1989 World Superbike Championship season
|
|
The 1989 season was the Second season of the World Superbike Championship
|
Season
|
Races
|
|
Start date
|
1st-2nd April 1989
|
Start Event
|
Round of Britain
|
End date
|
11th-12th September 1989
|
End Event
|
Round of Australia
|
Awards
|
Driver's Champion
|
TBD
|
Constructor's Champion
|
TBD
|
Seasons
|
Previous season
|
Next season
|
1988
|
1990
|
The 1989 World Superbike Championship season was the second season of the World Superbike Championship, the highest level of FIM-Sanctioned, Highly modified production Motorcycle racing.
The inaugural World Superbike champion, Australian Mick Doohan, left the series to join Honda Racing Corporation's factory team in the 500cc World Championship, meaning a new champion will be crowned. The biggest news of the offseason sees British manufacturer Norton enter the series for the first time, using their Groundbreaking, Wankel Rotary-engined RCW588, with the FIM granting an exception for the Birmingham outfit, allowing them to use the engine.
They weren't the only new bike on the 1989 grid, however: Japanese brand Kawasaki will enter its radical ZXR-750, replacing the GPX750R used in 1988. Finally, all other manufacturers from 1988 came back with updates to their current models, with Yamaha, unsatisfied with their less than ideal 1988 season, equipping their FZR750R with a new engine rumoured to be among the most powerful on the grid. 1988 manufacturers champions Bimota, eager to defend their title, will equip their bikes with the new Yamaha powerplant.
Teams and riders
All teams and riders used Michelin tyres
Team
|
Bike
|
#
|
Rider
|
Rounds
|
Team Green Kawasaki Deutschland [?]
|
Kawasaki ZXR-750
|
20
|
Anders Andersson
|
1-4, 7-10
|
28
|
Michael Galinski
|
1-4, 7-10
|
BP Harris Racing Team [?]
|
Yamaha FZR750R OW01
|
78
|
Roger Burnett
|
All
|
56
|
Kevin Mitchell
|
All
|
Lucky Strike Fior [?]
|
Bimota YB4 88
|
1
|
Giancarlo Falappa
|
1-6, 9-12
|
Marco Brambilla
|
7-8
|
21
|
Baldassarre Monti
|
All
|
Bimota Corse [?]
|
Bimota YB4 89
|
2
|
Davide Tardozzi
|
ALL
|
4
|
Alex Vieira
|
All
|
Yoshimura Suzuki [?]
|
Suzuki GSX-R 750 89
|
23
|
Doug Polen
|
All
|
14
|
Rob McElnea
|
All
|
Flor Bath Honda [?]
|
Honda VFR750R 88
|
81
|
Violetta Cacciatori
|
All
|
32
|
Zoè Ferrer
|
All
|
Team Rumi RCM [?]
|
Honda VFR750R 89
|
12
|
Fred Merkel
|
All
|
5
|
Carl Fogarty
|
ALL
|
De Kruiser De Ruyter [?]
|
Ducati 851 Strada 88
|
78
|
Karel Vandroogenbroeck
|
All
|
99
|
Cees Dorakkers
|
All
|
/ Petronas Tech 3 Racing Group [?]
|
Yamaha FZR750 OW01
|
55
|
Dominique Sarron
|
All
|
Uponor Pennanen Racing [?]
|
Suzuki GSX-R750 88
|
11
|
Jari Suhonen
|
All
|
Römer Racing [?]
|
Bimota YB4 88
|
24
|
Nicholas Schmassmann
|
All
|
83
|
Andy McGladdery
|
All
|
Fast by Ferracci [?]
|
Ducati 851 Strada 89
|
21
|
Raymond Roche
|
All
|
6
|
Stéphane Mertens
|
All
|
Hardwick Racing [?]
|
Yamaha FZR750 OW01
|
19
|
Malcolm Campbell
|
All
|
111
|
Aaron Slight
|
All
|
Rob Muzzy Racing [?]
|
Kawasaki ZXR-750
|
8
|
Doug Chandler
|
All
|
10
|
Fabrizio Pirovano
|
All
|
Moriwaki Engineering [?]
|
Honda VFR750R 89
|
15
|
Bubba Shobert
|
All
|
40
|
Shinichi Itoh
|
All
|
Crighton Engineering [?]
|
Norton RCW588
|
27
|
Terry Rymer
|
All
|
62
|
Darren Dixon
|
All
|
BP Juniors [?]
|
Kawasaki GPX-R750
|
69
|
Paul Iddon
|
All
|
Calendar
Championship Grands Prix
|
Event
|
Track
|
Date
|
Race
|
Pole position
|
Fastest lap
|
Winning rider
|
Team
|
Manufacturer
|
1
|
Round of Donington
|
Donington Park
|
1-2 April
|
1
|
Alex Vieira
|
Raymond Roche
|
Carl Fogarty
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
2
|
Raymond Roche
|
Carl Fogarty
|
Carl Fogarty
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
2
|
Round of Hungary
|
Hungaroring
|
29-30 April
|
3
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
4
|
Fred Merkel
|
Doug Chandler
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
3
|
Round of Germany
|
Hockenheimring
|
7-8 May
|
5
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
6
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
4
|
Round of Austria
|
Österreichring
|
13-14 May
|
7
|
Alex Vieira
|
Raymond Roche
|
Raymond Roche
|
Fast by Ferracci
|
Ducati
|
8
|
Raymond Roche
|
Raymond Roche
|
Raymond Roche
|
Fast by Ferracci
|
Ducati
|
5
|
Round of Canada
|
Mosport Park
|
3-4 June
|
9
|
Raymond Roche
|
Raymond Roche
|
Raymond Roche
|
Fast by Ferracci
|
Ducati
|
10
|
Davide Tardozzi
|
Stéphane Mertens
|
Davide Tardozzi
|
Bimota Corse
|
Bimota
|
6
|
Round of America
|
Road America
|
17-18 June
|
11
|
Raymond Roche
|
Alex Vieira
|
Davide Tardozzi
|
Bimota Corse
|
Bimota
|
12
|
Fabrizio Pirovano
|
Raymond Roche
|
Raymond Roche
|
Fast by Ferracci
|
Ducati
|
7
|
Round of Italy
|
Imola
|
1-2 July
|
13
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
14
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
8
|
Round of France
|
Paul Ricard
|
22-23 July
|
15
|
Fred Merkel
|
Raymond Roche
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
16
|
Raymond Roche
|
Fred Merkel
|
Fred Merkel
|
Team Rumi RCM
|
Honda
|
9
|
Round of Spain
|
Jarama
|
29-30 July
|
17
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
18
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
10
|
Round of Portugal
|
Estoril
|
5-6 August
|
19
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
20
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
11
|
Round of Japan
|
Sugo
|
26-27 August
|
21
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
22
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
12
|
Round of Australia
|
Oran Park
|
9-10 September
|
23
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
24
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
Standings
Riders' Championship
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
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Manufacturer
|
GBR
|
HUN
|
GER
|
AUT
|
CAN
|
USA
|
ITA
|
FRA
|
ESP
|
POR
|
JPN
|
AUS
|
Pts
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
Davide Tardozzi
|
Bimota
|
4 |
Ret
|
3 |
2
|
3 |
2
|
4 |
2
|
3 |
1
|
1 |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177
|
2
|
Raymond Roche
|
Ducati
|
3 |
4
|
2 |
4
|
2 |
3
|
1 |
1
|
1 |
Ret
|
Ret |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
170
|
3
|
Carl Fogarty
|
Honda
|
1 |
1
|
Ret |
3
|
5 |
4
|
2 |
Ret
|
2 |
6
|
3 |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
155
|
4
|
Fred Merkel
|
Honda
|
9 |
8
|
1 |
1
|
1 |
1
|
8 |
3
|
5 |
Ret
|
5 |
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
151
|
5
|
Doug Chandler
|
Kawasaki
|
10 |
5
|
5 |
5
|
6 |
7
|
6 |
4
|
8 |
5
|
11 |
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
114
|
6
|
Alex Vieira
|
Bimota
|
2 |
6
|
9 |
9
|
Ret |
10
|
Ret |
Ret
|
6 |
2
|
2 |
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
107
|
7
|
Fabrizio Pirovano
|
Kawasaki
|
11 |
2
|
7 |
6
|
4 |
6
|
5 |
4
|
10 |
Ret
|
4 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
106
|
8
|
Stéphane Mertens
|
Ducati
|
14 |
13
|
6 |
11
|
8 |
8
|
3 |
Ret
|
Ret |
3
|
9 |
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
86
|
9
|
Rob McElnea
|
Suzuki
|
5 |
10
|
8 |
10
|
9 |
9
|
18 |
7
|
4 |
Ret
|
10 |
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
81
|
10
|
Doug Polen
|
Suzuki
|
Ret |
3
|
4 |
8
|
7 |
5
|
7 |
Ret
|
Ret |
8
|
7 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
79
|
11
|
Dominique Sarron
|
Yamaha
|
8 |
7
|
Ret |
15
|
10 |
15
|
11 |
10
|
15 |
4
|
6 |
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66
|
12
|
Roger Burnett
|
Yamaha
|
15 |
9
|
11 |
7
|
20 |
24
|
14 |
6
|
12 |
11
|
17 |
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
13
|
Darren Dixon
|
Norton
|
12 |
18
|
10 |
22
|
12 |
23
|
15 |
12
|
9 |
7
|
11 |
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
14
|
Bubba Shobert
|
Honda
|
7 |
Ret
|
23 |
13
|
14 |
13
|
17 |
9
|
7 |
Ret
|
8 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41
|
15
|
Shinichi Itoh
|
Honda
|
25 |
23
|
12 |
20
|
Ret |
14
|
9 |
8
|
16 |
9
|
Ret |
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30
|
16
|
Malcolm Campbell
|
Yamaha
|
16 |
Ret
|
Ret |
12
|
21 |
26
|
10 |
13
|
13 |
10
|
13 |
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
17
|
Anders Andersson
|
Kawasaki
|
6 |
20
|
14 |
16
|
19 |
17
|
28 |
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
18
|
Terry Rymer
|
Norton
|
19 |
Ret
|
18 |
14
|
11 |
11
|
13 |
17
|
Ret |
14
|
Ret |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
19
|
Giancarlo Falappa
|
Bimota
|
13 |
14
|
Ret |
23
|
13 |
12
|
16 |
11
|
17 |
19
|
Ret |
Ret
|
DNS |
DNS
|
DNS |
DNS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
20
|
Aaron Slight
|
Yamaha
|
21 |
26
|
16 |
17
|
15 |
16
|
27 |
14
|
11 |
13
|
18 |
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
21
|
Kevin Mitchell
|
Yamaha
|
Ret |
11
|
Ret |
25
|
16 |
22
|
12 |
21
|
14 |
16
|
14 |
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
22
|
Fabio Bilotti
|
Ducati
|
17 |
12
|
13 |
27
|
29 |
21
|
25 |
16
|
Ret |
17
|
24 |
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
23
|
Baldassarre Monti
|
Bimota
|
24 |
15
|
15 |
18
|
17 |
18
|
31 |
18
|
25 |
12
|
16 |
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
24
|
Violetta Cacciatori
|
Honda
|
23 |
Ret
|
30 |
32
|
22 |
29
|
33 |
Ret
|
19 |
Ret
|
15 |
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
25
|
Cees Dorakkers
|
Ducati
|
28 |
24
|
20 |
29
|
27 |
30
|
26 |
22
|
18 |
15
|
20 |
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
26
|
Paul Iddon
|
Kawasaki
|
30 |
22
|
19 |
19
|
23 |
28
|
21 |
15
|
24 |
24
|
Ret |
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
27
|
Massimo Broccoli
|
Ducati
|
26 |
16
|
17 |
26
|
26 |
25
|
20 |
20
|
21 |
18
|
23 |
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
28
|
Zoè Ferrer
|
Honda
|
Ret |
17
|
21 |
21
|
28 |
27
|
23 |
19
|
22 |
20
|
Ret |
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
29
|
Jari Suhonen
|
Suzuki
|
20 |
21
|
25 |
Ret
|
30 |
31
|
24 |
24
|
23 |
21
|
Ret |
17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
30
|
Rene Delaby
|
Honda
|
18 |
25
|
26 |
Ret
|
31 |
20
|
32 |
27
|
27 |
23
|
21 |
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
31
|
Pierre Bolle
|
Bimota
|
22 |
Ret
|
22 |
Ret
|
18 |
33
|
19 |
23
|
20 |
25
|
19 |
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
32
|
Michael Galinski
|
Kawasaki
|
Ret |
19
|
28 |
24
|
24 |
19
|
30 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
33
|
Nicholas Schmassmann
|
Bimota
|
31 |
28
|
24 |
30
|
32 |
Ret
|
22 |
26
|
Ret |
26
|
25 |
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
34
|
Karel Vandroogenbroeck
|
Ducati
|
29 |
29
|
29 |
31
|
Ret |
34
|
34 |
Ret
|
28 |
27
|
22 |
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
35
|
Andy McGladdery
|
Bimota
|
27 |
27
|
27 |
28
|
25 |
32
|
29 |
25
|
26 |
22
|
Ret |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|