Just 6.5 points separated the leading protagonists in the quest for the 1989 500cc World Championship as the GP circus moved to the Anderstorp track in Sweden for round 13 of the 1989 series. The main contenders were Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) and Eddie Lawson (Honda). Kevin Schwantz had won more GPs than anyone going into this Swedish round and was always going to be a threat, as was Yamaha man Niall Mackenzie. And with Gardner, Sarron and Magee all wanting a piece of the action, it was one of the races of the season becoming a World Championship battle of epic proportions.