1989 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix

The 1989 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the second of 15 races in the 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of April 7–9, 1989, at Phillip Island, and was the first-ever World Championship Motorcycle Grand Prix to be held in Australia.

500 cc race report
Into the first corner of the race, Wayne Rainey, Tadahiko Taira, and Kevin Schwantz were at the front of the field, with Wayne Gardner in 4th. On the second lap whilst running in second place, Schwantz crashed out at Turn Ten; as he walked away from his Suzuki, he appeared visibly annoyed.

Rainey pulled out a lead of more than a second, followed by Kevin Magee, Taira, Gardner, Mick Doohan, and Eddie Lawson. Gardner eventually overtook Magee at Turn Four, and Pierfrancesco Chili crashed out for the second successive race. Gardner caught Rainey and began to swap the lead, while Magee, Christian Sarron, Freddie Spencer, and Lawson closed in on the leaders. Sarron caught up and went to the front with the leaders, while Magee held 4th spot. Spencer fell off and did not finish the race.

On the last lap, Gardner led, with Rainey and Sarron behind, and a further small gap to Magee. Rainey's depleted tyres meant he was unable to pass Gardner, and Gardner won the race, followed by Rainey and Sarron.

During the race, Wayne Rainey and Wayne Gardner had some close encounters on the track.