To many, the battle for the 1989 500cc World Championship title was one of the best for many years, and as the teams gathered at Brno for the Czech GP, the penultimate round of the season, there was still an element of uncertainty about the outcome of the series 

The Brno circuit was holding it’s third GP at what was still a relatively new facility, and while there are more demanding circuits around the world, not many attract the crowds like this Czechoslovakian venue. This year the race-starved Eastern-bloc fans were expecting excellent racing, and with the 125cc and sidecar world championship to be decided here, they were not to be disappointed.

Although most Grands Prix in 1989 had been dominated by the American trio of Schwantz, Rainey and Lawson, the championship itself had been a two horse race between Rainey and Lawson.

The Americans had taken the rostrum positions in six of the thirteen races prior to this event.

One of the few men able to break the US domination of the podium was Christian Sarron, and the Frenchman was hoping to consolidate his third place in the series with another hard ride at Brno.

Meanwhile, with contracts due for renewal or otherwise, men such as Mackenzie, Haslam, Magee and Mamola were hoping to impress the watching team managers and prove they are worth a place in a top team in 1990.

As predicted all season long, the 1989 500cc championship was not going to be decided until the last race of the season, and the result at Brno proved that point. Watch the excellent action captured by the Videovision cameras, as the battle for the 500cc World Championship begins to fire its final salvoes.