Best Ever MotoGP Qualifying Lap Mick Doohan TT Assen June 26 1998 YT

The qualifying session is stopped because off the crash with Ralf Waldmann. There is only 2 minutes and 12 seconds left off qualifying time. Still this is enough for Mick Doohan and he is going for the pole position. Watch and enjoy!

[CaptainScarlet]

I became life threateningly ill in 98 & these guys helped pull me through it by giving me something to look forward to, I'm so eternally grateful to them for that :-)

[pinslayer]

Doohan unbelievably smooth riding a supposedly unrideable
Truly the golden age of moto GP all of the men who rode in the two stroke era are super human in my mind.

[johnj]

Doohan was such a cool, chilled guy but awesomely fast. I remember reading an article he wrote about a lap of a circuit (can't remember which one now) but the detail in it was staggering. Every inch of that lap he knew what his tyres were doing, how much brake pressure and throttle he was putting in, how much wheelspin he could get away with, how much speed he could scrub off by sliding the bike, which tyre was sliding and when etc etc. I remember thinking how fast these guy's minds must work while racing yet they are so chilled in normal life. Amazing talent and an awesome era.

[nickwilliams]

I always remember a reporter asking Doohan about not looking behind him during the race. His sardonic reply was " the race track is in front of me and who ever is behind me is second, not first"

[jamesd]

What a great reminder of just how brutally fast Mick Doohan really was, absolute legend.

[UnleashedCode]

Crafar.... a true gentleman.... pretty masterful display by Doohan

[Fauxjob]

RIP Ralf Waldmann and Norick Abe, both great guys who died much too early off the track, not in racing. Quick Mick is the legend, Simon the gentleman, the 90's were an awesome time for MotoGP.

[josesardinas]

Years after Doohan retired, I still believe he's been the best ever. Watching this guy ride was peak fun, all the time. Pitty what MotoGP has become 😞

[rparello]

His riding style was so classy. He rode the bike, no elbows or shoulders on the ground, no body out of the bike, no advanced electronics, no seamless gears. Pure talent, and that's it.

[maccamacca]

Crafar what a great display of sportsmanship.
Mick, well what can you say....legend.

[AussieBattler]

Doohan on a 500cc unbeatable in his era . Absolutely incredible

[MiticoRaimond]

Not enough words to decribe it. First of all, unbelievable Doohan's performance. Secondly, infinite respecto for Simon Crafar, true sportsman. And finally, Dennis Noyes at the microphone, probably the best comentator ever. Just amazing.

[robertrishel]

I remember watching this live on TV, the man is a legend. Absolute legend👍

[peterweeden]

Mick is a living legend of the sports world full stop.

[vrossi]

Awesome.. no traction control or over complicated electrics, just a raw 500cc bad ass bike and rider.. Thanks for your upload 😁

[jokern]

Simon is just a wonderfully positive person. Love to see him in the pits asking questions. And Mick..what’s to say..superhero maybe..
Moto GP is the best

[peterward]

Born to race and in a sport of overly inflated egos a truly humble bloke. How many title's would he have won if he hadn't of badly injured himself..LEGEND!!

[bloffs]

So I must have been living under a rock.
I love Simon commentating on the Motogp but did not know until I watched this that he was a GP500 rider.
I thought he was just a technical guy.
Even more respect for him now and so gracious in his respect for Mick.

[VMVarge]

I was in the Netherlands and watched this live, one of my best memories from Mick Doohan, thanks for uploading

[chrisheggie]

So, so many anecdotes about Mick Doohan. I met him three times and he was the consummate gentleman but only for as long as he needed. He was always more comfortable in his own company I think. When asked by a journalist why he went back to the screamer his reply was that anyone could ride the Honda big bang engine (and it was reconned to be quicker as a consequence) and he wanted to prove it was his own riding that put him out front. Few would argue. Another piece of tech he eschewed was the quick shifter and HRC telemetry indicated he was quicker at shifting than Creville even without it.