1989 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix motorcycle race report
Grand Prix = Italian


Location = Misano
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Date = 14 May
Year = 1989


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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 12th–14th May, 1989 at the Misano circuit.

500 cc race report

Before the race, riders are 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 gets a good start and leads briefly, then Schwantz, Wayne Rainey and Christian Sarron settle into the lead. Before long, the rain starts and Schwantz raises his hand to stop the race.

The top riders have a meeting and decide they want a practice session before re-starting in the wet, but the request is refused by the race organizers and they decide to boycott the race. Eddie Lawson says, "This is 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." [Duke Video: "Bike GP 500 Review". Videocassette.]

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.

500cc classification

References

MotoGP_race_report
Name_of_race = Nations Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1989
Previous_race_in_season = 1989 Spanish Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1989 German Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1988 Nations Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1990 Nations Grand Prix