As the finest motorcycle racers on Earth gathered at the opening round of the 1986 500cc World Championship there was one question on everybody's lips - could anyone beat reigning king Freddie Spencer's Rothman's Honda?
Although tipped to retain his title, a persistent wrist injury prevented 1985 World Champion Spencer mounting a real defence. That cleared the way for adversary Eddie Lawson to lead the charge on his Marlboro Yamaha as the world's premier motorcycle race series contested 11 fast-paced rounds.
Australian Wayne Gardner won the first race, but struggled to adopt the mantle of Rothman's Honda team-leader in place of the absent Spencer. Lawson dominated the next four rounds, but as the championship passed the halfway point the Californian's luck changed. At the Dutch TT, where his title hopes had evaporated in 1985, Lawson tumbled out of contention, allowing Gardner to take the win and renew his championship challenge.
With just three rounds remaining, Gardner dug deep and produced an awe-inspiring victory in heavy rain at the British Grand Prix. The penultimate round, in Sweden, would be the race of the season. Lawson was dogged by Gardner for lap after lap, the Australian refusing to relinquish his slim title ambitions. However, a slower machine ruined the Honda rider's challenge and allowed Lawson to record his sixth win of the season, and the 1986 World Championship.
Bike Grand Prix 1986 brings you all the vital moments, with incredible trackside, on-board and slo-mo footage, plus fascinating interviews with the leading riders. There's also the debuts of British sensation Niall Mackenzie, future World Champion Kevin Schwantz and legend Kenny Roberts' Yamaha team.