Lawson put the Italian-made Cagiva into the Early Lead at the Italian Grand Prix
The atmosphere at Misano was electric as the 1991 Italian Grand Prix roared to life. This iconic shot captures the moment Eddie Lawson (7), aboard the factory Cagiva, “electrified” the home crowd by seizing an early lead over Mick Doohan (3) and Wayne Rainey (1). For the 70,000 Italian fans in attendance, seeing the red, Italian-made Cagiva spearheading the field was a dream start.
While Lawson eventually secured a historic third-place finish – Cagiva’s best-ever dry-track result at the time – the race became a saga of tire endurance. While Rainey and Kevin Schwantz suffered dramatic tire failures under difficult track conditions, Mick Doohan remained untouchable, racing to a dominant victory. Lawson’s podium and early lead remains a legendary highlight, proving that for one glorious lap, the underdog Cagiva had the world’s fastest machines in its exhaust.
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