# 1989 British motorcycle Grand Prix

The 1989 British motorcycle Grand Prix was the twelfth round of the 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 4–6 August 1989 at Donington Park.

## 500 cc race report

Luca Cadalora is brought in to replace Freddie Spencer, who’s been released by team manager Giacomo Agostini.
In the first lap Wayne Rainey’s in front of a group of 4 riders, with Kevin Schwantz, Christian Sarron and Eddie Lawson. Rainey and Schwantz trade the lead, while Niall Mackenzie comes up from behind. Mackenzie is having a good day, as he passes Lawson and Rainey to move into second behind Schwantz. Mackenzie takes the lead for half a lap, but Schwantz gets it back at the chicane, and soon Lawson passes him as well. Wayne Gardner retires with a mechanical.
Rainey passes Mackenzie, but Schwantz and Lawson have gotten far ahead. Schwantz takes the win from Lawson by a few bike lengths, and Rainey comes in third. With 3 rounds to go, Lawson is less than 7 points away from Rainey with 60 points still to be decided.

## 500 cc classification

| Pos. | Rider | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
| 1 | Kevin Schwantz | Suzuki Pepsi Cola | Suzuki | 30 | 47:45.670 | 1 | 20 |
| 2 | Eddie Lawson | Rothmans Kanemoto Honda | Honda | 30 | +0.970 | 2 | 17 |
| 3 | Wayne Rainey | Team Lucky Strike Roberts | Yamaha | 30 | +8.600 | 3 | 15 |
| 4 | Niall Mackenzie | Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini | Yamaha | 30 | +10.940 | 6 | 13 |
| 5 | Christian Sarron | Sonauto Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Mobil 1 | Yamaha | 30 | +28.310 | 4 | 11 |
| 6 | Kevin Magee | Team Lucky Strike Roberts | Yamaha | 30 | +38.490 | 8 | 10 |
| 7 | Ron Haslam | Suzuki Pepsi Cola | Suzuki | 30 | +47.360 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | Luca Cadalora | Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini | Yamaha | 30 | +51.770 | 5 | 8 |
| 9 | Pierfrancesco Chili | HB Honda Gallina Team | Honda | 30 | +1:27.710 | 7 | 7 |
| 10 | Rob McElnea | Cabin Racing Team | Honda | 29 | +1 Lap | 11 | 6 |
| 11 | Fred Merkel | HB Honda Gallina Team | Honda | 29 | +1 Lap | 14 | 5 |
| 12 | Roger Burnett | Rothmans Honda Team | Honda | 29 | +1 Lap | 13 | 4 |
| 13 | Marco Gentile | Fior Marlboro | Fior | 29 | +1 Lap | 15 | 3 |
| 14 | Fabio Biliotti | Racing Team Katayama | Honda | 29 | +1 Lap | 20 | 2 |
| 15 | Simon Buckmaster | Racing Team Katayama | Honda | 29 | +1 Lap | 17 | 1 |
| 16 | Marco Papa | Team Greco | Paton | 28 | +2 Laps | 23 | |
| 17 | Robert Holden | | Honda | 28 | +2 Laps | 26 | |
| 18 | Bruno Kneubühler | Romer Racing Suisse | Honda | 28 | +2 Laps | 27 | |
| 19 | Claude Albert | | Suzuki | 28 | +2 Laps | 22 | |
| 20 | Andreas Leuthe | Librenti Corse | Suzuki | 28 | +2 Laps | 30 | |
| 21 | Josef Doppler | | Honda | 28 | +2 Laps | 29 | |
| 22 | Francisco Gonzales | Club Motocross Pozuelo | Honda | 28 | +2 Laps | 31 | |
| 23 | Peter Graves | | Honda | 28 | +2 Laps | 36 | |
| Ret | Ian Pratt | Racing Team Katayama | Suzuki | | Retirement | 33 | |
| Ret | Wayne Gardner | Rothmans Honda Team | Honda | | Retirement | 10 | |
| Ret | Mark Phillips | | Suzuki | | Retirement | 32 | |
| Ret | Dominique Sarron | Team ROC Elf Honda | Honda | | Retirement | 12 | |
| Ret | Nicholas Schmassman | FMS | Honda | | Retirement | 25 | |
| Ret | Rachel Nicotte | | Chevallier Yamaha | | Retirement | 16 | |
| Ret | Juan Lopez Mella | Club Motocross Pozuelo | Honda | | Retirement | 24 | |
| Ret | Cees Doorakkers | HRK Motors | Honda | | Retirement | 19 | |
| Ret | John Mossey | | Suzuki | | Retirement | 34 | |
| Ret | David Crampton | | Suzuki | | Retirement | 35 | |
| Ret | Alessandro Valesi | Team Iberia | Yamaha | | Retirement | 21 | |
| Ret | Alan Carter | | Honda | | Retirement | 18 | |
| DNS | Andy McGladdery | | Honda | | Did not start | 28 | |
| DNQ | Larry Moreno Vacondio | | Honda | | Did not qualify | | |
| DNQ | Eddie Laycock | | Honda | | Did not qualify | | |
| Sources: ||||||||