1989 United States motorcycle Grand Prix

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.[4]

United States  1989 United States Grand Prix
Race details
Race 3 of 15 races in the
1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
DateApril 16, 1989
Official nameDunlop USGP[1][2][3]
LocationLaguna Seca Raceway
Course
  • Permanent racing facility
  • 3.602 km (2.238 mi)
500 cc
Pole position
RiderUnited States Wayne Rainey
Time1:27.120
Fastest lap
RiderAustralia Wayne Gardner
Time1:28.000
Podium
FirstUnited States Wayne Rainey
SecondUnited States Kevin Schwantz
ThirdUnited States Eddie Lawson
250 cc
Pole position
RiderUnited States John Kocinski
Time1:30.160
Fastest lap
RiderUnited States John Kocinski
Time1:29.190
Podium
FirstUnited States John Kocinski
SecondUnited States Jim Filice
ThirdItaly Luca Cadalora

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 Wayne RaineyTeam Lucky Strike RobertsYamaha4058:56.179120
2 Kevin SchwantzSuzuki Pepsi ColaSuzuki40+6.849217
3 Eddie LawsonRothmans Kanemoto HondaHonda40+19.912615
4 Kevin MageeTeam Lucky Strike RobertsYamaha40+23.732413
5 Niall MackenzieMarlboro Yamaha Team AgostiniYamaha40+28.223711
6 Christian SarronSonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1Yamaha40+30.595510
7 Pierfrancesco ChiliHB Honda Gallina TeamHonda40+1:29.901119
8 Mick DoohanRothmans Honda TeamHonda39+1 Lap128
9 Bubba ShobertCabin Racing TeamHonda39+1 Lap137
10 Dominique SarronTeam ROC Elf HondaHonda39+1 Lap156
11 Alessandro ValesiTeam IberiaYamaha38+2 Laps165
12 Marco GentileFior MarlboroFior38+2 Laps174
13 Simon BuckmasterRacing Team KatayamaHonda38+2 Laps183
14 Bruno KneubuhlerRomer Racing SuisseHonda38+2 Laps192
15 Michael RudroffHRK MotorsHonda38+3 Laps211
16 Francisco GonzalesClub Motocross PozueloHonda37+4 Laps23
17 Vincenzo CascinoHonda37+4 Laps22
Ret Ron HaslamSuzuki Pepsi ColaSuzukiRetirement10
Ret Tadahiko TairaYamaha Motor CompanyYamahaRetirement8
Ret Nicholas SchmassmanFMSHondaRetirement20
Ret Randy MamolaCagiva CorseCagivaRetirement14
Ret Eugene BrownSuzukiRetirement24
Ret Wayne GardnerRothmans Honda TeamHondaRetirement3
DNS Freddie SpencerMarlboro Yamaha Team AgostiniYamahaDid not Start9
DNQ David BusbyHondaDid not Qualify
DNQ Michael WildSuzukiDid not Qualify
Sources:[5][6]

References


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 PrixNext race:
1990 United States Grand Prix