Motocross 500cc World Championship 1987 - Round 7, the Italian Grand Prix, Sunday, June 14

With 1985/86 World Champion Dave Thorpe sidelined through injury, the rest of the contenders were more than keen to make up further leeway.

And, as this video superbly shows, the racing was fast and furious on the wide open expanses of the Ponte a Egola circuit. From starting-gate to the fall of the chequered flag, there was no room for let-up by the World’s finest riders and teams.

Belgium’s Georges Jobe was the man bidding to wrest the title from Thorpe and the Honda factory put all it had behind him. They were especially keen to capitalise on a practice crash which ruled out Dutch KTM star Kees van der Ven.

Leaping out of the dusty holes, slithering around the tight curves and blasting full bore down the straights, the iron men of motocross provide the cameramen with plenty of high thrills.

Enjoying a revival in fortunes was Thorpe’s fellow Briton Kurt Nicoll, the son of former works BSA rider Dave Nicoll. The Kawasaki man really took to the Italian track and set some sparkling performances, as also did Team Green man Greg Hanson