Australian Wayne Gardner plied his trade when the 500cc factory bikes were arguably at their hardest to ride and in which the competition in the class involved legendary peers such as Wayne Rainey, Randy Mamola, Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer and Mick Doohan. His 52 podiums, 18 victories and 1987 premier class title win came during one of the toughest decades of competition in the sport.
Following his 500cc debut in 1983, Gardner remained loyal to Honda in his eight seasons of World Championship participation - earning a breakthrough thanks to his results for Honda Britain.
His first full-time campaign was in 1985 and he won his first Grand Prix in 1986, before successfully battling with Lawson and Mamola to become 1987 World Champion on the NSR500.
An ill-handling 1988 version of the NSR often offered sensational images of Gardner wrestling the phenomenally fast machine and he again tussled with Lawson that year but their close duel eventually swung in the favour of the American. The subsequent seasons were wrecked by injury; broken legs, ribs and feet - hindering his riding in 1989, ‘90 and ‘91.
Highlights in that period, however, included breath-taking victories at the first Phillip Island GP in 1989 and an even better re-run in 1990; both of which feature amongst the finest races ever seen in the premier class.
Gardner retired in 1992, taking an emotional final win at the British Grand Prix that year. As the first ever Australian 500cc World Champion he opened motorcycle racing up to a much wider audience in Australia and is cherished by a generation of fans.
Legend Stats
- World Championship Titles: 1
- Seasons: 9
- Podiums: 52
- Victories: 18
- Debut: 1984
- Last Race: 1992
2024 will mark the 35th anniversary of the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix to be held at the world-renowned Phillip Island circuit in 1989. In that year, Australian Wayne Gardner was victorious in front of a rapturous home crowd – a feat he repeated the following year.
