MOTORCYLES U.S. GRAND PRIX : Rainey Is a Winner by Process of Elimination

The third U.S. Grand Prix was a test of survival rather than a world championship motorcycle road race on the twisting 2.19-mile course at Laguna Seca Raceway Sunday. One by one, some of the world’s best riders literally fell by the wayside, with Wayne Rainey of Downey claiming a 35-second victory before a disappointing crowd estimated at 30,000.

Rainey won the second round of the 16-country championship circuit for Kenny Roberts’ Malboro team and took a big jump in the point standings with his second consecutive victory that earned him 40 points. Two weeks ago, he won the Japanese Grand Prix.

The race was over after the 25th of 35 laps when Kevin Schwantz, trailing Rainey by less than a bike length, lost control on Turn 11 leading to the front straightaway and crashed.

Mike Doohan of Australia, riding a Honda, finished second and Pier-Francesco Chili of Italy was third.

Rainey and Schwantz staged a brilliant race for most of the day before the accident. Schwantz took an early lead, but Rainey passed him on the fifth lap. Rainey had a sizeable lead by the 13th lap, but Schwantz gained ground when Rainey missed a shift on the next lap.

From there, the two riders were never separated by more than a length before Schwantz crashed. Schwantz skidded across the pavement but quickly got up and attempted to lift his blue Suzuki. He was unable to continue, however, motioning that his left wrist was injured.

Afterward, Rainey likened his 25-lap duel with Schwantz to a boxing match.

“He was throwing everything he had at me, and I wasn’t going to let him by me,” Rainey said. “When I saw plus 32 on the scoreboard (32-second lead), I knew he had a problem and had likely gone down.

“This track is tough. It’s very difficult to ride 35 laps on the pace we go. You’re very fortunate to stay up for 35 laps.”

A weekend of attrition began on Friday when four-time world champion Eddie Lawson of Upland crashed during a practice session, suffering a fractured right heel and a broken left ankle.

On Sunday, Kevin Magee of Australia crashed between Turns 6 and 7 of the second lap, causing a complete restart. Magee was airlifted to San Jose Medical Center with head injuries.

Next it was Wayne Gardner of Australia, who won the world championship in 1987 and finished second at Japan two weeks ago. Gardner crashed on the second lap of the restart, but appeared unhurt. He crashed in nearly the same spot last year.

Schwantz’ crash continued a string of hard-luck racing for the Houston native. Last year, he won six of the 16 grand prix events, but finished fourth in the overall standings because he failed to finish four other races.

Remarkably, Schwantz turned in the fastest lap of the day and set a new course lap record of 1:25.6, but his reward was a trip to Monterey Community Hospital with a broken left wrist.

A bizarre day of racing ended on the cool-off lap when Randy Mamola crashed after finishing seventh. Mamola was also taken to Monterey Community Hospital with a broken left wrist.

Rainey has a 16-point lead over Chili after two events.

“This is the best one to win for Wayne Rainey,” he said. “I may have looked easy at the end, but I was concentrating just as hard at the finish as I did at the start.”

Rainey appeared to be frustrated with the restart after making a great start to gain the lead in initial race. He started poorly on the restart, but said he thrives on coming from behind.

“I was too calm for the restart,” he said. “I didn’t get a good start, but I hate getting a lead. I’d just as soon have to work my way up to the lead.”

In the 250cc support race, John Kocinski of Little Rock, Ark., won for the second year in a row, giving Roberts’ Malboro team a sweep.