The 1994 500cc World Championship heralded a new era for motorcycle racing’s premier series – the beginning of Doohan domination. This action-packed Official Review charts the full story of a gripping and historic year which saw records broken and a new hero crowned Grand Prix World Champion.
Reigning champion Kevin Schwantz started the season nursing a broken arm, putting the Lucky Strike Suzuki star’s title defence on a back foot from which it would never recover. It was also a tough start to the season for Mick Doohan, who was unhappy with his new NSR Honda. However, the Australian would soon hit a devastating race-winning form which would leave the rest of the Grand Prix field in his wake.
Doohan took a staggering six wins in a row, his dominance only finally being broken by the dogged determination of Schwantz, who - trailing by more than 70 points, suffering a shocking 120mph practice crash and still recovering from yet another arm-breaking smash - refused to give up on his championship hopes. However, nothing, not even Schwantz’s brilliance, could deny Doohan his first World Championship.
This Official Review is loaded with action-packed footage charting all 14 rounds of the season, delivering the full story of Doohan’s march to the title and into the record books. Along the way we share the torment of Team Roberts, enjoy thrill rides like the Spanish and British GPs and witness the arrival of a new generation of stars – including Luca Cadalora, Alberto Puig and the spectacular Norifumi Abe.
In addition to the most amazing footage, including plenty from on board the 500cc machines, the review includes interviews with the stars, circuit guides for every round – many delivered by Schwantz – and catch up with the legend Wayne Rainey as he returns to the track in a new role following his career-ending crash. Three-times World Champion Rainey also delivers his assessment of the season after the vital third and eighth rounds.
“In a great collection of DVDs, covering one of the most exciting periods in Grand Prix history, Duke Video have captured the evolution of top flight racing, from Eddie Lawson’s final fling through to Valentino Rossi’s rise to dominance. Action-packed footage, interviews with the stars and round-by-round coverage delivers the most comprehensive reviews of a decade of red hot Grand Prix racing. It is easy to forget the highs of Grand Prix; the Doohan years, when the Australian seemed unbeatable, and the lows, like Wayne Rainey’s career-ending crash, but they are all here in hour upon hour of great memories. And you will be reminded of the forgotten heroes of the period too, such as Alex Criville, who shared the podium with Doohan on 10 occasions in 11 races during the 1996 season, pushing him all the way for the title” Classic Racer