Honda 29 +3 Laps
17 Switzerland Nicholas Schmassman FMS Honda 29 +3 Laps
Ret Italy Vincenzo Cascino Suzuki Retirement
Ret France Dominique Sarron Team ROC Elf Honda Honda Retirement
Ret Italy Pierfrancesco Chili HB Honda Gallina Team Honda Retirement
DNS Switzerland Marco Gentile Fior Marlboro Fior Did not start
DNS United Kingdom Peter Graves Honda Did not start
Sources: [2][3]

References

  1. Duke Video: "Bike GP 1989 Review". Videocassette.
  2. "1989 Brazilian MotoGP - Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motorsportmagazine.com. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  3. "BRASILIAN GRAND PRIX · 500cc Race Classification 1989". Motogp.com. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
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