Throwback Thursday: Sensational Start for Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini at Misano (1987)

Larry Lawrence | March 16, 2023

Eddie Lawson, Rob McElnea and Tadahiko Taira Lead the Way at the Grand Prix San Marino

In this week’s Throwback we go back to August of 1987, location Misano Adriatico, Italy and what was then known as the Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica and today is called the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. This photo captures early action in that year’s Grand Prix San Marino and it was a great start for the Marlboro Yamaha Team Agostini trio of Eddie Lawson (No. 1), Rob McElnea (No. 5) and Tadahiko Taira (No. 21). One rider who didn’t get the greatest of starts was Randy Mamola. You can just make out Mamola’s helmet with the PJ1 logo behind Frankie Chili (No. 10). But that day Mamola had a secret weapon. Dunlop had developed a new tire and it was ready just days before this race. While other competitors struggled with grip as the race progressed, Mamola’s tires worked flawlessly on his Team Lucky Strike Roberts throughout the race and he took full advantage, passing Lawson and gradually pulling away to win by almost four seconds. Wayne Gardner took third on his Rothmans Honda.

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