BEST BIKE GPs of the Decade | 1988 French Bike Grand Prix at Paul Ricard

Bike Grand Prix racing produces more thrills per minute than just about any other form of motorsport and the lead can change 10 or even 20 times as the top men drift, wheelie and battle to keep control of their monstrous machines.

“Best Bike GPs of the Decade” features some of the best action from the 1980s as chosen by the stars themselves! Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner, Randy Mamola, Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, Sito Pons, Dominique Sarron, Anton Mang and Ron Haslam choose their best races with often amusing comments.

The result is a truly great bike racing DVD with an entertainment factor for viewers of all ages which is simply 10 out of 10!

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https://www.dukevideo.com/prd1421/Best-Bike-GPs-of-the-Decade-DVD

In this clip from the programme, we take a look back at what was Wayne Gardner’s best race of the 1980s, the 1988 French GP at Paul Ricard, despite him not winning the race due to a cruel twist of fate on the final lap.

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#bikes #grandprix #1980s #motorcycle #twostroke #500cc #2t #worldchampionship #bikeracing

[Music] It was a sweltering summer’s day and a massive crowd of more than 60,000 filled the grand stands of the Paul Ricar circuit in the south of France. As usual, Randy Mimola was playing to the gallery. Son was in pole position for Yamaha, but Britain’s Neil McKenzie made a flying start from the second row aboard his Honda with Kevin Schwance right behind for Pepsi Suzuki. [Music] McKenzie, Schwans, Gardner with Rainey showing well up on the Lucky Strike Yamaha on the mile and a quarter long Mistral straight for the first time. And it’s Gardner, Schwans, McKenzie, Sel Rainey, and Kevin McGee. Championship leader Eddie Lawson’s back in eighth, and he’s in no mood to stay there. Already there’s a breakaway group of eight powering through the shimmering heat of the 3.61 mile circuit. Schwans and Sel side by side, the Yamaha and Suzuki neck andneck on speed, but Sel goes ahead. Back on the Mistral straight and no one wants to be ahead to give advantage to an opponent. Garders come through to lead. The Rothman’s Honda’s just as quick as the Yamaha and Suzuki. Lorson and the Malbury Yamaha are up to seventh. The lead is swapping all the time. Now it’s Surro out front from Gardner and Schwans, but only just. There’s a four-man breakaway at the front as local lad SL leads reigning champ Gardner and Schwant with Rainey bringing up the rear. Gardner has the most to gain from a win. He’s 20 points down on Lawson in the championship battle, but his rival has battled through to fifth place and he’s got the leaders in his sights. Gardner goes through to take it on again at the front, but he just can’t get clear of the trio on his tail. Lawson, meanwhile, has broken clear of McGee and is chasing hard. Things are looking set for a five-way battle when Lorson joins the crew at the front. It’s Gardner, Sarah, Schwansz, and Rainey. [Music] With the temperature soaring into the ‘ 90s, tires play a vital role. Sarah, Gardner, and Schwans are all on the Mitchellins while Rainey races Dunlops and begins to pay the penalty as he loses touch with the bunch. Almost immediately, his place is taken by Lawson, who’s fought through, gritting his teeth against the pain of a shoulder he dislocated just a week earlier. Lawson saw the title he won in ‘ 86 go to Gardner the following year, and he’s determined to get it back. It’ll all be decided on the Mistral in a good old-fashioned slipstreaming battle of the kind that’s becoming all too rare. And Lawson can smell success as he brilliantly shoots through to take second spot. Three different makes, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki battling it out in the race of the year. Each takes turns at the lead. Now it’s Sel Gardner, Norel, and Schwans, but things can change in a split second. X250cc champion Sel has high hopes of his second win in the 500 class. Gardner is the Mistral Pathfinder this time around, but Lawson uses all his racecraft to dive out of the draft a lead for the first time. The Australian isn’t having any of that though, and he dives up the inside to grab it back on the Rothman’s Honda. It’s heartstoppping stuff from the fearless Forsome, and it’s still anybody’s race. [Music] Then all of a sudden, Gardner finds some extra go and pulls clear while Lorson and a wheeling Sof fight it out for second as they begin the final lap. Gardner’s got it in the bag. He’s home and dry with just the rest of the straight and a couple of corners to go when disaster strikes. The Rothman’s Honda expires and Gardner’s frustration is there for all to see as he pulls off the racing line, punching the fuel tank in frustration. Lawson goes through to grab an unexpected victory from Sl and Schwans, while Gardner can only cruise across the line in fourth after all his valiant efforts have just gone to waste.