The 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 41st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Season summary Defending champion Eddie Lawson stunned most observers by switching from the Yamaha to Honda in the offseason then proceeded to win the championship, becoming the first man to win two consecutive 500cc championships on two different brands. On why he left Yamaha for Honda: "Giacomo Agostini, the Marlboro Yamaha team manager, started playing games, saying stuff like, 'I don't know if we can pay you the same as we did in 1988.' I'd just won my third title, so that was tough to hear. Also, I found out Ago was talking to Kevin Schwantz. I met with Erv and told him that I needed a change. When Marlboro discovered I was talking with Honda, they doubled their offer, but it was too late. I actually took a pay cut to ride the Honda."
Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz continued to perform impressively while Freddie Spencer made a less than successful comeback attempt with the Marlboro Yamaha team. Australian Wayne Gardner was out for most of the season after breaking his leg at Laguna Seca but not before winning the inaugural Grand Prix in his home country. Another Australian made his Grand Prix debut for the Rothmans Honda team with Mick Doohan scoring a third-place finish at the Hockenheimring. The FIM awarded half points for the rain-drenched Belgian Grand Prix after organisers restarted the race three times contrary to FIM race regulations. The Nations Grand Prix at Misano was boycotted by most of the top riders for safety reasons.
Sito Pons won a second consecutive 250 championship for Honda while Spanish teenager, Àlex Crivillé won the 125 crown on a Rotax-powered JJ Cobas motorcycle designed by Antonio Cobas. Derbi rider Manuel Herreros had the honor of winning the final 80cc world championship as the class would be discontinued after 1989.
As of 2025, this was the last time Honda and the same engine manufacturer won the MotoGP and Formula One double world manufacturer's titles in the same year to date.
1989 Grand Prix season calendar The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1989: RoundDateGrand PrixCircuit 1 26 March Grand Prix of Japan Suzuka Circuit 2 9 April Swan Premium Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 3 16 April Dunlop USGP Laguna Seca Raceway 4 30 April Marlboro Gran Premio de España de Motociclismo Circuito Permanente de Jerez 5 14 May G.P. Delle Nazioni Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica 6 28 May Großer Preis von Deutschland für Motorräder Hockenheimring 7 4 June Großer Preis von Österreich Salzburgring 8 11 June Yu Grand Prix Automotodrom Rijeka 9 24 June Dutch TT TT Circuit Assen 10 2 July Belgium Motorcycle Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 11 16 July Grand Prix de France Bugatti Circuit 12 6 August Shell British Motorcycle Grand Prix Donington Park 13 13 August Swedish TT Scandinavian Raceway 14 27 August Grand Prix CSSR-Brno Brno Circuit 15 17 September Brazilian Grand Prix Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia
Calendar changes The Australian Grand Prix was added to the calendar. The Expo 92 Grand Prix was taken off the calendar, as well as the Jarama circuit. The Nations Grand Prix moved from the Imola circuit to the Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica. The German Grand Prix moved from the Nürburgring to the Hockenheimring. The French Grand Prix moved from the Paul Ricard circuit to the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans.
Participants 500cc participants TeamConstructorMotorcycleNo.RiderRounds Team Rothmans/Kanemoto Honda Honda Honda NSR500 1 Eddie Lawson 1–4, 6–15 Rothmans Honda/HRC Honda Honda NSR500 2 Wayne Gardner 1–3, 9–13, 15 17 Roger Burnett 12 27 Mick Doohan 1–11, 15 Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 3 Wayne Rainey 1–4, 6–15 5 Kevin Magee 1–3, 6–15 26 Norihiko Fujiwara 1 Team Roberts Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 49 John Kocinski 10 Team Gauloises Blondes Mobil 1 Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 4 Christian Sarron 1–4, 6–15 Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 6 Niall Mackenzie 1–4, 6, 8–15 19 Freddie Spencer 1–4, 6–11 53 Luca Cadalora 12 25 Alberto Rota 14 Team Elf Honda/ROC Honda Honda NSR500 7 Dominique Sarron 1–4, 6–8, 12, 15 5556 Adrien Morillas 11, 13–15 Team Pepsi Suzuki Suzuki Suzuki RGV500 8 Ron Haslam 1–4, 6–9, 12–15 34 Kevin Schwantz AllSchick Advantage SuzukiSuzukiSuzuki RGV500 42 Osamu Hiwatashi 1Team Suzuki DeutschlandSuzukiSuzuki RGV500 50 Ernst Gschwender 6Minolta Suzuki FranceSuzukiSuzuki RGV500 33 Thierry Crine 11 HB Honda Gallina Team Honda Honda NSR500 9 Pierfrancesco Chili All 3384 Fred Merkel 5, 11–12 Cabin Racing Team Honda Honda NSR500 10 Rob McElnea 6–15 25 Bubba Shobert 1–3 Cagiva Corse Cagiva Cagiva C589 12 Randy Mamola 1–4, 6–11, 14–15 29 Massimo Broccoli 4–6 29 Raymond Roche 11 HRK Motors Honda Honda RS500 14 Michael Rudroff 2–9, 14 5456 Cees Doorakkers 9–12, 14 Team Iberna Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 15 Alessandro Valesi All Team Greco - Paton Paton Paton V115 500 16 Marco Papa 4–5, 8–12, 14 Tech-21/Team Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 21 Tadahiko Taira 1–4, 13–14 26 Norihiko Fujiwara 5–6Nescafe Can RT YamahaYamahaYamaha YZR500 48 Kunio Machii 1 Römer Racing Switzerland Honda Honda RS500 24 Bruno Kneubühler 3–4, 6–14 Marlboro Fior Team Fior Fior C89 32 Marco Gentile 1–12 Racing Team Katayama Honda Honda RS500 354636 Simon Buckmaster All 44 Ian Pratt 4, 12 54 Fabio Biliotti 11–14 Team Doppler Honda Honda RS500 35 Josef Doppler 4–7, 9–10, 12, 14 Racing Team Librenti Corse LibrentiSuzuki Librenti 500Suzuki RG 500 3637 Andy Leuthe 4–5, 8–9, 11–14 Dr. Browns Racing Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 48 Eugene Brown 3 Vincenzo CascinoSuzukiSuzuki RG 500 3253 Vincenzo Cascino 3, 6, 14–15 Harry Heutmerkers Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 Bakker 39 Harry Heutmerkers 14 Torbjorn Bastiansen Suzuki Suzuki RGB 500 50 Torbjorn Bastiansen 13 John MosseySuzukiSuzuki RGB 500 59 John Mossey 12 MotoDepot Suzuki Suzuki RG 500 Gamma 51 Jean Paul Lecointe 11 Fernando Gonzalez Honda Honda RS500 4033 Fernando González de Nicolás 1–8, 10–12, 14–15 Club Moto Cross Pozuelo Honda Honda RS500 4130 Juan López Mella 4–7, 9, 11–15 Team Schmassmann Honda Honda RS500 365638 Niggi Schmassman 2–15 Yamaha Racing Australia Yamaha Yamaha YZR500 42 Michael Dowson 2 HRC Honda Honda NSR500 11 Shunji Yatsushiro 1 40 Shinichi Ito 1 41 Hikaru Miyagi 1 Malcolm Campbell 2 Millar RacingHondaHonda RS500 93 Eddie Laycock 9–12 Rob Holden RacingHondaHonda RS500 51 Rob Holden 12 UvexManhattan HondaHonda RS500 Bakker 3033 Rudolf Zeller 7, 14 WernbergerHondaHonda RS500 Bakker 41 Pavol Dekánek 10, 14 Plaisir - Jacadi RacingChevallier HondaHonda RS500 44 Rachel Nicotte 6, 9 Rallye SportHondaHonda RS500 30 Alois Meyer 6–7, 9, 14 16 Helmut Schutz 6, 8 Source: Key Regular Rider Wildcard Rider Replacement Rider
250cc participants TeamConstructorMotorcycleNo.RiderRounds Campsa Honda Team Honda Honda NSR250 1 Sito Pons All Ducados Yamaha Team Yamaha Yamaha YZR 250 2 Joan Garriga All Team Lucky Strike Elf Honda Honda NSR250 3 Jacques Cornu All Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 4 Didier de Radiguès All 18 Iván Palazzese 2–5 Aprilia Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 59 Marcellino Lucchi 6, 9 HB Römer Team Honda Honda NSR250 5 Reinhold Roth All Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini Yamaha Yamaha YZR 250 6 Luca Cadalora All Team Gauloises Blondes Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha YZR 250 7 Jean-Philippe Ruggia 1–11 Team Repsol Honda Honda Honda NSR250 8 Carlos Cardús All Ajinomoto Honda/HRC Honda Honda NSR250 9 Masahiro Shimizu 1–7, 9–15 FMV Honda Honda RS250R 10 Carlos Lavado 1-8 Team Rudy Project Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 10 Carlos Lavado 9–15 31 Fabio Barchitta 1–6 HB CR1 Racing Team Honda Honda Honda NSR250 13 Loris Reggiani 1–4, 6–12, 15 Team Hein Gericke Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 14 Martin Wimmer 1–13, 15 Yamaha TZ 250 5537 Bernhard Schick ?? Levior Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 15 Manfred Herweh 7, 10, 12–14 Hostettler / SPI Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 16 August Auinger 1–14 HB Rallye Sport Team Honda Honda NSR250 17 Helmut Bradl All Team Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha YZR 250 19 John Kocinski 1, 3 Team Uvex Aprilia Telefix Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 20 Harald Eckl All Team Italia Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 21 Fausto Ricci 1–4, 7–14 5254 Alberto Rota 14 Team Elit Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 22 Renzo Colleoni 4–12, 14–15 SK Vöst Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 23 Andy Preining 1–14 Racing Team Katayama Honda Honda RS250R 24 Andy Leisner ?? RTK Lotus Quartz Honda Honda NSR250 4049 Daniel Amatriaín 1–14 Venemotos Racing Team Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 25 Alex Barros 1–3, 5, 7–15 26 Luis Lavado 1–2, 10–11, 14–15 Yamaha Racing Team Yamaha Yamaha YZR 250 28 Toshihiko Honma 1, 11–13 Team Ducados Yamaha Puig Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 30 Alberto Puig All Samson Sharp Racing Honda Honda RS250R 32 Wilco Zeelenberg 4–14 Docshop Wevamed Racing Team Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 33 Garry Cowan All 5048 Patrick van den Goorbergh 1–2, 4, 8–14 Team Ciampini Honda Honda RS250R 35 Stefano Caracchi 3–6, 8–10, 12–14 St Yrian Motos Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 36 Jean Foray 2–5, 7–8, 11, 13–14 Schwabengarage & Reifenzenter Zürn Honda Honda RS250R 3841 Jochen Schmid 1–8, 11–15 D Gallacher/Bradgate Containers Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 39 Kevin Mitchell 1, 4, 7–8, 11–12 Motul Forza Shoei Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 4144 Jean-François Baldé 1–3, 5–9, 12–15 Clermont Ferrand Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 43 Adrien Morillas 11, 13–15 Aprilia France Aprilia-Rotax Aprilia AF1 45 Alain Bronec 4–8, 10–15 Nava Racing Team Seel-Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 4634 Hans Becker 5–13 AGV Pileri LM Honda Honda RS250R 515945 Paolo Casoli 1–2, 4, 11–15 70464842 Maurizio Vitali 5–14 Swiss Yamaha Team Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 5650 Urs Jücker 5, 8, 14 ?? Yamaha Yamaha TZ 250 57 Darren Milner 2 Cabin Racing Honda Honda Honda NSR250 58 Tadayuki Okada 1 Gazzaniga Corse Gazzaniga Gazzaniga 250 GP 6046 Virginio Ferrari 6–7, 14 Edwin Honda Honda Honda NSR250 65 Jim Filice 1, 3 Yamaha Racing Team Yamaha Yamaha YZR 250 57 Toshinobu Shiomori 1 Source: Key Regular Rider Wildcard Rider Replacement Rider
Results and standings Grands Prix Round Date Race Location 80cc winner 125cc winner 250cc winner 500cc winner Report 1 26 March Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka Ezio Gianola John Kocinski Kevin Schwantz Report 2 9 April Australian Grand Prix Phillip Island Àlex Crivillé Sito Pons Wayne Gardner Report 3 16 April United States Grand Prix Laguna Seca John Kocinski Wayne Rainey Report 4 30 April Spanish Grand Prix Jerez Herri Torrontegui Àlex Crivillé Luca Cadalora Eddie Lawson Report 5 14 May Nations Grand Prix Misano Jorge Martínez Ezio Gianola Sito Pons Pierfrancesco Chili Report 6 28 May German Grand Prix Hockenheim Peter Öttl Àlex Crivillé Sito Pons Wayne Rainey Report 7 4 June Austrian Grand Prix Salzburgring Hans Spaan Sito Pons Kevin Schwantz Report 8 11 June Yugoslavian Grand Prix Automotodrom Rijeka Peter Öttl Sito Pons Kevin Schwantz Report 9 24 June Dutch TT Assen Peter Öttl Hans Spaan Reinhold Roth Wayne Rainey Report 10 2 July Belgian Grand Prix Spa Hans Spaan Jacques Cornu Eddie Lawson Report 11 16 July French Grand Prix Le Mans Jorge Martínez Carlos Cardús Eddie Lawson Report 12 6 August British Grand Prix Donington Hans Spaan Sito Pons Kevin Schwantz Report 13 13 August Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp Àlex Crivillé Sito Pons Eddie Lawson Report 14 27 August Czechoslovak Grand Prix Brno Herri Torrontegui Àlex Crivillé Reinhold Roth Kevin Schwantz Report 15 17 September Brazilian Grand Prix Goiânia Luca Cadalora Kevin Schwantz Report
500cc riders' standings Scoring system Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th Points 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1