Rainey gets the start of the new 4-column grid, followed by Mick Doohan, Eddie Lawson and the field.

Rainey goes through the chicane with a sub-second gap, followed by Lawson, Doohan, Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Gardner.

Lawson, who came out of 1989 without a race crash, begins the season with a DNF and a broken left ankle.

Last lap and Rainey has an untouchable lead, and Gardner goes slightly wide heading towards the chicane, but manages to hold Schwantz off; as they flick it right and then left, Schwantz touches Gardner's back tire and drops his bike.

Because it happened at such a low speed, Schwantz is able to get back on quickly and still cross the line in third place.