Riders were concerned about the track surface and bumpiness; with Michael Scott, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Mick Doohan all against racing (which would have decided the championship for Doohan), but the race went on anyway.

[1] John Kocinski took pole ahead of Rainey, Wayne Gardner and Kevin Schwantz.

Doohan, returning from his crash in the TT Assen earlier in the year, qualified 14th.

Rainey took the lead from Kocinski and Schwantz, and built a gap from the close pack of Kocinski, Schwantz and Doug Chandler.

Kocinski eventually pulled a late-braking pass to move from 4th to 2nd, overtaking Chandler and Schwantz.