In the first episode of BT Sport's brand-new series 'The Greatest Years', airing every Sunday on the channel, MotoGP™'s British broadcast partner focused on the 1992 500cc World Championship fight with four classic races from that year taking centre stage. Catalunya, Assen, Donington Park and Kylami were all shown with the key figures from each race and the key figures from that incredible year voicing their opinion on the fight for the World title.
"He was a hero."
— MotoGP on BT Sport (@btsportmotogp) May 3, 2020
"When he showed up in Brazil I felt really bad for him."
"I thought 'Wow, he wants this thing really bad.'"
Wayne Rainey looks back at Mick Doohan's remarkable comeback in an attempt to win the 1992 title...#TheGreatestYears pic.twitter.com/RAleVlEUVo
1992 was the first year that Grand Prix racing headed to Catalunya with Mick Doohan and Wayne Rainey putting on a show for the Catalan fans. The 1992 Assen TT was without both Rainey and Doohan, with the Australian having suffered a bad leg break in qualifying the day before. It eventually saw Alex Criville take victory after Kevin Schwantz was taken out by Eddie Lawson during the fight for victory.
"Why don't you put this thing out!?"
— MotoGP on BT Sport (@btsportmotogp) May 3, 2020
"At that point, I could see where the oil was."
"Good thing was it was just a hop over the fence and we were at the pub."
Kevin Schwantz on THAT incident with the flag ????????#TheGreatestYears pic.twitter.com/YJ8YiOLSSR
Donington Park was famous for two reasons: Wayne Gardner claiming victory just 24 hours on from announcing his retirement from the sport and Schwantz stood at Redgate corner waving the diminished adhesion flag himself after crashing out on someone's oil. Finally, viewers were treated to the season finale in South Africa as Rainey clinched the World Championship despite Doohan's heroic efforts to try and salvage the World crown despite his leg being far from 100%.
"Had I won the championship I probably would have thrown the towel in."
— MotoGP on BT Sport (@btsportmotogp) May 3, 2020
"Thankfully the surgeons and everyone involved put me back together correctly."
Mick Doohan reflects on his leg break in 1992 and safety improvements in the sport... #TheGreatestYears pic.twitter.com/v81y4l2EMO
BT Sport caught up with eventual World Champion Rainey, Doohan and Schwantz over the course of the show with all three in-depth interviews available to watch on BT Sport's Twitter and Facebook around the world. Tune in this coming Sunday at 10am where the crew will be focusing on the incredible 2015 MotoGP™ World Championship.
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