MotoGP's Best Battles: No7 Suzuka 1991

Our pick of the 10 greatest premier-class multi-rider dogfights of all time

ast, serpentine and barrier-lined, Suzuka is no track for the faint hearted. And there were no faint hearts here. Four men spent 22 laps riding like it was the last lap, and three of them were all-time greats of the sport.

This was Rainey (Yamaha), Schwantz (Suzuki) and Doohan (Honda) at their wild, tyre-smoking best, with dazzling rookie Kocinski (Yamaha) along for the ride.

At mid-distance Doohan looked like he might escape but Rainey hunted him down, chased by Schwantz, struggling with chatter. At one point the Texan was three seconds back until he adapted to circumstances, flicking his RGV on its side and picking it up again as quickly as possible.

Schwantz caught and passed Kocinski, Rainey and Doohan on successive laps. But Doohan was ahead into the final lap. The lead changed twice, then Doohan ran wide. Schwantz was past in a flash, Doohan almost level as they took the flag.

 Words Mat Oxley