Kocinski opens up a small gap to Schwantz, then a gap to a 3-man fight for 3rd between Rainey, Gardner and Doohan.
Schwantz takes the lead from Kocinski as Rainey arrives to make it a trio. Doohan makes it a quartet on lap 7.
Rainey and Schwantz drop Doohan and Kocinski, and they are swapping the lead often.
On the penultimate lap approaching the Melbourne Hairpin, from far behind Schwantz swoops in on Rainey on the brakes and passes around the outside in one of Schwantz's most memorable overtaking maneuvers. Rainey is not able to recover while Schwantz widens his lead to a comfortable gap as he crosses the finish line.[4][better source needed]