Conditions were different to the year before, but the winner of the 1985 500cc South African GP was the same. Eddie Lawson started the 1985 championship trail where he'd left off - with a victory! 

 Rothmans Honda Freddie Spencer stayed close most of the way and Wayne Gardner and Ron Haslam waged a race-long battle finally resolved in the former's favour when Haslam ran wide and said goodbye to third place. Spencer didn't set the fastest lap in the 250cc event but won his debut race for Rothmans Honda, blasting past the established aces for an easy victory after disposing of a determined early challenge from Toni Mang.