Round 9 of the World Road Racing Championships took place at Belgium's rain sodden Spa Francorchamps circuit during which strange things were witnessed by a bemused capacity crowd. Firstly Frenchman Jean Phillipe Ruggia gave a certain American super-ace the surprise of his life. Precocious young Brazilian Alexandre Barros cocked a snook at a dumbfounded Kevin Schwantz and Spaniard Juan Garriga almost scared ex-world champion Wayne Gardner out of his leathers. It was the day of the underdog with a vengeance! In abysmal conditions, 250 riders John Kocinski, Didier de Radigues, Paolo Casoll, and Masahiro Shimizu starred in another dramatically entertaining race. A particularly good round and strongly commended.