Wayne Rainey

WAYNE RAINEY

ON EQUAL FOOTING

WAYNE RAINEY PULLS OFF HIS HELMET AND reaches for a cold bottle of water. His leathers are soaked with sweat from his last session on the track. The hundreds of vent holes Kenny Roberts had crudely punched in them earlier in the day help dissipate some body heat, but with the asphalt temperature at the Brazilian racetrack nearing 150 degrees, there is only so much Rainey can do to remain cool. He drains the water bottle, then leans back in his chair while his bike is fitted with yet another new set of tires for him to try during the first tire test of the year. “This is a real job,” he says. “It’s not as glamorous as people think.”

But that’s just fine with the 29-year-old Rainey: He’s not in it for the glamour. His full attention is devoted to going as fast as he possibly can anytime he's on a racebike. “If I don’t push it to the limit every time, I don’t feel like I learn anything,” he says.

I hat commitment is evident even as Rainey rests between sessions. His eyes grow more intense and his face becomes taut as he thinks about how he might brake a little deeper, get through a corner a little faster and push the tires a little harder.

Rainey expects as much of his mechanics as he does of himself. He and his current tuner, Howard Gregory, first worked together 1984 when the two spent a frustrating year racing in Europe for Team Roberts in the 250 class. They hooked up again in 1988 when Rainey returned to GP racing after winning the ’87 AMA Superbike title. “I can't be fighting my mechanics,” says Rainey. “I can only do my job better if we work together.”

Rainey hopes to learn a lot this season from his new teammate, Eddie Lawson. He enthusiastically supported the move to bring Lawson on board, and is looking forward to drawing from the four-time-champ's experience. But that doesn't mean the rivalry between the two will ease up; Rainey wants to beat Lawson fair and square. “It will be great competing on equal equipment.” he says.

That also means both riders will be on the same rubber. Last season, Rainey's biggest handicap was his Dunlop tires. The front was fine but the rear tended to lose grip in mid-corner. “I could see when the guys on Michelins would get on the gas, he says, “but I'd have to wait, watch them pull away, then slowly roll on the throttle. If I'd nail it too early, I would be on my head.”

Roberts feels that Lawson will help Rainey accelerate his learning curve on bike setup, as well. “Right now, Eddie is better at sorting out a bike, but in a year or so. Wayne will be right with him.”

That has to be a scary thought for the competition, especially when they look a few years ahead and see Lawson, Rainey and Kocinski working to become the best team in GP history. “I'm sure everyone will be gunning for us,” admits Rainey, “but we’ll just be doing our job.”