A fairly rare image: Eddie Lawson on his 1989 Honda NSR500 GP bike. Lawson won the world championship on the machine, which was renown as 'the bike that would not steer'. image thanks, suzuki circuit

American world champion Eddie Lawson was in Japan over the weekend, putting in a promotional appearance at a vintage festival at the Suzuka circuit. Lawson is an ex-four time world champion and is only one of a few riders to win consecutive world championships on two different make of motorcycles.

Lawson rode a variety of motorcycles at Suzuka last weekend, including the Kanemoto/Rothmans NSR500 he took to the '89 title and the OW01 that he and Tadahiko Taira won the Suzuka 8 hours on in 1990 (Lawson's not too happy about having to do the 8 hour post race quote will live in paddock lore forever: "I just kept doing laps. Later, someone mentioned we won."). Lawson signed autographs for the Japanese fans and also rode an older YZR500 at the event.