Misano 1993: The day that changed history

September 5, 1993. In the gravel trap of turn 1 of the Misano circuit, destiny had just changed. A career to stop. The face of a sport changing.

Wayne Rainey was seriously injured. The Downey, California native, who has spent his entire life on motorcycles, is between life and death. Meanwhile, his teammate Luca Cadalora celebrates his victory, in front of celebrating fans. He is narrowly ahead of Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz and the latter does not know it yet, but it is from now on that his only world title is taking shape. His title rival's career ended here. But what a career.

The legacy left by the Californian is immense. In 1988 In his first year in 500CC, premier category, he finished third with an impressive driving style from the United States, fluid, but always on the attack. His teammate, Kevin Magee, finished fifth. In 1989, he finished second, behind his compatriot Eddie Lawson. But his talent shines through the screen : the association with Kenny Roberts and Yamaha is going strong, and at 29 years old, he is asserting himself as the future of the category. He won the 1990, 1991 and 1992 titles while playing with remarkable regularity.

Rainey at Laguna Seca in 1990, on the way to his first world title. Photo Stefan Isaacs

If Doohan or Schwantz pushed more and more, Rainey asserted himself through his style, his determination and his ability to surpass himself to stay in front despite a machine which began to decline at the beginning of 1993. Moreover, in Misano, he himself declared that he was pushing very hard, perhaps too hard to stay in front. The Misano circuit was then an atypical circuit: it turned counter-clockwise (opposite in the current direction), which had caught Rainey's eye from his first laps in Europe in the mid-1980s. Circuit with many left turns (like on dirt track courses), he particularly liked it, and had already won the 1990 edition.

As a symbol, Wayne Rainey fell while leading, on the Yamaha YZR500 bearing the number 1. A No. 1 spot that was going to remain vacant, a place in history that was going to be conceded to another warrior. But none of these champions can deny that Rainey will not have given his all for this number. Something in history had changed that day. A sacred monster was no longer there. In a fraction of a second, the course of the events is altered. Unable to move his lower limbs, Wayne is initially overcome by incredible pain, as if a hole the size of a football was gaping in the middle of his chest. He had hurt himself before, but never like this. The three-time world champion fights as much as he can, because he is a champion. One of the greatest champions.

Doohan, Schwantz, Rainey (n°1) and John Kosinski in battle at the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix. Photo: Rikita

After a much shorter convalescence than expected, he surprises all American doctors by showing brilliant results in rehabilitation, while this one had to relearn things, which we only assimilate once in a lifetime. He will never walk again, of course, but his motivation will take him very far despite everything. He will be back in the paddocks less than a year after this sad September 5th. Involved in the American speed championships and their emergence until today, we can still see it on certain races, testifying to a rare passion.

Rainey at Suzuka in 1992. Photo: Rikita

Wayne Rainey was that kind of driver, a competitor, a enthusiast, who never gave up. A champion mentality and riding style shaped by decades of dirt track racing, at all levels in his native country. It is this timeless talent, which no one has forgotten as he left his mark on history, during his six years at the highest level. One of the symbols of this golden American generation, which left its mark on our sport, and wrote among its most beautiful letters. It is a mastery, which cannot be described in words. All this stopped suddenly, without warning, on one of those… cursed September 5ths.   

© Cover photo credit: MotoGP.com