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VOL. 54 ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 14, 2017 P111 role of a black-leather-clad antagonist in filming of "Race For Glory." Most GP pundits were scratching their heads about Roberts' hire of AMA Superbike Champion Rainey. Of all the moves Kenny Roberts made as a team owner, his vision of seeing Rainey as a championship con- tender when almost no one else did, surely has to be one of his all-time great decisions. It's interesting to think about in retrospect, with the knowledge we now have of Rainey's three world championships, but at the beginning of 1988, Rob- erts' hire of Kevin Magee was thought to make more sense. In 1987, Magee came almost out of nowhere to finish on the podium in a wildcard ride with Roberts Yamaha at Jerez. With a stunning performance like that, many experts at the time were calling Magee an almost certain future world champ. The season kicked off with a stunner at Suzuka. The new generation of Americans proved from the drop of the first green flag that they deserved to be there. Rainey got the lead early and it was him and Schwantz renewing their personal battle, this time on the world stage. In the end, the race came down to defending champ Gardner and Schwantz and it was the more experienced Gardner who blinked first, running off the track on the final lap leaving Schwantz clear to score his first GP victory. March of 1988 will be a month that Schwantz and his fans will always remember, starting off the month with a victory in the Daytona 200 and then the surpris- ing Japanese Grand Prix win. Another reason 1988 will forever be a memorable racing season for GP fans is that it marked the return of grand prix racing to America. It was early April, round two of the series at Laguna Seca Raceway. Rainey continued to impress, scoring the pole. Lawson got a poor start, but rallied to take a runaway victory bringing joy to the massive crowd that lined the hills of the track. Roberts' faith in Magee seemed well founded after Magee took his first (and ultimately his only) GP win at round three in Jarama, Spain. Lawson then went on a spurt, winning three of the next four rounds, opening up his lead in the stand- ings. But Gardner responded, with the defending champ winning three straight. Perhaps one of the most impactful races in terms of the championship was Lawson gutting it out and riding the Yugoslavian Grand Prix, going against doctor's advice after he'd dislocated his shoulder in practice. Lawson man- aged to finish 10th gaining a valuable six points, keeping Gardner from gaining a full 20 points over Lawson with his win. Shoulder still tender, Lawson took a riveting victory in the French GP at the Paul Ricard Circuit, just ahead of local favorite Christian Sarron and Schwantz (all three separated by just four-tenths of a second). It was an outstanding podium for Schwantz, whose Suzuki was clearly down on power to the Yamahas on the endless straights of the Paul Ricard long circuit. In August at Donington Park, Rainey earned his first GP victory, meaning both he and Schwantz took wins in their first full season of premier-class racing. There was a bit of intra-squad drama in the pen- ultimate round at Brno. Gardner, doing all he could to keep his title hopes alive, won the race handily on his Rothmans Honda. Lawson took second to clinch the championship, but was reportedly upset for Rainey making it so hard for him to get past early in the race. "It seemed like I had to beat Team Yamaha out there," Lawson said after the race. Rainey respond- ed, "I count Eddie as a friend, but I ride for Lucky Strike and Wayne Rainey, not Marlboro. I would have won the race if I could." Lawson went out on a high note, ending the season with a victory over Gardner and Schwantz in the Brazilian Grand Prix. The season was a great battle between two great champions in Lawson and Gardner. Yamaha had beaten Honda, but Honda ultimately had the last laugh by hiring away Lawson for the '89 season. American fans also breathed a sigh of relief safe in the knowledge that the future of Americans in grand prix was secure in the hands of Rainey and Schwantz. CN Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives