1989 United States motorcycle Grand Prix

Last updated

Flag of the United States.svg   1989 United States Grand Prix
Race details
Race 3 of 15 races in the
1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Laguna Seca 1988-1995.png
DateApril 16, 1989
Official name Dunlop USGP [1] [2] [3]
Location Laguna Seca Raceway
Course
  • Permanent racing facility
  • 3.602 km (2.238 mi)
500cc
Pole position
Rider Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Rainey
Time 1:27.120
Fastest lap
Rider Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Gardner
Time 1:28.000
Podium
First Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Rainey
Second Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Schwantz
Third Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Lawson
250cc
Pole position
Rider Flag of the United States.svg John Kocinski
Time 1:30.160
Fastest lap
Rider Flag of the United States.svg John Kocinski
Time 1:29.190
Podium
First Flag of the United States.svg John Kocinski
Second Flag of the United States.svg Jim Filice
Third Flag of Italy.svg Luca Cadalora

The 1989 United States Motorcycle Grand Prix was the third round of the 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It occurred from April 14 to April 16, 1989, at Laguna Seca Raceway. [4]

Contents

500 cc race report

Leading the pack are Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner, Kevin Magee, and Christian Sarron. Eddie Lawson swiftly moves from 6th to 2nd position in the first turn. Rainey begins to widen the gap, while Lawson and Schwantz engage in a close battle. However, Lawson makes a mistake while entering the Corkscrew, causing him to fall back into the group of Gardner, Magee, and Sarron.

Gardner crashes, fracturing his leg. Lawson capitalizes on fuel-delivery issues with Magee's Yamaha YZR 500 on the final lap, securing an all-American podium with Rainey taking first place and Schwantz in second.

During the cooldown lap, Magee, frustrated, initiates a burnout just after turn five. Bubba Shobert, conversing with Eddie Lawson at a low cruising speed, fails to notice Magee and accidentally collides with his right side, resulting in a forceful impact with the pavement. Shobert sustains severe head injuries that mark the end of his racing career, while Magee suffers a broken ankle. With both Magee and Gardner injured, Wayne Rainey's lead in the standings becomes vulnerable, depending on Lawson's ability to optimize the Honda setup or Schwantz's consistency in finishing races.

500 cc classification

Pos.RiderTeamManufacturerLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
1 Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Rainey Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha 4058:56.179120
2 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Schwantz Suzuki Pepsi Cola Suzuki 40+6.849217
3 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Lawson Rothmans Kanemoto Honda Honda 40+19.912615
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Magee Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha 40+23.732413
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Niall Mackenzie Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini Yamaha 40+28.223711
6 Flag of France.svg Christian Sarron Sonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1 Yamaha 40+30.595510
7 Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili HB Honda Gallina Team Honda 40+1:29.901119
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mick Doohan Rothmans Honda Team Honda 39+1 Lap128
9 Flag of the United States.svg Bubba Shobert Cabin Racing Team Honda 39+1 Lap137
10 Flag of France.svg Dominique Sarron Team ROC Elf Honda Honda 39+1 Lap156
11 Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Valesi Team Iberia Yamaha 38+2 Laps165
12 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Marco Gentile Fior MarlboroFior38+2 Laps174
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Simon Buckmaster Racing Team Katayama Honda 38+2 Laps183
14 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Bruno Kneubuhler Romer Racing Suisse Honda 38+2 Laps192
15 Flag of Germany.svg Michael Rudroff HRK Motors Honda 38+3 Laps211
16 Flag of Spain.svg Francisco GonzalesClub Motocross Pozuelo Honda 37+4 Laps23
17 Flag of Italy.svg Vincenzo Cascino Honda 37+4 Laps22
Ret Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ron Haslam Suzuki Pepsi Cola Suzuki Retirement10
Ret Flag of Japan.svg Tadahiko Taira Yamaha Motor Company Yamaha Retirement8
Ret Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Nicholas Schmassman FMS Honda Retirement20
Ret Flag of the United States.svg Randy Mamola Cagiva Corse Cagiva Retirement14
Ret Flag of the United States.svg Eugene Brown Suzuki Retirement24
Ret Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Gardner Rothmans Honda Team Honda Retirement3
DNS Flag of the United States.svg Freddie Spencer Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini Yamaha Did not Start9
DNQ Flag of the United States.svg David Busby Honda Did not Qualify
DNQ Flag of the United States.svg Michael Wild Suzuki Did not Qualify
Sources: [5] [6]

References

  1. "Grand Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden 1989". Archive.li. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  2. Mitchell, Malcolm. "1989 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes - The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  3. Mitchell, Malcolm. "Laguna Seca Raceway - The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  4. "Moto GP statistics". Moto GP . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  5. "1989 United States MotoGP - Motor Sport Magazine Database". June 13, 2017.
  6. "motogp.com · UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX · 500cc Race Classification 1989". www.motogp.com.
Previous race:
1989 Australian Grand Prix
FIM Grand Prix World Championship
1989 season
Next race:
1989 Spanish Grand Prix
Previous race:
1988 United States Grand Prix
United States Grand Prix Next race:
1990 United States Grand Prix