Motorcycling: Rainey retains world crown

WAYNE RAINEY, of the United States, won the 500cc world championship for the third successive time yesterday when he finished third at the South African Kyalami track where he began his grand prix career. The race was the last of the season and the 12 points Rainey collected sent him four points clear of the Australian Michael Doohan, who could only finish in sixth place.

It was a remarkable achievement for the calm Californian, making him the first rider since his mentor and Yamaha team boss, Kenny Roberts, to win three consecutive titles. Roberts won back- to-back titles from 1978-80.

The American John Kocinski rounded off a fruitful day for Yamaha by winning the race, the last of the season. It was the young Arkansas rider's first win of the season and only the second 500cc victory of his career.

The Australian former champion, Wayne Gardner, who has announced his retirement, said farewell in fighting style. He battled from fourth place to second, slipping his Honda past Rainey's Yamaha two laps from the finish.

Doohan, who had started the race with a two-point championship lead, was still suffering from a double fracture to his right leg sustained in a crash in June. The Australian, runaway leader at the start of the season when he won five of the first seven grands prix, rode largely without being able to use his back brake and had to settle for the runner-up position for the second season running.

'It was much tougher than I thought,' Rainey said afterwards. 'I didn't want to spin out. I was pushing the front tyre a bit, but I just wanted to be in there at the end.' Doohan would have won the world title had Rainey failed to finish and the Californian recognised that, despite serious injury problems of his own this year, the luck had gone his way from the moment his rival fell in the Netherlands.

Doohan disappeared into his pit garage after the race and mechanics slammed shut a roller door behind him. 'Obviously, the race did not go as planned,' the 27-year-old rider said when he re- emerged. 'I was going as hard as I could. I've got a good few years of racing left and it's a matter of getting in a lot of hard work to make sure I am ready to go for the title next season.'

Italy's Alessandro Gramigni stalled his Aprilia on the starting grid in the 125cc race but roared back to finish third and secure the world championship.

SOUTH AFRICAN 500cc GRAND PRIX (Kyalami, 28 laps, 119.280km, 74.119 miles): 1 J Kocinski (US) Yamaha 47min 00.729sec (152.233kph, 94.595mph); 2 W Gardner (Aus) Honda 47:03.664; 3 W Rainey (US) Yamaha 47:05.698; 4 D Chandler (US) Suzuki 47:13.306; 5 K Schwantz (US) Suzuki 47:22.779; 6 M Doohan (Aus) Honda 47:31.042; 7 A Criville (Sp) Honda 47:34.599; 8 N Mackenzie (GB) Yamaha 47:35.248. Leading final world championship standings: Rainey 140pts; 2 Doohan 136; 3 Kocinski 102; 4 Schwantz 99; 5 Chandler 94; 6 Gardner 78.