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
|
peter rubatto
|
1-4, 7-10
|
Template:GBR BP Harris Racing Team [?]
|
Yamaha FZR750R OW01
|
78
|
Template:GBR marty bethridge
|
All
|
56
|
tadahiko taira
|
All
|
Lucky Strike Fior [?]
|
Bimota YB4
|
1
|
Giancarlo Falappa
|
1-6, 9-12
|
Bimota Corse [?]
|
Bimota Tesi 1/d
|
2
|
Davide Tardozzi
|
ALL
|
4
|
Template:FRA Alex Vieira
|
All
|
Yoshimura Suzuki [?]
|
Suzuki GSX-R 750
|
23
|
Template:USA Doug Polen
|
All
|
14
|
Template:USA Scott Russell
|
All
|
Flor Bath Honda [?]
|
Honda VFR750R 89
|
81
|
Marina Knezovic
|
All
|
32
|
Zoè Ferrer
|
all
|
Team Rumi RCM [?]
|
Honda VFR750R 90
|
12
|
Template:USA Fred Merkel
|
All
|
5
|
Template:USA Freddie Spencer
|
ALL
|
Squadra Lucchinelli Corse [?]
|
Ducati 851 Strada 89
|
78
|
Baldassarre Monti
|
All
|
/Template:FRA Petronas Tech 3 Racing Group [?]
|
Yamaha FZR750 OW01
|
55
|
Template:FRA Dominique Sarron
|
All
|
Uponor Pennanen Racing [?]
|
Suzuki GSX-R750
|
11
|
Jari Suhonen
|
All
|
Template:AUS Michael Dowson
|
All
|
Template:SUI Römer Racing [?]
|
Yamaha FZR-750 OW01
|
24
|
Template:SUI Andreas Hoffman
|
4, 7-9
|
83
|
Gianluigi Spinelli
|
9
|
Fast by Ferracci [?]
|
Ducati 851 Strada 90
|
21
|
Template:FRA Raymond Roche
|
All
|
6
|
Fabrizio Pirovano
|
All
|
Template:AUS Hardwick Racing [?]
|
Kawasaki ZXR-750
|
19
|
Template:AUS Peter Goddard
|
All
|
111
|
Aaron Slight
|
All
|
Template:USA Rob Muzzy Racing [?]
|
Kawasaki ZXR-750
|
8
|
Template:USA Doug Chandler
|
All
|
10
|
Template:GBR Carl Fogarty
|
All
|
Moriwaki Engineering [?]
|
Honda VFR750R 90
|
15
|
Template:BEL Stéphane Mertens
|
All
|
All
|
40
|
Shinichi Itoh
|
All
|
Template:GBR Crighton Engineering [?]
|
Template:GBR Norton RCW588
|
27
|
Template:GBR Rob McElnea
|
All
|
62
|
Template:GBR Darren Dixon
|
All
|
Template:GBR Neil Thruxton Racing [?]
|
Honda VFR750R 89
|
69
|
Template:GBR Terry Rymer
|
1-4, 7-10
|
98
|
Rui Coelho
|
1-4, 7-10
|
Scuderia Broccoli [?]
|
Ducati 851 88
|
54
|
Massimo Broccoli
|
Template:FRA Équipe Bolle [?]
|
Yamaha FZR-750 OW01
|
32
|
Template:FRA Pierre Bolle
|
1-2, 4, 8-10
|
Template:BEL Team Wanty[?]
|
Honda VFR750R 889
|
67
|
Template:BEL René Delaby
|
2, 4, 7-9
|
Template:USAVance and Hines Racing[?]
|
Honda VFR750R 88
|
90
|
Miguel Duhamel
|
5-6
|
40
|
Template:USA Dale Quarterly
|
5
|
Jacuqes Guénette
|
6
|
Calendar
Championship Grands Prix
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 Template:GBR
|
HUN
|
GER
|
AUT Template:AUT
|
CAN
|
USA Template:USA
|
ITA
|
FRA Template:FRA
|
ESP
|
POR
|
JPN
|
AUS Template: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
|
Template:FRA Raymond Roche
|
Ducati
|
3 |
4
|
2 |
4
|
2 |
3
|
1 |
1
|
1 |
Ret
|
Ret |
1
|
2 |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
202
|
2
|
Davide Tardozzi
|
Bimota
|
4 |
Ret
|
3 |
2
|
3 |
2
|
4 |
2
|
3 |
1
|
1 |
3
|
10 |
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
193
|
3
|
Template:USA Fred Merkel
|
Honda
|
9 |
8
|
1 |
1
|
1 |
1
|
8 |
3
|
5 |
Ret
|
5 |
5
|
1 |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
191
|
4
|
Template:GBR Carl Fogarty
|
Honda
|
1 |
1
|
Ret |
3
|
5 |
4
|
2 |
Ret
|
2 |
6
|
3 |
2
|
4 |
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
173
|
5
|
Template:USA Doug Chandler
|
Kawasaki
|
10 |
5
|
5 |
5
|
6 |
7
|
6 |
4
|
8 |
5
|
11 |
7
|
3 |
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
142
|
6
|
Fabrizio Pirovano
|
Kawasaki
|
11 |
2
|
7 |
6
|
4 |
6
|
5 |
4
|
10 |
Ret
|
4 |
Ret
|
7 |
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
124
|
7
|
Template:FRA Alex Vieira
|
Bimota
|
2 |
6
|
9 |
9
|
Ret |
10
|
Ret |
Ret
|
6 |
2
|
2 |
6
|
Ret |
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
116
|
8
|
Template:BEL Stéphane Mertens
|
Ducati
|
14 |
13
|
6 |
11
|
8 |
8
|
3 |
Ret
|
Ret |
3
|
9 |
4
|
6 |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
113
|
9
|
Template:USA Doug Polen
|
Suzuki
|
Ret |
3
|
4 |
8
|
7 |
5
|
7 |
Ret
|
Ret |
8
|
7 |
Ret
|
5 |
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101
|
10
|
Template:GBR Rob McElnea
|
Suzuki
|
5 |
10
|
8 |
10
|
9 |
9
|
18 |
7
|
4 |
Ret
|
10 |
8
|
9 |
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96
|
11
|
Template:FRA Dominique Sarron
|
Yamaha
|
8 |
7
|
Ret |
15
|
10 |
15
|
11 |
10
|
15 |
4
|
6 |
10
|
12 |
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
12
|
Template:GBR Roger Burnett
|
Yamaha
|
15 |
9
|
11 |
7
|
20 |
24
|
14 |
6
|
12 |
11
|
17 |
9
|
8 |
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60
|
13
|
Template:GBR Darren Dixon
|
Norton
|
12 |
18
|
10 |
22
|
12 |
23
|
15 |
12
|
9 |
7
|
11 |
12
|
17 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
14
|
Template:USA Bubba Shobert
|
Honda
|
7 |
Ret
|
23 |
13
|
14 |
13
|
17 |
9
|
7 |
Ret
|
8 |
Ret
|
15 |
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
15
|
Template:AUS Malcolm Campbell
|
Yamaha
|
16 |
Ret
|
Ret |
12
|
21 |
26
|
10 |
13
|
13 |
10
|
13 |
13
|
13 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31
|
16
|
Shinichi Itoh
|
Honda
|
25 |
23
|
12 |
20
|
Ret |
14
|
9 |
8
|
16 |
9
|
Ret |
14
|
Ret |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30
|
17
|
Anders Andersson
|
Kawasaki
|
6 |
20
|
14 |
16
|
19 |
17
|
28 |
5
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29
|
18
|
Template:GBR Terry Rymer
|
Norton
|
19 |
Ret
|
18 |
14
|
11 |
11
|
13 |
17
|
Ret |
14
|
Ret |
Ret
|
11 |
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
19
|
Giancarlo Falappa
|
Bimota
|
13 |
14
|
Ret |
23
|
13 |
12
|
16 |
11
|
17 |
19
|
Ret |
Ret
|
INJ |
INJ
|
INJ |
INJ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
20
|
Aaron Slight
|
Yamaha
|
21 |
26
|
16 |
17
|
15 |
16
|
27 |
14
|
11 |
13
|
18 |
11
|
18 |
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
21
|
Template:GBR Kevin Mitchell
|
Yamaha
|
Ret |
11
|
Ret |
25
|
16 |
22
|
12 |
21
|
14 |
16
|
14 |
15
|
16 |
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
22
|
Fabio Bilotti
|
Ducati
|
17 |
12
|
13 |
27
|
29 |
21
|
25 |
16
|
Ret |
17
|
24 |
26
|
22 |
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
23
|
Baldassarre Monti
|
Bimota
|
24 |
15
|
15 |
18
|
17 |
18
|
31 |
18
|
25 |
12
|
16 |
22
|
21 |
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
24
|
Violetta Cacciatori
|
Honda
|
23 |
Ret
|
30 |
32
|
22 |
29
|
33 |
Ret
|
19 |
Ret
|
15 |
16
|
24 |
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
25
|
Cees Dorakkers
|
Ducati
|
28 |
24
|
20 |
29
|
27 |
30
|
26 |
22
|
18 |
15
|
20 |
24
|
29 |
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
26
|
Template:GBR Paul Iddon
|
Kawasaki
|
30 |
22
|
19 |
19
|
23 |
28
|
21 |
15
|
24 |
24
|
Ret |
19
|
28 |
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
27
|
Michael Galinski
|
Kawasaki
|
Ret |
19
|
28 |
24
|
24 |
19
|
30 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
20 |
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
28
|
Massimo Broccoli
|
Ducati
|
26 |
16
|
17 |
26
|
26 |
25
|
20 |
20
|
21 |
18
|
23 |
25
|
26 |
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
29
|
Zoè Ferrer
|
Honda
|
Ret |
17
|
21 |
21
|
28 |
27
|
23 |
19
|
22 |
20
|
Ret |
20
|
25 |
17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
30
|
Jari Suhonen
|
Suzuki
|
20 |
21
|
25 |
Ret
|
30 |
31
|
24 |
24
|
23 |
21
|
Ret |
17
|
Ret |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
31
|
Template:BEL Rene Delaby
|
Honda
|
18 |
25
|
26 |
Ret
|
31 |
20
|
32 |
27
|
27 |
23
|
21 |
18
|
27 |
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
32
|
Template:FRA Pierre Bolle
|
Bimota
|
22 |
Ret
|
22 |
Ret
|
18 |
33
|
19 |
23
|
20 |
25
|
19 |
27
|
23 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
33
|
Marco Brambilla
|
Bimota
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19 |
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
34
|
Template:SUI Nicholas Schmassmann
|
Bimota
|
31 |
28
|
24 |
30
|
32 |
Ret
|
22 |
26
|
Ret |
26
|
25 |
21
|
Ret |
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
35
|
Template:GBR Andy McGladdery
|
Bimota
|
27 |
27
|
27 |
28
|
25 |
32
|
29 |
25
|
26 |
22
|
Ret |
Ret
|
Ret |
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
36
|
Karel Vandroogenbroeck
|
Ducati
|
29 |
29
|
29 |
31
|
Ret |
34
|
34 |
Ret
|
28 |
27
|
22 |
23
|
Ret |
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|