Suzuka 1989.....Wayne Rainey & Kevin Schwantz do battle

Epic footage from Suzuka 1989, Rainey on the YZR500 #3, and Schwantz on the RGV500 #34....Always love how these guys raced like every lap was the last one, and great sportsmanship shaking hands at the end of the race.
How I wish racing was like this nowadays :(




Bring back 500cc 2-strokes

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• suzuka
• 1989
• 500gp
• Kevin
• schwantz
• wayne
• rainey
• yzr500
• rgv500

[auto4union]

There`s a great race between these two in the Transatlantic trophy races in 87or88 ! Fairing bashing and tyres rubbing etc ! Just looking for it just now ! Peace Ye`all !

[phailandaids]

I seen it, I got the Schwantz and Rainey "best of" videos....apparently the first time Rainey saw Schwantz on that shagged out GSX-R-750 he said "who the hell gave that nutter a bike"

[kickittome70]

Rainey didnt look too happy at the end. Schwantsy was the only guy I've ever seen powerslide a 500GP bike at 200k's on the back tyre with the front at least 6" in the air. Back then it was just us Aussies, the yanks and no one else - no Europeans apart from honorable mentions to Sarron and Mc Kenzie. Now it's just Rossi, Stoner and a bunch of losers. Think that 500's are TOTALLY different than the cruisy 800 4-strokes now. Like a wild horse trying to kill you every lap,with a thirst for victory

[phailandaids]

Rainey and Schwantz were so equally matched but in very different ways, Rainey was always "line perfect" while Schwantz would just nail it as hard as he could and hoped it would turn in for him, Schwantz had the bigger balls but Rainey was a little more scientific in his approach....damn shame what happened to Rainey in sept 93.

I also agree that the 4-stroke are tosh, they maybe faster but they have no soul.

[ghosttroop]

Great video, you the man ;)

One of the best racing duels between two 500cc champion riders ever :)

Rainey (3) was fast, smooth and almost perfect. Motorcycle racing legend.

Schwantz (34) was fast, wild and incredible. Fantastic skills. His Suzuki wasn't quite as good as the Hondas and Yamahas of the era, (It's the same today).

[phailandaids]

I just love these guys, Rainey would be hacking along all smooth and perfect and then Schwantz would come tearing along, bike all over the place trying to stuff him up the inside....then the whole race would plummet into chaos as these 2 had an on-bike shit slinging contest to the finish line.....2 very equal riders but in very different ways

[ghosttroop]

Well said ;)

Two very equal riders with completely different styles. Would love to have seen them on EQUAL MACHINERY, (like Rossi and Lorenzo).

Only reason Schwantz looked so squirelly, (as Kevin called it), was because he had to ride the hell out of the Suzuki to keep up with the Hondas and Yamahas. Only way Schwantz was getting by was in a big slip-stream or stuffing it up the inside into a corner.

Thats why hes so good to watch. The guys riding like he's got a death-wish :) Superb stuff!

[mushrume]

@kickittome70 i know the comment is old but i agree with you to some extent . they shoudl at least limit the ammount of TC and electronics the bikes have . but i have to say . a bike like the rc211v honda v-5 with 260 hp or so weighing 335 lbs would not be easy to control by any means on the limit ...

[VRossi4Life]

Wow, they don't make bikes/races/riders like that anymore.

[minhdovu]

I was too young to watch the race back in 1989, but now when i have enough awareness of what is what, these guys are incredible.

[JoeTheMeatbag]

@JoeTheMeatbag Sorry guys, but that's just the way the world progresses.

[JoeTheMeatbag]

@kickittome70 While I'm not debating that racing isnn't as awesome as it was back then, you have to give merit to the modern riders. They have to be inch-perfect and ride the bikes just right or the things are unmanageable. That requires talent and skill, those guys have got it. The modern GP bikes ride a razor's edge as well, just of a different kind.

And yes, I'm sure most all of us want to see the old 500s get a dustoff and go racing, but the smell of two-stroke premix is a dying scent.

[madra46]

5:51 what happen with the hands? Schwantz offer his hand to Rainey and he refuses it???

[sedgemoor1685]

SHIT HOT,great race with 160bhp on a 170 rear tyre!

[flavaj12]

this reminds of senna vs prost during the best f1 years

[WizzRacing]

You never tame the 500cc 2 stroke dragon. It simply lets you stay on till you mistreat it. Many have come.. but only a few are chosen to ride it.

[BeamRider100]

Amazing, I remember watching this race live.

Looking now, I see the way Schwantz sits back still and locks in a line thru the turns, while Rainey crouches forward more thru the corners. Today's riders tend to crouch like Rainey and also get the head and elbow lower as well.

The sit back style looks like more fun, I might give it a try thru some open turns.

Or maybe crouch forward thru the tight part of the corner and then sit back on the corner exits that open out.