1991 German motorcycle Grand Prix

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The 1991 German motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixth round of the 1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 24th-26th May, 1991 at the Hockenheim circuit.

[edit] 500 cc race report

Wayne Gardner doesn’t start because of his broken foot. Mick Doohan on pole, Wayne Rainey 1 second back in 4th.

Doohan gets the start from Rainey, Eddie Lawson and John Kocinski. Doohan and Rainey develop a small gap to Kevin Schwantz, Lawson and Wayne Gardner. In the stadium section, Rainey tries to go through the inside of Doohan, but going off the racing line proves too slippery and he has to sit-up and gets Schwantz on his back wheel.

Rainey recovers his rhythm and passes Doohan, but Schwantz is closing. Kocinski crashes out. Doohan re-takes the lead of the trio with Rainey and Schwantz.

Another Rainey/Doohan battle ends inconclusively when Rainey comes alongside Doohan and points to Doohan’s back tire which is shedding chunks. Going into the stadium section, Schwantz takes the lead and Doohan starts dropping back.

Last lap: Rainey is in front of Schwantz. Schwantz stays behind Rainey through the first chicane, trying to build momentum for a draft pass. He manages it and takes the lead from Rainey.

It looks like Schwantz has made a tactical error, letting Rainey draft him on the last straight that leads into the stadium section. Rainey draft passes and prepares for the right turn, but Schwantz swings out from behind and performs a spectacular late-braking pass -- the RGV is squirming from side-to-side and the back tire is hopping up and down leaving a dashed black line of rubber. Schwantz gets it under control and makes the turn, but Rainey isn’t giving up and tries to stay on Schwantz’ left as they head to a left turn, but Schwantz has better drive coming out of the previous turn and gets in front of Rainey and stays there to the line.

Rainey offers a face-saving explanation: “… I thought I was pretty lucky that we beat Doohan there when he had a problem. That’s who I was racing for the championship.”^[1]

[edit] 500cc classification

Pos	Rider	Manufacturer	Time/Retired	Points
1	Kevin Schwantz	Suzuki	+36:20.491	20
2	Wayne Rainey	Yamaha	+0.016	17
3	Mick Doohan	Honda	+8.944	15
4	Eddie Lawson	Cagiva	+11.568	13
5	Wayne Gardner	Honda	+25.500	11
6	Didier de Radiguès	Suzuki	+1:00.264	10
7	Juan Garriga	Yamaha	+1:11.175	9
8	Adrien Morillas	Yamaha	+1:24.711	8
9	Doug Chandler	Yamaha	+1:41.466	7
10	Eddie Laycock	Yamaha	+1 Lap	6
11	Cees Doorakkers	Honda	+1 Lap	5
12	Michael Rudroff	Honda	+1 Lap	4
13	Hans Becker	Yamaha	+1 Lap	3
14	Damon Buckmaster	Suzuki	+1 Lap	2
Ret	John Kocinski	Yamaha	Retirement

[edit] References

1. ^ Scott, Michael: "Wayne Rainey", page 154. Haynes Publishing, 1997.

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