Bike GP 500 1990 - Australia Duke Archive DVD - Description
The final and fifteenth round of the FIM World Road Racing Championship series, which took place on the purpose built Philip Island circuit, Australia, was a perfect example of just how inspiring 500 cc road racing can be given the right conditions. The four hard men who battled it out here wheel-to-wheel a year earlier were joined by young Aussie Mick Doohan. Mick gave more than a hint of greatness to come by etching scorched black rubber on the tarmac and surviving some heart stopping moments! This was easily the best race of 1990, and probably one of the best races of the 1990's.
Doohan (Honda), full of grit and dynamite after his win in Hungary, set out to prove to the sceptics that it wasn't a fluke, while his compatriot, the somewhat battered warrior Wayne Gardner (Honda), had his eye squarely on the champagne. Americans Wayne Rainey (1990 World Champion) and Eddie Lawson, both riding Yamahas, made up the pack of five and what brilliant and deadly riding they produced. At times they appeared to be locked together.
Texan genius Kevin Schwantz also challenged all the way to the last few laps then bowed out of the series in his customary style - at 120 mph - but happily he wasn't badly dented!
As had been expected, the 250 event was also awesome to behold. Grabbing the lead from pole position, young John Kocinski (Yamaha) became embroiled in a furious scrap with arch-rival Helmut Bradl, while points leader Carlos Cardus struggled to come to terms with his Honda in what could only be described as one hell of a race!
This is one race meeting you'll want to watch time and again.
