1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 41st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Season summary
Defending champion Eddie Lawson stunned most observers by switching from the Yamaha to Honda in the offseason then proceeded to win the championship, becoming the first man to win two consecutive 500cc championships on two different brands. On why he left Yamaha for Honda: "Giacomo Agostini, the Marlboro Yamaha team manager, started playing games, saying stuff like, 'I don't know if we can pay you the same as we did in 1988.' I'd just won my third title, so that was tough to hear. Also, I found out Ago was talking to Kevin Schwantz. I met with Erv and told him that I needed a change. When Marlboro discovered I was talking with Honda, they doubled their offer, but it was too late. I actually took a pay cut to ride the Honda."[1]
Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz continued to perform impressively while Freddie Spencer made a less than successful comeback attempt with the Marlboro Yamaha team. Australian Wayne Gardner was out for most of the season after breaking his leg at Laguna Seca but not before winning the inaugural Grand Prix in his home country. Another Australian made his Grand Prix debut for the Rothmans Honda team with Mick Doohan scoring a third-place finish at the Hockenheimring. The FIM awarded half points for the rain-drenched Belgian Grand Prix after organisers restarted the race three times contrary to FIM race regulations. The Nations Grand Prix at Misano was boycotted by most of the top riders for safety reasons.
Sito Pons won a second consecutive 250 championship for Honda while Spanish teenager, Àlex Crivillé won the 125 crown on a JJ Cobas. Derbi rider Manuel Herreros had the honor of winning the final 80cc championship as the class would be discontinued after 1989.
1989 Grand Prix season calendar
Final standings
500cc standings[2][3]
Place |
Rider |
Number |
Country |
Team |
Machine |
JPN
![Japan](../I/m/Flag_of_Japan.svg.png) |
AUS
![Australia](../I/m/Flag_of_Australia.svg.png) |
USA
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
ESP
![Spain](../I/m/Flag_of_Spain.svg.png) |
NAT
![Italy](../I/m/Flag_of_Italy.svg.png) |
GER
![Germany](../I/m/Flag_of_Germany.svg.png) |
AUT
![Austria](../I/m/Flag_of_Austria.svg.png) |
YUG
![Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia](../I/m/Flag_of_SFR_Yugoslavia.svg.png) |
NED
![Netherlands](../I/m/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png) |
BEL
![Belgium](../I/m/Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png) |
FRA
![France](../I/m/Flag_of_France.svg.png) |
Points[4] |
Wins |
Poles |
F.Laps |
1 |
Eddie Lawson |
1 |
United States |
Rothmans-Kanemoto Honda |
NSR500 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
Ret |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
228 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
Wayne Rainey |
3 |
United States |
Lucky Strike-Yamaha |
YZR500 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Ret |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
210.5 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
Christian Sarron |
4 |
France |
Gauloises-Yamaha |
YZR500 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
Ret |
5 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
165.5 |
|
|
1 |
4 |
Kevin Schwantz |
34 |
United States |
Pepsi-Suzuki |
RGV500 |
1 |
Ret |
2 |
Ret |
Ret |
Ret |
1 |
1 |
Ret |
2 |
2 |
162.5 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
5 |
Kevin Magee |
5 |
Australia |
Lucky Strike-Yamaha |
YZR500 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
7 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
138.5 |
|
|
|
6 |
Pier-Francesco Chili |
9 |
Italy |
HB-Honda |
NSR500 |
Ret |
Ret |
7 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
122 |
1 |
|
1 |
7 |
Niall Mackenzie |
6 |
United Kingdom |
Marlboro-Yamaha |
YZR500 |
6 |
Ret |
5 |
3 |
Ret |
Ret |
|
12 |
8 |
10 |
7 |
103 |
|
|
|
8 |
Ron Haslam |
8 |
United Kingdom |
Pepsi-Suzuki |
RGV500 |
12 |
7 |
Ret |
7 |
Ret |
Ret |
7 |
8 |
7 |
Ret |
|
86 |
|
|
9 |
Michael Doohan |
27 |
Australia |
Rothmans-Honda |
NSR500 |
Ret |
8 |
8 |
Ret |
Ret |
3 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
81 |
|
|
|
10 |
Wayne Gardner |
2 |
Australia |
Rothmans-Honda |
NSR500 |
4 |
1 |
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
Ret |
Ret |
67 |
1 |
|
1 |
11 |
Rob McElnea |
10 |
United Kingdom |
Cabin - Honda |
NSR500 |
|
|
|
|
Ret |
10 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
9 |
52.5 |
|
|
|
12 |
Simon Buckmaster |
35 |
United Kingdom |
Katayama - Honda |
NSR500 |
Ret |
12 |
13 |
13 |
2 |
14 |
13 |
14 |
19 |
15 |
14 |
43.5 |
|
|
|
13 |
Alessandro Valesi |
15 |
Italy |
Iberna - Yamaha |
YZR500 |
Ret |
11 |
11 |
10 |
Ret |
13 |
12 |
25 |
12 |
Ret |
13 |
40 |
|
|
|
14 |
Tadahiko Taira |
21 |
Japan |
Tech-21 - Yamaha |
YZR500 |
8 |
6 |
Ret |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39 |
|
1 |
|
15 |
Dominique Sarron |
7 |
France |
Elf-Honda |
NSR500 |
18 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
Ret |
8 |
10 |
10 |
Ret |
|
Ret |
39 |
|
|
|
16 |
Freddie Spencer |
19 |
United States |
Marlboro-Yamaha |
YZR500 |
14 |
Ret |
Ret |
5 |
Ret |
9 |
9 |
27 |
13 |
9 |
Ret |
33,5 |
|
17 |
Randy Mamola |
12 |
United States |
Cagiva |
c589 |
16 |
Ret |
Ret |
Ret |
Ret |
12 |
Ret |
7 |
11 |
Ret |
11 |
33 |
|
18 |
Marco Gentile |
25 |
Switzerland |
Marlboro Fior Team |
|
20 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
4 |
Ret |
14 |
24 |
14 |
12 |
Ret |
33 |
|
19 |
Adrien Morillas |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
26 |
|
20 |
Michael Rudroff |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
15 |
15 |
20 |
3 |
21 |
19 |
15 |
17 |
|
|
18 |
|
21 |
Norihiko Fujiwara |
|
Japan |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
Ret |
6 |
Ret |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
22 |
Bubba Shobert |
|
United States |
|
|
11 |
Ret |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
23 |
Josef Doppler |
|
Austria |
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
5 |
22 |
16 |
|
Ret |
Ret |
|
11 |
|
24 |
Alois Mayer |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
Ret |
Ret |
|
25 |
|
|
10 |
|
25 |
Romolo Balbi |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
26 |
Luca Cadalora |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
27 |
Francisco Gonzales |
|
Spain |
|
|
23 |
Ret |
16 |
Ret |
8 |
Ret |
22 |
19 |
|
16 |
24 |
8 |
|
28 |
Niggi Schmassman |
|
Switzerland |
|
|
|
14 |
Ret |
Ret |
10 |
Ret |
21 |
20 |
23 |
18 |
21 |
8 |
|
29 |
Massimo Broccoli |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
Ret |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
30 |
Michael Dowson |
|
Australia |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
31 |
Andy Leuthe |
|
Luxembourg |
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
9 |
Ret |
|
26 |
Ret |
|
Ret |
7 |
|
32 |
Shinichi Ito |
|
Japan |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
33 |
Fabio Biliotti |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
6 |
|
34 |
Bruno Kneubühler |
|
Switzerland |
|
|
|
|
14 |
16 |
Ret |
15 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
Ret |
17 |
6 |
|
35 |
John Kocinski |
|
United States |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
5,5 |
|
36 |
Ernst Gschwender |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
37 |
Fred Merkel |
|
United States |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
5 |
|
38 |
Thierry Crine |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
4 |
|
39 |
Roger Burnett |
|
Great Britain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
40 |
Juan Lopez Mella |
|
Spain |
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
Ret |
19 |
Ret |
|
Ret |
|
18 |
4 |
|
41 |
Shuji Yatsushiro |
|
Japan |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
42 |
Alberto Rota |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
43 |
Cees Doorakkers |
|
Netherlands |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
13 |
25 |
2,5 |
|
44 |
Eddie Laycock |
|
Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
Ret |
14 |
16 |
2 |
|
45 |
Peter Linden |
|
Sweden |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
1 |
|
46 |
Kunio Machii |
|
Japan |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Hansjoerg Butz |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Claude Albert |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
Ret |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
19 |
0 |
|
|
Marco Papa |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
Ret |
Ret |
|
17 |
20 |
Ret |
Ret |
0 |
|
|
Vincenzo Cascino |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Georg Robert Jung |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
17 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Rachel Nicotte |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Takazumi Katayama |
|
Japan |
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Mark Phillips |
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
0 |
|
|
Stefan Klabacher |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
24 |
18 |
18 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Vittorio Scatola |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
18 |
|
22 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Michele Valdo |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Hans Klingebiel |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 |
25 |
|
|
19 |
|
0 |
|
|
Katunori Shinozaki |
|
Japan |
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Steve Williams |
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Petr Schleef |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
21 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Karl Dauer |
|
Austria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
20 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Jean Paul Lecointe |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20 |
0 |
|
|
Rudolf Zeller |
|
Austria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
21 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Keiji Kinoshita |
|
Japan |
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Ian Pratt |
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Martin Troesch |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
22 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Yoshimasa Matsumoto |
|
Japan |
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Fabien Pilloud |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Pascal Seguela |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 |
0 |
|
|
Pavel Dekanek |
|
Czech Republic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
|
Ret |
Ret |
|
0 |
|
|
Michael Kaplam |
|
Austria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Bernard Gitton |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
0 |
|
|
Frederik Beck |
|
Switzerland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Helmut Schutz |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25 |
|
Ret |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Thomas Berghammer |
|
Austria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Raymond Roche |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
0 |
|
|
Doug Polen |
|
United States |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Osamu Hiwatashi |
|
Japan |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Hikaru Miyagi |
|
Japan |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Norio Iobe |
|
Japan |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Greg Drew |
|
Australia |
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Malcolm Campbell |
|
Australia |
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
James Judd |
|
Australia |
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
David Busby |
|
United States |
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Eugene Brown |
|
United States |
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Michael Wild |
|
United States |
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Moreno Vacondio |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Walther Maier |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Roland Busch |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Donato Battistoni |
|
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Karl Truchsess |
|
Austria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Stephane Mertens |
|
Belgium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Patrick Salles |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
0 |
|
|
Patrick Larustre |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
0 |
|
|
Bernard Andrault |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
0 |
|
250cc standings[5][6]
125cc standings
80cc standings
References
- Büla, Maurice & Schertenleib, Jean-Claude (2001). Continental Circus 1949-2000. Chronosports S.A. ISBN 2-940125-32-5
- "The Official MotoGP website". Retrieved 2010-07-06.
- ↑ Ienatsch, Nick (December 2009). "Eddie Lawson: 20 Years Later". CycleWorld.com. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ↑ 1989 500cc Final Standings at MotoGP.com
- ↑ 1989 500cc Entries List at www.f1network.net
- ↑ The points for the Belgian round were halved because of too many re-starts.
- ↑ 1989 250cc Final Standings at MotoGP.com
- ↑ 1989 250cc Entries List at www.f1network.net