1989 British motorcycle Grand Prix

  1989 British Grand Prix
Race details
Race 12 of 15 races in the
1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Date 6 August 1989
Official name Shell British Motorcycle Grand Prix
Location Donington
Course
  • Permanent racing facility
  • 4.023 km (2.500 mi)
500 cc
Pole position
Rider Kevin Schwantz
Time 1:34.050
Fastest lap
Rider Eddie Lawson
Time 1:34.510
Podium
First Kevin Schwantz
Second Eddie Lawson
Third Wayne Rainey
250 cc
Pole position
Rider Luca Cadalora
Time 1:38.310
Fastest lap
Rider Sito Pons
Time 1:38.330
Podium
First Sito Pons
Second Reinhold Roth
Third Masahiro Shimizu
125 cc
Pole position
Rider Hans Spaan
Time 1:43.750
Fastest lap
Rider Hans Spaan
Time 1:44.670
Podium
First Hans Spaan
Second Àlex Crivillé
Third Ezio Gianola

The 1989 British motorcycle Grand Prix was the twelfth round of the 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 4–6 August 1989 at Donington Park.

500 cc race report

Luca Cadalora is brought in to replace Freddie Spencer, who’s been released by team manager Giacomo Agostini.

In the first lap Wayne Rainey’s in front of a group of 4 riders, with Kevin Schwantz, Christian Sarron and Eddie Lawson. Rainey and Schwantz trade the lead, while Niall Mackenzie comes up from behind. Mackenzie is having a good day, as he passes Lawson and Rainey to move into second behind Schwantz. Mackenzie takes the lead for half a lap, but Schwantz gets it back at the chicane, and soon Lawson passes him as well. Wayne Gardner retires with a mechanical.

Rainey passes Mackenzie, but Schwantz and Lawson have gotten far ahead. Schwantz takes the win from Lawson by a few bike lengths, and Rainey comes in third. With 3 rounds to go, Lawson is less than 7 points away from Rainey with 60 points still to be decided.

Race winner Kevin Schwantz, celebrating after winning the 500cc race.

500 cc classification

Pos. Rider Team Manufacturer Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 Kevin Schwantz Suzuki Pepsi Cola Suzuki 30 47:45.670 1 20
2 Eddie Lawson Rothmans Kanemoto Honda Honda 30 +0.970 2 17
3 Wayne Rainey Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha 30 +8.600 3 15
4 Niall Mackenzie Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini Yamaha 30 +10.940 6 13
5 Christian Sarron Sonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1 Yamaha 30 +28.310 4 11
6 Kevin Magee Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha 30 +38.490 8 10
7 Ron Haslam Suzuki Pepsi Cola Suzuki 30 +47.360 9 9
8 Luca Cadalora Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini Yamaha 30 +51.770 5 8
9 Pierfrancesco Chili HB Honda Gallina Team Honda 30 +1:27.710 7 7
10 Rob McElnea Cabin Racing Team Honda 29 +1 Lap 11 6
11 Fred Merkel HB Honda Gallina Team Honda 29 +1 Lap 14 5
12 Roger Burnett Rothmans Honda Team Honda 29 +1 Lap 13 4
13 Marco Gentile Fior Marlboro Fior 29 +1 Lap 15 3
14 Fabio Biliotti Racing Team Katayama Honda 29 +1 Lap 20 2
15 Simon Buckmaster Racing Team Katayama Honda 29 +1 Lap 17 1
16 Marco Papa Team Greco Paton 28 +2 Laps 23
17 Robert Holden Honda 28 +2 Laps 26
18 Bruno Kneubühler Romer Racing Suisse Honda 28 +2 Laps 27
19 Claude Albert Suzuki 28 +2 Laps 22
20 Andreas Leuthe Librenti Corse Suzuki 28 +2 Laps 30
21 Josef Doppler Honda 28 +2 Laps 29
22 Francisco Gonzales Club Motocross Pozuelo Honda 28 +2 Laps 31
23 Peter Graves Honda 28 +2 Laps 36
Ret Ian Pratt Racing Team Katayama Suzuki Retirement 33
Ret Wayne Gardner Rothmans Honda Team Honda Retirement 10
Ret Mark Phillips Suzuki Retirement 32
Ret Dominique Sarron Team ROC Elf Honda Honda Retirement 12
Ret Nicholas Schmassman FMS Honda Retirement 25
Ret Rachel Nicotte Chevallier Yamaha Retirement 16
Ret Juan Lopez Mella Club Motocross Pozuelo Honda Retirement 24
Ret Cees Doorakkers HRK Motors Honda Retirement 19
Ret John Mossey Suzuki Retirement 34
Ret David Crampton Suzuki Retirement 35
Ret Alessandro Valesi Team Iberia Yamaha Retirement 21
Ret Alan Carter Honda Retirement 18
DNS Andy McGladdery Honda Did not start 28
DNQ Larry Moreno Vacondio Honda Did not qualify
DNQ Eddie Laycock Honda Did not qualify
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