The 500s were much better racing than motogp is nowadays. It was raw and pure class .

This was the first USGP in over 20 years and before my time anyway. GP coming to the States, gonnna make this happen somehow, gonna see Freddie! Flew out from Ohio on a "business" trip (thank you IBM), stayed free in the Presidential Suite of a 4star managed by my former college girlfriend, borrowed her car and went alone. Freddie took a parade lap on a street bike having announced his (1st) retirement in the previous week. Dude, really? The coolest thing? Jimmy Filice's 250 win. Last second fill-in rider on an unsponsored NSR250 and his 1st GP. Won by 9 seconds on an all white bike with numbers and white leathers. Unforgettable. And Gardner on the left-hander after the corkscrew lap after lap the bike is twitching all over the place but his engine note never wavered. DUDE!

The racing in the 80's on these type of bikes was infinitely better than it is now. The bikes were capable of coping with and adjusting to the riders finesse and style. The manufacturers were different enough in their bikes to produce some very exciting and lethal machines which gave us the fans some amazing races and memories. Glorious times of sunshine and girlfriends that i'm so glad i lived through the 80's in my late teens and early 20's.

I'm not sure if I have commented before, but watching this brought back some good memories with my younger brother. So my youngest son bought tickets for Firestone GP this weekend, Thank you. While studying and planning my weekend, I came across this video. I and my younger brother. Who I lost about 2 years ago. Rented a convertible Mustang GT. We flew down to Monterey, made it on time. We ended up posting back by the CorkScrew. What this doesn't show is Eddie Lawson through/tossed his helmet in the crowd, we were right there. What A souvenir/ Piece of history. Also reminded first Gran Prix in America.

Long live these gods of the real MotoGP. I still proudly wear several versions of the Wayne Gardener and Eddie Lawson red, white, and blue Shoei replica helmets on my blue/white/red '86 Ninja GPz600R.

Thanks for this, we went on a 3 day pilgrimage every year to camp at the bottom of the screw, we even had the same camping neighbors every year, good times.

I went to the Yamaha Laguna Seca tour from Santa Rosa California with my father, we rode our bikes stopping along the way gathering multiple riders and as we rode onto Cabrillo hwy CHP held automobile traffic so us riders could have the entire Hwy 1 , a few hundred bikes. That year Kenny Roberts was favored. When we arrived all riders got a complimentary lap on the world famous track and were to be greeted by the man himself bur somehow it didn’t happen. One of the most fun events of my life. I was 18 years old and was riding a honda cb 350 and my father was on a yamaha 650 special. Good times.(edit) This took place in 1981. We lived in Santa Rosa.

I was there👍🏼

4 of the top 5 finishers went on to win the GP500 championship. Very competitive riders. Schwantz had bigger heuvos than he had sense. The bikes he rode never would have done as well with a different rider. Great track, fun race. For the GP500 (watched other segments over the week end walking around the track -- great spectator track for walkers) sat at the bottom outside of the downhill Dunlap bridge. Best place if you had to sit at only one spot. Randy Mamola walked through the crowd on Saturday; answered any questions; he had bumped his head in a crash during practice or qualifying (it's been too long to recall) and didn't feel good enough to race. He turned down an offer of a beer, said he would feel the affect a week from now. An early appreciation for conditioning requirements (not yet a general thing to do in motor sports at the time, but clearly things were changing quickly). Oddly enough, my mom worked with Lawson's mom at the time. Mom couldn't understand how big a deal it was. Eddie's mom said they spent every weekend in the desert (motocross or desert racing I presume) when he was a kid.

My mouth is twitching from all the cigarette sponsorship. A lucky Strike sounds good.

Thanks for posting this bit of history!

So enjoyable and thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas 12-13-2019 . Invaluable footage.

Laguna is like Knockhill but a bit longer. Mackenzie obviously loving it and racing it like a 12 lap dash. Nearly did it too.

Great footage thanx. Gardners honda was wobbling all over the shop. Great race from Mackenzie. Lawson too good on that quick yam.

GRACIAS MUY BUENA IDEA LINDOS RECUERDOS ,, ME RECUERDA CUANDO TENIA MI NSU 250 QUE MAQUINA,, GRACIAS AMIGO JOSE ANGEL DE BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA

Dorna and the IRTA need to DITCH the Moto GP race in Texas and bring it back to Laguna where it rightfully BELONGS

Back in the days of the overnight special tire compounds lol!

I used to Camp up on the top of old Turn 3 but where the bridge is now on the old track I guess it's like Turn 6 or something now

Straw bales and photographers on turn 1 - safety was very different then.

Go Eddie!

I'm 53 and I love old school sport bikes

We went in 1989.

Schwartz almost last in Turn 2 at the start, 3rd in the Corkscrew five turns later... where's the video of that?!

I was at that race went on the cool down lap Kevin McGee ran in the back of bubba shobert and crippled him for life😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Laguna is like a slightly longer Knockhill. Mackenzie always gonna go well there.

Bueno sin control de tracción y motos de 180 CV muchos coj y una equivocación y al suelo.

The only GP year I was not in the corkscrew crowd and Eddie throws his fkng helmet there..........ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Excellent, thanks

I was there 😊😊

I didn't see any lap times? They just gave positions 1-2-3, etc. I admit, I watched it on FF w/ CC on, but I'd love to know lap times then vs now.

Además el sacacorchos tenía mucho peligro

The good old days

I was there also

たまに、新沼謙治って聞こえる

MacKenzie was unlucky there.Should have won if it weren't for brake fade

Seen more than few races on that Track anyone in first 10 places are FABOULAS riders 17yrs old first biggie CB k2 750 in Cape Province ..76, respect to all riders ...Wales uk Oultan Park Cheshire Transatlantic series ..

these commentators are god awful ..should have got barry sheene

Shorta 2sineper moto2 moto3

Hey everyone Jesus saves accept him today here's the prayer: Lord I know I'm a sinner and I need your forgiveness, I come because I know I can't live without you and I make you the Lord of my life I repent of all my sins. I know you died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected on the third day by the Father. I surrender my life to you Lord and I accept you as my Lord and Savior I will now serve the one true and living God Amen.

That #3 dude is pretty good.