1990 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Sports season
Wayne Rainey (pictured at Laguna Seca) became the 500cc world champion John Kocinski (pictured at Suzuka) became the 250cc world champion
The 1990 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 42nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Season summary
1990 marked the beginning of the Rainey era with the Marlboro-Yamaha rider taking 7 wins and scoring points in every race but Hungary after he had already clinched the championship.[1] Rainey's teammate was 1989 champion Eddie Lawson, but he was unable to defend his championship after breaking his left ankle in the first round and then severely shattering his right ankle the following round at Laguna Seca. Rainey on having Lawson as a teammate: “I just wanted to devastate Eddie. I don’t think he was ready for a team-mate like me. Maybe he thought he could control me, but at that stage I was past being controlled.”[2] Rainey switched from Dunlop to Michelin tires this year.
Kevin Schwantz continued to win on his Suzuki but just as often he would crash.[1] Australian Mick Doohan would win his first Grand Prix for Honda at the Hungaroring.[1]
The 1990 season continued the trend of crashes as riders tried to cope with the harsh power output of the V4 two-strokes.[1] Honda put forth a proposition limiting the top class to 375cc and 3 cylinders, but that never caught on.[1] Still, with 500cc lap times becoming stagnant, it was clear that something needed to be done.[1]
Newcomer John Kocinski took the 250 title for Kenny Roberts' Marlboro-Yamaha squad after a tight points battle with Carlos Cardús that was not decided until the final race of the season.[1] Despite five Grand Prix victories for Hans Spaan, seventeen-year-old Loris Capirossi became the youngest-ever world champion when he claimed the 125 crown for Honda.[1]
1990 Grand Prix season calendar
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1990:[3][4]
Calendar changes
Participants
500cc participants
Team
|
Constructor
|
Motorcycle
|
No.
|
Rider
|
Rounds
|
Marlboro Team Roberts
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
1
|
Eddie Lawson
|
1, 8–15
|
2
|
Wayne Rainey
|
All
|
38
|
Peter Goddard
|
15
|
Gauloises Blondes Yamaha/Mobil 1
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
3
|
Christian Sarron
|
1–3, 5–6, 8–11, 13–15
|
14
|
Jean-Philippe Ruggia
|
All
|
Team Lucky Strike Suzuki
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RGV500
|
4
|
Kevin Magee
|
1–2
|
7
|
Niall Mackenzie
|
3–15
|
34
|
Kevin Schwantz
|
All
|
Team Suzuki
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RGV500
|
40
|
Satoshi Tsujimoto
|
1
|
La Cinq/ROC
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR500
|
5
|
Pierfrancesco Chili
|
1–8, 15
|
55
|
Marco Papa
|
4–15
|
55
|
Carl Fogarty
|
11–14
|
Campsa Banesto
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR500
|
6
|
Sito Pons
|
1–7, 13–15
|
Cagiva Corse
|
Cagiva
|
Cagiva C590
|
8
|
Ron Haslam
|
1–2, 6–14
|
18
|
Randy Mamola
|
1–2, 4–14
|
28
|
Alex Barros
|
1–14
|
Rothmans Honda
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR500
|
9
|
Mick Doohan
|
All
|
10
|
Wayne Gardner
|
1–4, 8–15
|
Ducados Yamaha Team
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
11
|
Joan Garriga
|
All
|
Yamaha Motor Company Motorsports
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
15
|
Norihiko Fujiwara
|
1, 8–9
|
Tech 21/Yamaha Motor Company
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
21
|
Tadahiko Taira
|
1, 15
|
??
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
17
|
Peter Lindén
|
4–5, 12
|
??
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
19
|
Hansjörg Butz
|
3, 5
|
RS Rallye Sport Team GmbH
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
20
|
Michael Rudroff
|
??
|
RS Rallye Sport
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
32 42
|
Alois Meyer
|
0 (5–6)
|
??
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
23
|
Esko Kuparinen
|
8, 12
|
Millar Racing
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
24
|
Eddie Laycock
|
3, 8–11, 13–15
|
Librenti Corse
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
25
|
Andy Leuthe
|
3–5, 11–14
|
FMS/N Schmassmann
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
26
|
Niggi Schmassman
|
2–5, 7–8
|
??
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
30
|
Martin Trösch
|
10, 13–14
|
Motoclub Perugia
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
31 37 38
|
Marco Papa
|
4–15
|
Shell
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
33 35 36 43
|
Karl Truchsess
|
6–10, 14
|
Ys Racing
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR500
|
35
|
Shunji Yatsushiro
|
0 (1)
|
Team Elit Paton
|
Paton
|
Paton V115 500
|
35 42 37
|
Vittorio Scatola
|
3–5, 7–10
|
Nescafé
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
36
|
Kunio Machii
|
1
|
Teera
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR500
|
37
|
Hikaru Miyagi
|
1
|
Schick Advantage
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RGV500
|
38
|
Osamu Hiwatashi
|
1
|
HRC/Pentax
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR500
|
39
|
Shinichi Ito
|
1
|
??
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
40
|
Michele Valdo
|
4
|
UCC
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
41
|
Shinji Katayama
|
1
|
HRK Motors
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
41 36
|
Cees Doorakkers
|
3–15
|
Camel
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
43
|
Keiji Ohishi
|
1
|
??
|
Chevallier-Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
43
|
Rachel Nicotte
|
10, 13–14
|
Meikoh
|
Honda
|
Honda RS500
|
44
|
Kenmei Matsumoto
|
0 (1)
|
??
|
??
|
??
|
??
|
Vincenzo Cascino
|
??
|
??
|
PRP
|
??
|
??
|
Greg Drew
|
0 (15)
|
??
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR500
|
??
|
Craig Harwood
|
0 (15)
|
??
|
Suzuki
|
Suzuki RGV500
|
??
|
Scott Mitchell
|
0 (15)
|
Source: [5]
|
|
Key
|
Regular Rider
|
Wildcard Rider
|
Replacement Rider
|
|
250cc participants
Team
|
Constructor
|
Motorcycle
|
No.
|
Rider
|
Rounds
|
HB Honda Team
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
2
|
Reinhold Roth
|
1–2, 4–7
|
9
|
Helmut Bradl
|
1–7, 11–15
|
16
|
Jochen Schmid
|
All
|
41
|
Bernd Kassner
|
14
|
Team Lucky Strike Elf
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
3
|
Jacques Cornu
|
1, 6–15
|
16
|
Jochen Schmid
|
All
|
Repsol Honda
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
4
|
Carlos Cardús
|
All
|
Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR 250
|
5
|
Luca Cadalora
|
All
|
28
|
Àlex Crivillé
|
2–15
|
Ajinomoto Honda/HRC
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
6
|
Masahiro Shimizu
|
All
|
Castrol Mortimer Racing
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
7
|
Niall Mackenzie
|
1–2
|
Rothmans Honda
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
8
|
Dominique Sarron
|
1–4, 6, 10–15
|
34 39 35
|
Andy Preining
|
1–4, 6–15
|
Hein Gericke Racing Team
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
10
|
Martin Wimmer
|
2–15
|
HB Gallina Aprilia Team
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
11
|
Loris Reggiani
|
All
|
Honda Britain
|
Honda
|
Honda RS250R
|
12
|
Alan Carter
|
1–2, 10–11
|
Sharp-Samson Racing Team
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
14
|
Alan Carter
|
1–6, 8–15
|
UCC
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR 250
|
15
|
Toshihiko Honma
|
1
|
Team AGV HB
|
Honda
|
Honda RS250R
|
16
|
Jochen Schmid
|
All
|
Team Greco
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
17
|
Carlos Lavado
|
1–10
|
29
|
Renzo Colleoni
|
2–15
|
Marlboro Team Roberts
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha YZR 250
|
19
|
John Kocinski
|
All
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
97
|
Rich Oliver
|
2
|
AMS Racing Team
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
20
|
Andrea Borgonovo
|
1–12
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia-Rotax
|
Aprilia AF1
|
21
|
Marcellino Lucchi
|
3–11, 13–15
|
GP Trade & Promotion
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
22
|
Erich Neumair
|
1–8, 10–14
|
Gauloises Blondes
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
23
|
Adrien Morillas
|
3–14
|
??
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
26
|
Tadayuki Okada
|
1
|
Iberna/Team Motoracing
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
27
|
Didier de Radiguès
|
1, 3–15
|
Venemotos Racing Team
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
30
|
José Barresi
|
1, 3–14
|
Ducados Yamaha Puig
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250 Yamaha YZR 250
|
31
|
Alberto Puig
|
6–13
|
JF Aprilia - Kuhnert
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
32
|
Harald Eckl
|
1–2, 4–14
|
ÖKM/SK Vöst
|
Aprilia-Rotax
|
Aprilia AF1
|
34 39 35
|
Andy Preining
|
1–4, 6–15
|
Moto Club Bergamo
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
34 45
|
Alberto Rota
|
3–7, 10–12
|
Plaisir Vitesse International
|
Various
|
Various
|
35 47
|
Rachel Nicotte
|
10, 13–14
|
Team St Yrian Motos
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
36 41
|
Jean Foray
|
3–11, 13–14
|
Team Italia
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
37
|
Corrado Catalano
|
3–4, 7–10, 13
|
Marlboro Aprilia Team Elf
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
38 39
|
Bernard Haenggeli
|
2–15
|
HRC
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
38
|
Daryl Beattie
|
15
|
D Gallacher/B & M Motorcycles
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
39 40 36
|
Kevin Mitchell
|
1, 3, 5–13
|
Swiss Yamaha Team
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
39 33
|
Urs Jücker
|
2–15
|
HB Team Racing
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250 Yamaha YZR 250
|
40
|
Bernd Kassner
|
4–11
|
??
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
44
|
Tetsuya Harada
|
1
|
Romero Racing Team
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
45 34
|
Hans Becker
|
2, 5–11, 13
|
Cup Noodle Racing Team
|
Honda
|
Honda NSR250
|
47
|
Nobuatsu Aoki
|
1
|
Moto Club Crostolo
|
Yamaha
|
Yamaha TZ 250
|
48 42
|
Paolo Casoli
|
3–14
|
Fior Racing
|
Aprilia-Fior
|
Aprilia AF1
|
49 44
|
Alain Bronec
|
3–4, 7–10
|
Ducados JJ Cobas
|
JJ Cobas-Rotax
|
??
|
55
|
Jorge Martínez
|
1–6, 8–15
|
Source: [6]
|
|
Key
|
Regular Rider
|
Wildcard Rider
|
Replacement Rider
|
|
125cc participants
Team
|
Constructor
|
Motorcycle
|
No.
|
Rider
|
Rounds
|
Sharp-Samson Racing Team
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
2
|
Hans Spaan
|
1, 3–14
|
Nacional Moto SA - Derbi
|
Derbi
|
Aprilia AF1
|
3
|
Ezio Gianola
|
1
|
38
|
Luis Alvaro
|
??
|
Team Unemoto
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
4
|
Hisashi Unemoto
|
1, 3–6, 8–15
|
AGV Pileri Corse
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
5
|
Fausto Gresini
|
1, 3–4, 6–15
|
65 48 67 75 47 59
|
Loris Capirossi
|
1, 3–15
|
Team Takeshima
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
6
|
Koji Takada
|
1, 3–4, 15
|
68 67
|
Kinya Wada
|
1, 10–15
|
Lanson Honda Racing
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
7
|
Stefan Prein
|
1, 3–15
|
Coronas Racing Team
|
JJ Cobas
|
??
|
8
|
Julián Miralles
|
1, 3–15
|
Allan Scott Racing
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
10 9
|
Allan Scott
|
1, 3, 6–7, 11–12, 14–15
|
Garelli
|
Garelli
|
Garelli 125 GP
|
10 9
|
Allan Scott
|
1, 3, 6–7, 11–12, 14–15
|
14
|
Luis Miguel Reyes
|
10–13
|
RS Rallye Sport Racing Team
|
Cobas-Rotax
|
Rotax 125 GP
|
11
|
Adi Stadler
|
1, 3–13
|
24
|
Peter Öttl
|
6, 8–9, 13
|
Robin Milton
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
12
|
Robin Milton
|
1, 3–4, 6–13, 15
|
AMC Biberach/Riss e.V im ADAC
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
16
|
Dirk Raudies
|
1, 3–15
|
Gerstmann Racing
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
17
|
Alfred Waibel
|
3–15
|
Team Rumi
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
18
|
Taru Rinne
|
1, 8, 13–15
|
Moto Club Crostolo
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
20
|
Doriano Romboni
|
3–15
|
Marlboro Aprilia Team Dörflinger
|
Aprilia-Cobas
|
Aprilia AF1
|
21
|
Stefan Dörflinger
|
1, 3, 5–6, 9, 13–14
|
Cepsa
|
JJ Cobas TB
|
??
|
22
|
Manuel Herreros
|
1, 4–14
|
Semprucci/Club del Motore-Forli
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
23
|
Bruno Casanova
|
3–11, 13–15
|
Repsol Honda
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
25
|
Herri Torrontégui
|
3, 5–6, 10–14
|
Antonio Sánchez Ballesteros
|
JJ Cobas TB
|
??
|
29
|
Antonio Sánchez
|
3, 6, 8–12, 14
|
Viplex Plastics Holland
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
30
|
Hans Koopman
|
3–14
|
Schuh Racing Team
|
Cobas-Rotax
|
Rotax 125 GP
|
31
|
Ralf Waldmann
|
3–15
|
José Saez Calabuig
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
32
|
José Saez
|
3–4
|
Timspeed Casal
|
Various
|
Various
|
33
|
Jaime Mariano
|
5, 8–12
|
Ringelberg Team
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
34
|
Jos van Dongen
|
3–5, 7, 9, 14
|
Stefan Kurfiss
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
36
|
Stefan Kurfiss
|
3–11, 14–15
|
Team Italia
|
Aprilia
|
Aprilia AF1
|
37
|
Gabriele Debbia
|
4–15
|
39
|
Alessandro Gramigni
|
3–15
|
Team Driza Bone
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
40
|
Peter Galvin
|
1, 5, 7–9, 12, 14–15
|
Thomas Moller Pedersen
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
42
|
Flemming Kistrup
|
3–6, 8–14
|
Colin Appleyard Ltd
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
43 47
|
Robin Appleyard
|
1, 3–15
|
BP Racing Team Switzerland
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
45
|
Thierry Feuz
|
1, 3–7, 9, 13
|
Silja Line
|
Honda/Cobas
|
Honda RS125R
|
46
|
Johnny Wickström
|
1, 3–15
|
Hervé Duffard
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
49 62
|
Hervé Duffard
|
3–5, 10–11, 13
|
Derek Clarke Racing Team
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
50 54 63
|
Steve Patrickson
|
1, 3–5, 7–8, 11–15
|
Stuart Edwards
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
51 52 64
|
Stuart Edwards
|
1, 5, 8–10
|
Gazzaniga Corse
|
Gazzaniga
|
Gazzaniga 125
|
52 51 59
|
Maurizio Vitali
|
1, 3–15
|
Mori Sport Laverda
|
Various
|
Various
|
53 57
|
Stefan Brägger
|
12–15
|
Team Lucky Strike Elf
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
54 64 66
|
Heinz Lüthi
|
3–15
|
Ducados JJ Cobas
|
JJ Cobas-Rotax
|
Rotax 125 GP
|
55
|
Jorge Martínez
|
1, 3–15
|
Digitec
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
56 65 49
|
Bady Hassaine
|
1, 5–7, 9–10, 14
|
Team Honda Liqor 43
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
57 63 43 55
|
Manuel Hernández
|
1, 3–12, 14–15
|
EMCO Sports Team
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
60 48
|
Mike Leitner
|
3–8, 10–13
|
Hubert Abold
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
61 53
|
Hubert Abold
|
3–10, 12, 14–15
|
T. C. Winchester Racing Team
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
61
|
Emilio Cuppini
|
4–6
|
Moto Club Biccirelli
|
Honda
|
Honda RS125R
|
66
|
Emilio Cuppini
|
8–14
|
Source: [7]
|
|
Key
|
Regular Rider
|
Wildcard Rider
|
Replacement Rider
|
|
Results and standings
Grands Prix
500cc riders' standings
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.[8]
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
|
[9]
|
Colour |
Result
|
Gold |
Winner
|
Silver |
Second place
|
Bronze |
Third place
|
Green |
Points finish
|
Blue |
Non-points finish
|
Non-classified finish (NC)
|
Purple |
Retired (Ret)
|
Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ)
|
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
|
Black |
Disqualified (DSQ)
|
White |
Did not start (DNS)
|
Withdrew (WD)
|
Race cancelled (C)
|
Blank
|
Did not practice (DNP)
|
Did not arrive (DNA)
|
Excluded (EX)
|
Bold – Pole Position
|
250cc standings
[10]
125cc standings
[11]
References
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