Australian MotoGP 1989, Phillip Island
Through the lens of Phil Aynsley
This was my, and I suspect most Aussie’s, first experience of what a Grand Prix was like. And gee it was good!
![Randy Mamola](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-001-781x1024.jpg)
Randy Mamola at his crowd pleasing best on the Cagiva C589.
![Wayne Garner down in practice](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-002-1024x686.jpg)
Wayne Garner is less than impressed after Michael Rudroff collects him during practice.
![Freddie Spencer](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-003-1024x724.jpg)
![Freddie Spencer](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-004-1024x694.jpg)
Freddie Spencer on his Yamaha YZR500.
![Haslam and Schwantz](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-005-1024x716.jpg)
Pepsi Suzuki team mates Ron Haslam and Kevin Schwantz.
![Schwantz on the Suzuki](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-006-1024x701.jpg)
![Schwantz on the Suzuki](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-007-1024x748.jpg)
Kevin Schwantz on the Suzuki RGV500.
![Ron Haslam](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-008-1024x656.jpg)
Ron Haslam and the Suzuki RGV500.
![Niall Mackenzie](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-009-1024x707.jpg)
![Niall Mackenzie](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-010-1024x756.jpg)
Niall Mackenzie and the Yamaha YZR500.
![Randy Mamola](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-011-1024x718.jpg)
![Randy Mamola](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-012-1024x727.jpg)
![Randy Mamola](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-013-1024x707.jpg)
Randy Mamola on the Cagiva C589 machine.
![Wayne Rainey](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-014-1024x753.jpg)
![Wayne Rainey](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-015-1024x707.jpg)
Wayne Rainey on his Yamaha YZR500.
![Marco Gentile](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-016-1024x664.jpg)
Marco Gentile on the Fior C89.
![Bubba Shobert](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-017-1024x659.jpg)
Bubba Shobert and the Honda NSR500.
![Wayne Gardner](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-018-1024x737.jpg)
Wayne Gardner representing Australia on the Honda NSR500.
![Kevin Magee](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-019-1024x730.jpg)
Fellow Aussie Kevin Magee was another crowd favourite on the Yamaha YZR500.
![Good odds for Gardner](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-020-1024x684.jpg)
The crowd clearly favours Gardner over Lawson.
![Gardner led a race long battle](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-021-1024x714.jpg)
![Magee was also in the mix throughout](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-022-1024x639.jpg)
The race-long battle between Gardner, Rainey, Sarron and Magee. They finished in that order.
![Niall Mackenzie](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-023-1024x742.jpg)
Niall Mackenzie crashes out.
![Christian Sarron](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-024-1024x711.jpg)
Christian Sarron and his Yamaha YZR500.
![Kevin Magee](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-025-1024x661.jpg)
Kevin Magee on the Yamaha YZR500, he would finish fourth.
![Wayne Gardner celebrating his win](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PA-Australian-MotoGP-Phillip-Island-1989-026-726x1024.jpg)
Wayne Gardner and the Honda NSR500. Quite possibly the first time a flag carrying victory lap was seen in a 500cc GP.