Video: One of the greatest motorcycle GP finishes ever

It’s the final lap of the 1991 German motorcycle Grand Prix, and reigning world champion Wayne Rainey leads fierce rival Kevin Schwantz at the legendary high-speed Hockenheim circuit. They’re within a few tenths of a second of each other as they dive into Turn One for the last time, and as Rainey gets an extortionate amount of wheelspin through the exit, Schwantz gets his first opportunity to sneak alongside his rival.

This is a tactical battle, though, so he hangs back in the knowledge that there are still two long straights to go. To make matters even more tense, there’s traffic, and Rainey and Schwantz cut either side of the backmarker as they head towards the Ost chicane.

Schwantz looks to have made a critical error when they arrive at the chicane, as he takes the lead of the race, seemingly allowing Rainey the chance to get the final slipstream into the grandstand section.

We won’t spoil the finish, but you really ought to stay tuned until the very end. This is classic action between two of motorcycle racing’s all-time greats.

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