Secrets of MotoGP 500cc Grand Prix Riders with Niall Mackenzie 

At Laguna Seca in '93, Doohan crashed hard exiting the Corkscrew late in final qualifying. To our surprise he limped up the steep embankment to hang out with fans along the fence! That was really cool of Mick!

I once briefly shared a track with Niall. I was doing a Race School, and I was fast! I had left the rest of my classmates so far behind that the school asked Niall to jump on one of their bikes and come out to keep an eye on me. At one particular section, where I thought I was going as fast as it was humanly possible to go, Niall overtook me, around the outside, with one hand on the handlebars and one hand on the grab rail so that he could look behind to see what I was doing! Despite his kindly praise in the paddock afterwards, that day firmly ended any illusions that I was a fast rider! The difference between the best riders in the world, of whom Niall was definitely one, and us mere mortals is an uncrossable, yawning chasm. It was a rare privilege to be able to watch his ability from such a wonderful vantage point, not many people get that opportunity. And he is such a lovely chap too!

I quit watching motorcycle racing after the 500cc bikes were gone. As a moto-X guy on a little 125 or 250 I understood how impossible to ride the 500 bikes were and watching you guys do it and make it look easy was beyond amazing to me. So when the impossible to ride bikes were no long being ridden then what was the point anymore…. I have Wayne’s book, signed by him to me. I treasure it. I too ended up having an accident on my Moto-X bike that put me in a wheelchair. Same paralysis level as Wayne actually.

If there is one guy that deserves a shout out when discussing this era it must be Randy Mamola. Back in the day, Eddie Lawson was my favorite rider, but watching Randy put on a spectacular show at the USGP, especially during practice sessions, forever made him a supernatural being in my eyes. Thanks Niall, you were very kind to spend a moment with me as well as give me a team photo and an autograph which I treasure to this day. Cheers mate!

As a massive Schwantz fan, I find this hard to say, but I think it's the truth that Kevin's weakest strength was: He never knew when to settle for points, he always wanted the podium. Met him a couple of times and he is a very down to earth guy. I even named my son after him in 93 when he won the title.

Absolutely THE greatest era of moto GP! No contest! It’s so crazy seeing videos like this now, Niall was one of my greatest childhood heroes! 🤯

Eddie Lawson went to high school with me. He was one or two years older than me. My freshman year in metal shop, Eddie was the TA for us. Most of the time he and some others were welding up custom made steel sliding shoes for flat track racing, which Eddie excelled in before RR. Very quiet, but nice guy.

One of my favourite biking memories was watching Niall lead the British GP at Donington in 89. His RS Taichi toe slider came off at the esses, and when the race ended I went out and picked it up, I've still got it, along with the autograph Niall did for me at the Brands Hatch Day of Champions in 1990. Happy days.

Magical days, magical memories. Loved the 2 stroke era of the 80s n 90s.

I loved watching all these guys race as well as the generation leading into them, such as Freddie Spencer, Mike Baldwin, and Kenny Roberts.

The 500cc era was the absolute best for me. Every kid i knew wanted to be Eddie Lawson, but i loved Kevin Schwantz and my best friend at the time adored Freddie Spencer. Good days.

Still got a Wayne Rainey poster up, love the two stroke era.

Two strokes are just awesome. Period.

Eddie Lawson was my favourite on the Marlboro Yamaha. Enjoyed the 2 strokes the most, ever.

Taylor, I am your dads age. I was a club racer back in the 80’s all of these guys were my heroes at that time. What a great video. Thank you!

You forgot a huge character, John Kozinski.

Yourself and these guys are what made the early and500 GP two strokes era memorable, along with Spencer, Mamola , and Barry Sheene . Thanks for the memories Nial

Doohan was a fantastic rider but I only wish he'd been able to race Rainey and Schwantz for more years. I agree that Kevin on a Honda or Yamaha would have been formidable.

Mick DOOHAN. Absolutely superb. No excuses from the others - he just did it again and again and again. What an AMAZING period with AMAZING riders.

I remember Rob Mac recounting the story of beating Kevin Schwantz, I had never heard it before but found it hilarious, managed to meet Kevin(my bike hero) on a few occasions at various shows/events and found incredible what a personable guy he was and very very funny! And like Niall said, his loyalty to Suzuki was probably the reason he never had greater world championship wins

Absolutely brilliant, my teenage hero explaining about what I think was the golden era of racing. Thanks Taylor and Niall 😁

What a treat with Niall narrating , fabulous insight into the past behind the scenes, tell tale all their secrets lol, Niall turned those respectful racers into party animals lolol , i still laugh at his story he told other riders of how he got into Motorcycle Racing , but the Rob McElnea nightclub story is the best yet, those doormen must have been drunk lol , Niall you will always be a legend, great Video Taylor thank you.

What a treat . Best Era . Men were men . Thx Niall Legend

A great video Taylor, but it makes me feel old. My mates and I used to go to Brands Hatch and British GP at Silverstone in the days of Barry Sheener, Kenny Roberts, and Agostini, although I have seen Mick Doohan ride and marvelled at his power slides. Wow that was exciting stuff. I remember Sheene being pissed off at Kenny Robert's riding style as it slowed him mid corner, but I guess you have to adapt. We all used to get Motorcycle News every Wednesday, and I can remember some great stories like John Kocinski's OCD and how he upset his neighbours getting home from racing in the early morning, and dragging his carpets out to his front yard/garden to vacuum them. I'm 72 now and sold my last bike (Suzuki TL1000R) 20 years ago. Strangely that was because of doing track days at Cadwell Park, which gave me a false perspective on what were safe speeds on public roads, and knowing as a certainty that that bike was going to kill me. The excitement we all got from the speed and acceleration of those bikes was an experience we'll never forget. Goodness knows what it would be like to ride current 200BHP superbikes, but even now I'd still like to try one out.

Great stories there. That was a different time and must have been awesome to be a part of it. Thanks for sharing, Niall.

A sport where you really need 2 big balls. Love your work Niall

What a fascinating insight into these giants of the 500cc era! This was the time I started following GP racing, with the rise of Wayne Gardner, and I watched all these guys race week after week. Thanks Niall, for such a candid look at these incredible riders!

I absolutely loved watching all of these guys racing , I've been a big fan of King Kenny Robert's since 78 when he won his first of three world championships.

Absolute gold. I could’ve watched an hour of that. 😃

Loved that Niall, out of the crew you mentioned , on Lawson (big fan) , that steve McQueen quote always comes into my head… ‘Racing is life, anything before or after is just waiting!’ . Schwantz always looked like he was trying 110% , very entertaining, but when you re-run some of those GP’s OMG! 🙈 ..Mick Doohan, when he broke his leg that badly at Assen, I believe they wanted to amputate, I read Dr Costa saved the leg, his comeback was incredible , even more determined to win the crown, as a Fan 500 GP Smoker riders we salute you 🙌🏻

Great memories with my dad going to Assen TT. Watching King Kenny Robert’s and Fast Freddie Spencer just going back and forth for the lead. Got great photos on trackside.

I was at Sears Point for a US GP event during the time that Kenny Roberts was tearing up Europe on a 500cc. He rode his 500 against the 750cc bikes of the locals and ABSOLUTELY CLEANED THEIR CLOCKS.

I grew up watching these guys. Freddie Spencer and Kevin Schwantz were my heroes. But I'll never forget standing at Redgate Corner when Niall swept into the lead of the British GP. What a day.

Niall has always been a hero and great guy... I am so embarrassed that in the late 90s I was at Silverstone with Chas Mortimer racing school and Niall was testing an Armstrong 250, with his leg in cast... he came past me sooo fast and dropped into the corner with his plastered leg sticking out, I just shook my head, realising the league he was in.... however, the really embarrassing bit was when my girlfriend and I, on a whim, asked him if he could be best man at our upcoming wedding! Niall so graciously decline without even the slightest belittling of us, such a gentleman... I can't see him now on Y T without feeling a little cringy at my childish request. Anyway, we are stilll happily married and it makes a good story for our children and now grandchildren. Thank you Niall for not making me feel even more of a fool :)

watched these guys as a kid. i still think they were the best :)

These 500’s were lethal. They just waited for the moment to punish you. Back then it took more or less a year to learn the bikes and then the next year to be world champion. Today the riders go from GP 2 to MotoGP and start winning races from the word go.

Fascinating thoughts from a great racer. Thanks for sharing this 👍🏻

Bring back the 500cc 2 strokes - that was the most exciting racing ever. Today it looks tame.

Great video! All the riders mentioned are the reason I am a big Moto GP fan to this day. Those 500cc 2 stroke bikes were epic to watch back in the day.

Wow a moment of clarity for Mad Mark!! But seriously, how cool is your Dad, what a life!

Really good reflection on the golden era. All riders were heroes then - tracks were dangerous, bikes were dangerous and safety equipment was basic, but riders gave it 100%.

Absolutely brilliant! I grew up looking up to these guys on smoking, screaming 2 stroke beasts. I miss those days when riders were riders, riding hard, spoke straight and partied hard. 👍🏻 None of those F1-risqué towing company line, being robot like, riding bikes with all sorts of electronic aids. I still remember quote by Wayne Rainey ‘I wouldn’t even use Dunlop hat for toilet paper!’ Can’t imagine current riders saying that!

50 years ago when Eddie Lawson was a little kid on his 100cc Kawasaki I was a big kid on a 650 Yamaha. We raced every weekend at a local Southern California TT dirt track. We would often win our respective classes so at the end of the night we, and all the other class winners would race the sweepstakes. Eddie being on the smallest bike would get at least a half lap head start. But after 3 laps the mob of bigger bikes would be getting really close. I tried, I swear I tried several times to block the mob so Eddie could win but I just couldn’t pull it off. I still feel bad about it to this day however since he went on to a very successful professional career I’d say he showed us who the true winner was.

Kev was my fav too. His braking was totally fearless.

This is the era that I fell in love with bikes and my god it was amazing absolutely amazing. What a great video and I wish it went on for hours as I could listen all day , cheers for this as it was special and revisited when I was younger

Fascinating.

What a brilliant era of racing, so many great battles between the best of the best, even the supporting cast deserve high praise to take the battle to that top 5, not forgetting Randy, probably the best rider never to win a title. Having been born in Scotland and immigrating to Australia at an early age my 2 favourite riders were mad Mark and the Wollongong Wiz.

Can you believe it, 170bhp on those 500cc 2 stroke at the time, imagine how much power would be possible to squeeze with the technology we have now in a 2 stroke

I think you were right about Kevin could have won more titles on a different bike. He should won the 89 title and just seemed to give it away to Eddie.But I also think you did a great job no matter what you rode. Yea you had Erv your first year, but it was your first year. How many people win in their first year. I personally think you could have won races and titles on the Rothmans Honda.You went good on every bike you raced, even the Suzuki and Christians Yamaha when he was hurt. So I think you were as good as most 500 riders.Look at Randy, so sad he never won a title.But you were right there with them guys. You are a great ambassador for the sport!!!

Wonderful stuff we love hearing about all the great men that rode those beasts.

Some proper legends back then, yourself included Niall 👍

At 6:05, Neil talking about Eddie "GO AWAY" welcome matt -

Without a doubt the two stroke era was the golden era of track heroes like Roberts, Rainey, Schwantz, Sheene, Doohan, Lawson and fittingly Rossi winning the final two stroke championship, the 500s were untameable beasts unlike todays MotoGP bikes that you could use for your daily commute.

Great to hear perspectives on older riders from those that were there. Thanks Taylor! (and Mad Mark!)

This is a truly special insight into the era when I started riding on the road as a 16 year old and taking an interest in the 500cc World Championship, early 1987. That just happened to coincide with Wayne Gardner’s rise to the top for that year. I think it was also the first year it was broadcast here on Australian TV. I think my most memorable race of that year was Salzburgring, with lots of lead changes and high speeds. A certain Niall MacKenzie was on the podium there, if memory serves me right.

You were my Super Hero!!!!

Funny how only 1 of these riders' "weakness" was nothing to do with racing. Very astute of Niall.

It wasn't called motogp when the 500s were raced, just gp or grand prix. Once the 1000 4 strokes were adopted, yes, motogp. My bf raced AMA sbk and WERA endurance, lived and breathed racing for 2 decades. We remember every detail passionately. Excellent video btw. Remember gp and the US version, f1, like it was yesterday. 😊

the pinnicle of GP timeframes to me , i could listen to hours of these stories.great video!

Great video! Hard to say which is the best era late 80/early 90s or today in terms of racing but your dad’s era definitely had more characters and more fun by the sound of it!

Well done! Great stories and photos. The music bursts annoying, but I managed to get the the finish line and subscribed for more.

Interesting video, thanks. I had the pleasure of meeting you when you was hanging out with my friend Doug Chandler around Laguna Seca.

Neil you were a brilliant 500cc gp racer yourself

I rate Rainey as the greatest of them. Maybe Eddie Lawson as well. Lawson jumped on the Honda after Gardner and Doohan did nothing but complain about it, and won the championship. Says it all really. If Rainey didn’t have that accident, Doohan wouldn’t have won his 5. Though hey, they were all amazing riders and the best era hands down.

Not many riders could ride these. I remember 'the stalker' Chris Walker going from the big four strokes to the GP circuit. He really struggled on the shell bike.

Looking forward to more of the same!. Keep them coming TeamMac

Thanks Niall for great memories. I remember the racing back then, I remember you being in the mix most of the time. BIG MEN BIG BALLS. The 2 strokes were unforgiving period but you guys made them work and mesmerised us normal guys every time you went out! I started following 500GP from the Barry Sheen and Kenny Roberts days. The modern era can not get my pulse going, and I have stopped actively following the races etc. Isle of Man and the other road races are always up there. For me the characters from those days made the the whole scene. From lets say about 1998 till now there has been Casey Stoner, what a rider! and not a corperate puppet, Valentino Rossi, again what a rider and character, and Marco Simoncelli, bit like Kevin Schwantz in my opinion. In 50 years Niall you and the guys from your era will still be remembered and talked about. The guys from the last few years not so much I think.

Excellent. Great Insight to Great riders.. Cheers lads🥃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍👍

Thank you, Niall. Happy 2022 to your family, especially your boys. They're a credit to you, and their mum of course! 👊🏻

The good old days. More from Niall please Taylor!

Met you at WSB last year. 1989 at Donnington was my first GP, hooked ever since, I was a Schwantz fan and that Pepsi Suzuki looked immense, he took Rainey on the Marlborough Yamaha near the end and got the win. Gardner crashed out at McLeans, I think you took 5th on the Marlborough Yamaha. Earnshaws motorcycles in Huddersfield had a Marlborough Yamaha in around couple of years ago, told me they picked it up for a bargain price, might have been one of Raineys. Spent a lot of time looking at that, what a piece of engineering, 500 two stroke, carbon disks the lot ✊ Two stokes forever, smell the Castrol R 👍

I've got the same book at home, and there's some pics in there of you guys (legands) in a club on a night out... I think you should elaborate lol. Great videos guys. Oh and the "miss brazil" contest... looked like tough work 👍

Awesome hearing these stories.

Randy Mamola was absolutely incredible winning at a soaking wet Spa in 1986! 🙂

That was a lot of fun. Thank you for sharing your story’s and experiences.

When Kocinski won Laguna on the Cagiva, I think ‘1993, I was there from the first oaractice session. JK was leaving darkies from both front and rear tires through turn 9,(Raineys corner) and I predicted his win after Doohan tired out from his awful leg injury. This is exactly how it happened. Kocinski rode that 500 on an entirely different level than I had ever seen in the many years before. Most times that level of aggression would wipe out the tires , but Kocinski was already riding and sliding as if on worn tires! It was amazing. I’ve watched Rainey, Schwantz and Lawson win the USGP before, but Kocinski did it in the most badass way possible! It was awesome to see!

I really really enjoyed listening to the feedback of riders who I loved to watch race, excellent 👌

Taylor, I am of an age when I remember all these riders competing, and to hear your da talking about these times and the riders were brilliant. It's a bit like remembering all the heavyweight boxes fighting in the late 60s and 70s. The best people and the best times. sláinte

Subscribed! Great perspective on a bygone era. I remember Suzuki RGV 500 being down on power, but Niall Mackenzie had a pretty good season riding on one.

Fascinating. Thanks 👍

The 500 2strokes are still my favorite above the motoGP bikes from now. I still can't get it, why big four strokes in the GP where there were allready superbike races. The sound of 2strokes with the smell of Castrol, the perfect combination

Great to hear stories from back in the day,what a legend of a family and all the best for 2022 and keep the content coming 🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲👍

This was the best era in my eyes. I never missed a GP race on telly. Grew up with all these guys as heroes.

Great to listen to. Mat Oxley’s book is recommended too.

We’ve got to have more of Niall Mackenzie on RU-vid!!!

Those were the days , started for me with Barry & kenny 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Brilliant

This is fantastic, always intrigued by the Grand Prix bikes of yester years but didn’t know much

Cheers Niall & Taylor - really enjoyed this! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I went to the Superkart world finals in Las Vegas with Eddie as his mechanic back In '96, and remember him taking out that "GO AWAY" welcome map after arriving at the track on Wednesday and placing it at the foot of the steps of his motorhome- my girlfriend Teresa's job was to prevent people from bothering him - she'd knock on the door when his next practice session was up, and out he'd come, all suited up and ready for battle like it was a 500cc Grand prix- I'm wondering it that's the same mat??

What a great era for motorcycling generally…

Cracking content. You are lucky having a dad like Niall who seems to have a laugh at most things. You still doing the James Whitham track days?

Excellent, brilliant insight. Just makes me sad that Retro-RR magazine never took off - so many stories to be told from a way more colourful era of racing! And Niall's column was great!

Brilliant insight

A great rider talks about other great riders as they were all competing with the greatest race machines on two wheels ever conceived.

Amazing time. The best of the best.

This was fabulous, Niall!

Great days and bloody heroes

Thumbs Up !! Thanks Niall , as an Aussie that grew up and worked in the Racing Industry back then it brings back many Happy Memories of days past. Yes , All of your lot were Supermen :)

The 1986 Castrol 6h was the first road bike race I went to. I was 5 but because the company my dad worked for sponsored another local Wollongong rider we went. I will have to find the pic of me sitting on the bike you and Wayne rode that weekend with Wayne flanking me making sure I didnt fall off haha. Great content from one of the greatest riders to never win a GP. Good to see you still looking young and spritely Mr Mackenzie.

While I think your pop Niall may be a little biased toward this era for obvious reasons, I have to agree with him. No traction control, narrow powerbands, the bikes of that era must have been absolute beasts to race and the guys he listed are legends for sure. Honourable mention in my opinion for the era would have to go to Randy Mamola and your dad as both didn't have the luxury of being settled in one team for a long time which I am sure added to their challenge. Thanks to Niall for sharing his personal stories.