The SUMMER of HIGHSIDES
The 1990 500cc world championship was a pivotal season that ushered in a new era. ‘King’ Kenny Roberts established his Marlboro-bankrolled ‘Evil Empire’,
Wayne Rainey won his first world title, Mick Doohan won his first grand prix, Kevin Schwantz had his best season so far and reigning world champ Eddie Lawson, the man who had dominated the 1980s, didn’t win a single race.
The action at the front – Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and Wayne Gardner – was thrilling but while the 500 superheroes went about their business, the 500cc class came closer than ever to extinction. The 1990 season was the summer of the highside, a perfect storm created by precipitous power curves and tricky tyres, which kept the Clinica Mobile busier than ever.
Injured riders depleted what was already a half-empty grid: just 10 finishers at Laguna Seca, where the last man home was lapped three times by winner Rainey, and only nine finishers at Rijeka, where the last finisher took the flag four laps down. No wonder there were demands from on high that the 500s be axed in favour of something safer and cheaper, like TT F1 bikes or superbikes.
A PERFECT STORM CREATED BY PRECIPITOUS POWER CURVES AND TRICKY TYRES
THE 500 CRISIS
Replace them with four-strokes!
was the premier
