1989 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 5 of 15 races in the 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season |
|||
| Date | 14 May 1989 | ||
| Location | Misano | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 3.488 km (2.167 mi) |
||
| 500 cc | |||
| Pole position | |||
| Rider |  Kevin Schwantz |
||
| Time | 1:17.420 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Rider | Eddie Lawson |
||
| Time | 1:19.160 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First |  Pierfrancesco Chili |
||
| Second |  Simon Buckmaster |
||
| Third |  Michael Rudroff |
||
| 250 cc | |||
| Pole position | |||
| Rider | Luca Cadalora |
||
| Time | 1:19.750 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Rider |  Juan Garriga |
||
| Time | 1:20.340 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Sito Pons |
||
| Second |  Jean-Philippe Ruggia |
||
| Third |  Jacques Cornu |
||
| 125 cc | |||
| Pole position | |||
| Rider |  Hans Spaan |
||
| Time | 1:25.530 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Rider | Àlex Crivillé |
||
| Time | 1:25.760 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ezio Gianola |
||
| Second | Hans Spaan |
||
| Third | Fausto Gresini |
||
| 80 cc | |||
| Pole position | |||
| Rider | Stefan Dörflinger |
||
| Time | 1:29.616 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Rider |  Unknown |
||
| Podium | |||
| First | Jorge Martínez |
||
| Second | Gabriele Gnani |
||
| Third | Herri Torrontegui |
||
The 1989 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix was the fifth race of the 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 12–14 May 1989 at the Misano circuit.
500 cc race report
Before the race, riders were concerned about the track surface, considering it too slippery, and should it rain, even dangerous.
Dry track and dark clouds for the green light with Kevin Schwantz on pole. Pierfrancesco Chili got a good start and lead briefly, then Schwantz, Wayne Rainey and Christian Sarron settled into the lead. Short afterwards, the rain started and Schwantz raised his hand to stop the race.
The top riders had a meeting and decided they wanted a practice session before restarting in the wet, but the request was refused by the race organizers and the riders decided to boycott the race. Eddie Lawson says, "This place is unique in that the track surface is very, very slippery, and when it has water on it you can’t ride on it. All the top riders felt it was too dangerous, and it is, and so we didn’t ride. It’s as simple as that. … We go to plenty of racetracks where we test all week, in the sunshine, and then it starts to rain; well, we put rain tires on and we race. This place, you can’t do that. Regardless of not testing or anything else, you just can’t ride in the wet, it’s just too dangerous. It was unfortunate."[1]
A notable dissenter is Chili, who wants to race, along with other riders. Chili manages to stay upright in the downpour and wins the race, with Lawson sarcastically cheering from the stands and Sarron blowing a kiss.
500 cc classification
References
- ↑ Duke Video: "Bike GP 500 Review". Videocassette.
| Previous race: 1989 Spanish Grand Prix |
FIM Grand Prix World Championship 1989 season |
Next race: 1989 German Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1988 Nations Grand Prix |
Nations Grand Prix | Next race: 1990 Nations Grand Prix |
