Motorcycling: Rainey rules from start to end: Champion in control

WAYNE RAINEY, the defending world champion, led the Czech 500cc Grand Prix in Brno from pole position to the finish yesterday, a ride that puts him ahead of fellow American, Kevin Schwantz, and into leading position in the championship.

Schwantz finished fifth, 27 seconds behind Rainey, who rode almost unchallenged throughout, though he said afterwards that he had not known what position Schwantz was in until the final lap. 'I just think he struggled a lot more than he has all year,' Rainey said.

Rainey was followed home by Luca Cadalora, also on Yamaha. Cadalora was 7.7 seconds behind Rainey, Michael Doohan, the Australian, was third on a Honda, and John Kocinski, returning to the 500cc class on a Cagiva, was fourth.

CZECH GRAND PRIX (Brno) 500cc (118.67km, 73.741 miles, 22 laps): 1 W Rainey (US) Yamaha 45min 39.002sec (ave speed 155.971kph, 96.921mph); 2 L Cadalora (It) Yamaha 45:46.772; 3 M Doohan (Aus) Honda 45:49.792; 4 J Kocinski (US) Cagiva 45:52.096; 5 K Schwantz (US) Suzuki 46:06.092; 6 D Beattie (Aus) Honda 46:06.278. Leading standings: 1 Rainey 214pts; 2 Schwantz 203; 3 Doohan 136; 4 Beattie 136; 5 Cadalora 104; 6 Itoh 101; 7 Criville 85; 8 N Mackenzie (GB) Yamaha 80; 9 Barros 69; 10 Chandler 66.