I'm SO pleased that Pete pointed out that these classic races are being screened on ESPN, I managed to bag a recording of one of my favorite gp's of all time -Suzuka '94
which means I don't have to rely on the highlights on the season video anymore and have to retrieve from the attic the ancient VHS recorder whenever I want to show it to someone.
So far as I'm concerned this race is legendary and probably my favorite GP of all time. Cadalora broke away early by virtue of the most blatant jump starts I have ever seen, but he was soon closed down and overhauled by the furious and frenetic pace of Schwantz, Doohan and one lunatic wild card in the shape of Norifumi Abe.
This has got to be one of the most infamous and spectacular wild card debuts in motorcycling history. Forget the WSB revelation that was Haga on the YZF Doni in '99, I have never seen a new rider rise to the occasion more consummately and convincingly put themselves in the shop window. This ride secured Norick's ride for KRsnr the following year and his subsequent decade gp career with Yamaha later Rainey, and culminating at Dantin (with respect to which he unquestionably deserved better). I remember watching this race and was aghast, instantly becoming a Norick devotee. Also watching this was a young erstwhile kid in Urbino, who used to replay the video endlessly after school..later to christen himself Rossifumi in honour of his early hero.
Norick was breathtaking that day on inferior machinery - not many people can say they rode around the outside of Mick several times, or repeatedly outbraked Schwantz in one race alone. His wild sweeping lines, particularly around the double apex spoon curve, his speed into the chicane, and his catapult like slipstreaming was just epic. I have rarely seen a rider push a front end so hard, nor such a great save when it viciously tucked on him at two thirds race distance; - Slider smoking, he defiantly carried it on his knee, and jammed it upright again - then slammed his head behind the bubble and trademark hair billowing out of the back of his helmet, set out in dogged pursuit of the leaders again. Unfortunately he pushed too hard, and crashed out of second place three laps from the finish, Schwantz taking the spoils, but it hadn't been in vain.
If you had to teach a college course on the history of this sport, then this race would be mandatory viewing - and top of the curriculum. Brilliant stuff.