Michael Doohan.

MICHAEL DOOHAN. 

There were times in the late 1990s when it seemed as if 500cc Grand Prix racing was all about one man Australian Michael Doohan. Despite a 1992 crash in which he almost lost part of his right leg. Doohan went on to establish himself among the greats by winning five world championships, in succession, a feat previously only achieved by the legendary Italian Giacomo Agostini. In 1997, he had already beaten Agostini's  25 year old record for the most wins in a 500cc season by taking 12 of the 15GP rounds-to win by a staggering 143 points.

NATURAL SUPERSTAR.

Doohan began riding as a nine year old in Brisbane, Australia, but was 19 before he made his road riding debut on a Yamaha RZ350. He soon established himself as one of Australia's leading riders and gained a place in the 1988 Marlboro Yamaha Team-with spectacular success, taking 16 wins from 33 starts in Formula One and Superbikes. Besieged with offers from GP teams Doohan joined Honda in 1989 for his 500cc debut. Within two years, he confirmed his position among the top riders, not only by coming second in the series, but also by finishing on the rostrum more than anyone else. Injuries prevented him taking the title until the 1994 season, which he won by the 11th round with an unbeatable lead of 87 points, also becoming the first rider since 1968 to achieve a podium place in every round. From then on, Doohan was almost unbeatable, setting record after record to establish himself as the greatest phenomenon in modern racing.