Bike Grand Prix

The 1990s were a decade of high drama and excitement in the World Motorcycle Championship. Unbeknownst to fans, riders and teams, the '90s represented the final flourishing of the now legendary 500cc two-stroke legends which made stars of Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and others who had the skills to tame the wild beasts.

The 1990s were a decade of high drama and excitement in the World Motorcycle Championship. Unbeknownst to fans, riders and teams, the '90s represented the final flourishing of the now legendary 500cc two-stroke legends which made stars of Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and others who had the skills to tame the wild beasts.

As the curtain fell on the 1980s, the championship delivered a gripping and tightly-contested title battle. The 15-round series was packed with thrills and spills as the world championship circus travelled the globe, from the first round in Japan to the title-deciding final race in Brazil.

The emergence of a new generation of hard-charging talent made this one of the most memorable seasons of GP motorcycle racing ever. Reigning World Champion Gardner and arch rival Lawson were expected to dominate again, but the new breed of two-wheel heroes were ready to rip up the form book and upstage the legends of the sport.

Reigning champion Lawson may have been carrying the number one plate, but Rothmans Honda Rider Gardner was tipped to lead the title charge from round one, held at a rain-soaked Suzuka in Japan. However, it was Californian Mamola who drew first blood. Gardner, Lawson and Mamola would dominate the season, sharing wins as the action moved through Europe and South America.

As the finest motorcycle racers gathered at the opening round there was one question on everybody's lips - could anyone beat reigning king Spencer's Rothman's Honda? Although tipped to retain his title, a persistent wrist injury prevented Spencer mounting a real defense. That cleared the way for adversary Lawson to lead the charge on his Marlboro Yamaha.

The footage has been re-edited to take you even closer to the action as Americans Spencer and Lawson go head-to-head in the championship battle, closely shadowed by the likes of Haslam, Mamola, Wayne Gardner, Christian Sarron and many more of motorcycle racing's biggest names. Spencer was out to become the first person to claim both the 250cc and 500cc championships in the same season.

Up against the formidable resources of the Honda team and its talented riders, Eddie Lawson must have had doubts at the start of 1984 about his ability to become World Champion. Could he possibly equal and even better 'Fast' Freddie Spencer? Did the works V4 Yamaha have any edge on the Hondas? What threat would Randy Mamola pose?

British and San Marino 1983 - The British leg at Silverstone will be remembered as a hard battled effort between a talented gathering of riders closely dueling for victory in the 500cc category. At the end years last leg in San Marino the season - long duel between Spencer and Roberts had left just a two-point gap in the results.