1988 British motorcycle Grand Prix

The 1988 British motorcycle Grand Prix was the twelfth round of the 1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 5–7 August 1988 at Donington Park.[4]

United Kingdom  1988 British Grand Prix
Race details
Race 12 of 15 races in the
1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Date7 August 1988
Official nameShell Oils British Motorcycle Grand Prix[1][2][3]
LocationDonington Park
Course
  • Permanent racing facility
  • 4.020 km (2.498 mi)
500 cc
Pole position
RiderAustralia Wayne GardnerHonda
Time1:35.090
Fastest lap
RiderFrance Christian SarronYamaha
Time1:36.210
Podium
FirstUnited States Wayne RaineyYamaha
SecondAustralia Wayne GardnerHonda
ThirdFrance Christian SarronYamaha
250 cc
Pole position
RiderSpain Juan GarrigaYamaha
Fastest lap
RiderSpain Juan GarrigaYamaha
Time1:38.870
Podium
FirstItaly Luca CadaloraYamaha
SecondFrance Dominique SarronHonda
ThirdSpain Juan GarrigaYamaha
125 cc
Pole position
RiderItaly Ezio GianolaHonda
Fastest lap
RiderItaly Ezio GianolaHonda
Podium
FirstItaly Ezio GianolaHonda
SecondSpain Jorge MartínezDerbi
ThirdItaly Domenico BrigagliaGazzaniga-Rotax
Sidecar (B2A)
Pole position
RiderSwitzerland Rolf BilandLCR-Krauser
Fastest lap
RiderSwitzerland Rolf BilandLCR-Krauser
Podium
FirstUnited Kingdom Steve WebsterLCR-Krauser
SecondSwitzerland Rolf BilandLCR-Krauser
ThirdFrance Alain MichelLCR-Krauser

500 cc race report

The front row: Wayne Gardner, Eddie Lawson, Christian Sarron, Niall Mackenzie and Wayne Rainey.

Rainey and Mackenzie get a good launch, and through the first turn it's Rainey and he's opening a gap the field. Rainey is using carbon fiber brakes for the first time, which had only been tested and not raced on.

Kevin Schwantz is in around 8th place and tries to pass two or three riders simultaneously at the chicane, but crashes into Ron Haslam and causes a bottleneck. Haslam struggles to get out of the gravel and back into the race, and Schwantz is out with a broken kneecap. Marco Papa highsides out of the race.

Finishing the first lap it's Rainey, then a gap to Gardner, Sarron, and Mackenzie. Randy Mamola and Norihiko Fujiwara come together at the hairpin, but stay up.

Rainey is maintaining a gap, and Gardner makes a mistake at the chicane and lets Sarron and Mackenzie through, but he's soon back to 2nd. Mamola is sliding the rear and waving to the crowd.

On the last lap, McElnea highsides coming out of the chicane.

Rainey wins his first premier-class GP.

500 cc classification

Pos.RiderTeamManufacturerTime/RetiredPoints
1 Wayne RaineyTeam Lucky Strike RobertsYamaha49:33.67020
2 Wayne GardnerRothmans Honda TeamHonda+6.97017
3 Christian SarronSonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1Yamaha+8.78015
4 Niall MackenzieTeam HRCHonda+11.84013
5 Kevin MageeTeam Lucky Strike RobertsYamaha+36.75011
6 Eddie LawsonMarlboro Yamaha Team AgostiniYamaha+40.97010
7 Didier de RadiguèsMarlboro Yamaha Team AgostiniYamaha+51.3609
8 Pierfrancesco ChiliHB Honda Gallina TeamHonda+51.8108
9 Roger BurnettRacing Team KatayamaHonda+52.3907
10 Tadahiko TairaTech 21Yamaha+1:21.8406
11 Randy MamolaCagiva CorseCagiva+1:32.4505
12 Norihiko FujiwaraLucky Strike YamahaYamaha+1 Lap4
13 Mike BaldwinRacing Team KatayamaHonda+1 Lap3
14 Ron HaslamTeam ROC Elf HondaElf Honda+1 Lap2
15 Fabio BiliottiTeam AmorantoHonda+1 Lap1
16 Patrick IgoaSonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1Yamaha+1 Lap
17 Eddie LaycockMillar RacingHonda+1 Lap
18 Fabio BarchittaRacing Team KatayamaHonda+1 Lap
19 Daniel AmatriainDucados Lotus GuarzHonda+1 Lap
20 Marco GentileFior MarlboroFior+1 Lap
21 Dave LeachSuzuki+1 Lap
22 Maarten DuyzersHDJ InternationalHonda+1 Lap
23 Simon BuckmasterHonda+1 Lap
24 Kees van der EndtAutobedrijf KoensHonda+1 Lap
25 Nicholas SchmassmanFMSHonda+1 Lap
Ret Andreas LeutheSuzukiRetirement
Ret Rachel NicottePVI RacingHondaRetirement
Ret Darren DixonSuzukiRetirement
Ret Bruno KneubühlerRomer Racing SuisseHondaRetirement
Ret Rob McElneaSuzuki Pepsi ColaSuzukiRetirement
Ret Wolfgang von MuraltSuzukiRetirement
Ret Raymond RocheCagiva CorseCagivaRetirement
Ret Steve SpraySuzukiRetirement
Ret Kevin SchwantzSuzuki Pepsi ColaSuzukiRetirement
DNS Alessandro ValesiTeam IberiaHondaDid not start
DNS Marco PapaTeam GrecoHondaDid not start
DNQ Steve ManleyGateford MotorsSuzukiDid not qualify
DNQ Ian PrattSuzukiDid not qualify
DNQ Johan Ten NapelSuzukiDid not qualify
DNQ Claus WulffHondaDid not qualify
DNQ Rene ZanattaPatonDid not qualify
Sources:[5][6]

References


Previous race:
1988 French Grand Prix
FIM Grand Prix World Championship
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Swedish Grand Prix
Previous race:
1987 British motorcycle Grand Prix
British Grand PrixNext race:
1989 British Grand Prix