Rothmans Honda star Wayne Gardner of Australia travelled to South America seeking to secure his first ever 500 cc World Championship.

Only a few of the riders were acquainted with the Goiania circuit 150 kms south east of the country's capital Brasilia. But Gardner knew that it would be vital to quickly learn what was for him a completely unknown track.

His nearest rival was Randy Mamola on the Lucky Strike Yamaha and for him the task was equally difficult. He not only had to try to maintain his title challenge against Gardner, but had to make sure he continued to fend off the 1986 champion Eddie Lawson on the rival Marlboro Yamaha.

This video answers all the questions posed by the excitement of the return of the World Championships to the Latin American countries, the last having been in Argentina in 1983.

But it wasn't just the top three involved.  Gardner's Rothmans Honda Japanese team mate Shunji Yatsushiro was expected to go well, and veteran former 250 cc champion Christian Sarron would be in contention on the Gauloise Yamaha.

But would the samba drums hammer out a championship win for Gardner? Watch this superb record as the world's top riders battle in the hot and humid conditions on a bumpy track which caught out more than a few.