Throwback Thursday: Intensity at the 1986 Dutch TT
Larry Lawrence | August 22, 2019
Throwback Thursday: Intensity at the 1986 Dutch TT
In this week’s Throwback we dial back the time machine 33 years to the 1986 Dutch TT at Assen. Few things in sports are as tense and thrilling as the start of a Grand Prix. Reporter/photographer Peter Clifford captured the intensity of that moment when he shot this image showing the start of the 500cc Grand Prix that late June day in Assen. The photo shows Ron Haslam nailing the start on his Elf Honda RS500. Haslam earned the nickname “Rocket Ron”, partly because of his ability to nail the starts of races. Tucking in behind Haslam is Belgian Didier de Radiguès on the No. 8 Chevallier-Honda. Alongside de Radiguès, but partly hidden is American Randy Mamola of Team Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha. Farther back is Raymond Roche (No. 7 Racing Team Katayama Honda), Wayne Gardner (No. 4 Rothmans Honda/HRC), Kevin Schwantz (No. 32 Heron-Suzuki) making his GP debut, Massimo Messere (No. 57 MDS Honda), Boet van Dulmen (No. 10 PDM Chrome Tapes Honda) and others. Rothmans Honda’s Gardner went on to win the race that day over Lucky Strike Roberts Yamaha teammates Mamola and Mike Baldwin.
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