MotoGP - South African 500cc GP - Kyalami - 1983.

This was Barry Sheene's first 500cc GP race after he broke both legs while practicing for the 1982 British GP.This race was also Eddie Lawsons first ever 500cc GP race.

[@timcolder2789]

The best season ever. Great scrap between the King and Fast Freddie.Shame that KR retired from GP's at the end of that season. Actually watched this race live on my lunch break in the local tv store.

[@edgarherb-pu7vt]

The good Time of sud Africa.

[@javiervazquez-vm4ug]

Eran unos tiempos maravillosos.

[@jaustinkwack]

Fast Freddie !

[@pabloperez4063]

maybe, the best ever

[@quartusbuys6831]

@@pabloperez4063 not maybe. He was the best.

[@pabloperez4063]

​@@quartusbuys6831he was my héroe too

[@smoke05s]

what are the, like 50 bikes on the grid, thats awesome. there are more bikes in the lead pack than the whole grid today

[@pabloperez4063]

and the concept " jump start" had not been invented.......gentleman agreement

[@timcolder2789]

That's what made it far more exciting and competitive. In the right hands a privateer bike could beat a works bike. Was not down to having the best bike in those days and no traction control, high tech electronics or control tyres. If you did not get your push start right you were either miles away from a chance of winning or someone would hit you up the back side.

[@ewennicolson4342]

Katayama must have had some weird gearing for the long straight. Fucked Haslam's race up a bit.

[@jamesd2128]

Very dangerous track, runoff room not even close to adequate. Too bad, looked a challenging circuit to race.

[@billymc2681]

Had to be man to race in those days. Check out the substantial hay bales between the pavement and guardrails....

[@lancejonas8753]

what utter rubbish. the tracks in Europe were way more dangerous at the time.

[@jamesd2128]

@@lancejonas8753 You know what ? I think you're right, I was too harsh judging Kyalami. I can only see a few corners that strike me as needing more room, don't know what I was looking at three years ago.

[@HighFlyingOwlOfMinerva]

@@jamesd2128 All circuits in the 1980s were dangerous by today's standards, but safe by 1980s standards. Suzuka was also considered to be a safe circuit until Daijiro Kato slammed his bike at very high speed into a barrier in 2003. Needless to say, grand prix motorcycle racing has _always_ been a very dangerous sport and the most recent casualty - Luis Salom in 2016(!) - still proves this. You can put in I don't know how many safety features to lower the risk, but the slightest chain of unfortunate events can still cause a fatal accident.

[@jamesd2128]

@@HighFlyingOwlOfMinerva Very well said, from today's perspective, just about every track from the Eighties looks like a death trap, but at the time, they probably seemed very safe compared to earlier eras.

[@chunder27]

Youd never guess too that the commentator was Sheenes PR man would you, awful!!