Randy Mamola

Randy Edward Mamola (born November 10, 1959) is an American former professional motorcycle racer and television sports presenter. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing between and . A 13-time Premier Class race winner, Mamola was one of the most charismatic Grand Prix road racers of his generation, becoming a favourite because of his interaction with race fans both on and off the track as well as his aggressive and spirited riding style.

Over the span of his thirteen-year 500cc world championship road racing career, Mamola finished runner-up in the championship four times in , , and . Mamola's 13 wins and 54 podiums in the Premier Class makes him one of the most accomplished riders to not win the 500cc World Championship. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2018, Mamola was inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame by FIM.

After his racing career, Mamola became involved in philanthropy, helping to found the Riders for Health charity organization and more recently Two Wheels for Life. Mamola currently works as a television sports commentator.

Motorcycle racing career

Born in San Jose, California, Mamola grew up interested in a career as a musician, playing in a band at the age of ten. He gained his first international exposure in 1977 when Grant took him to compete in the New Zealand Marlboro Series where, Mamola made a positive impression.

In 1977, Mamola graduated from high school and began competing professionally in the AMA 250cc road racing championship, finishing as runner up to David Emde in the final standings. In his second year, he won the 1978 AMA 250cc road racing title and began drawing similarities to Kenny Roberts, earning the nickname, "Baby Kenny".

Mamola entered the 250cc Grand Prix road racing world championships competing on a Yamaha powered Bimota race bike but, after having a difference of opinion with his Italian sponsors, he switched to a Yamaha TZ-250 sponsored by Serge Zago. When Zago's 500cc rider, Mike Baldwin became injured at mid-season, Mamola moved up to the premier class and took over the team's Suzuki RG 500. His record would be broken in 1982 by Freddie Spencer (20 years, 196 days). He completed his first full season in the premier class with an impressive second place in the final standings behind Roberts.

In , Mamola started the season strongly with two victories and two second-place finishes to take the lead in the championship, but then Gallina-Suzuki rider, Marco Lucchinelli took command with four victories in the next five races to claim the 1981 500cc world championship. Mamola's crew chief, Jeremy Burgess, who later became crew chief for seven-time World Champion, Valentino Rossi, expressed his belief that Mamola would have won the championship if he had been able to use the Michelin tires employed by Lucchinelli rather than the Dunlop tires used by his British based team. His performance was also negatively affected by a helmet visor that misted in cool or damp weather forcing him to slow his pace. The season was dominated by Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts. The first-year NSR500 was maligned for its poor handling characteristics, which became apparent only after the fuel load decreased during races, upsetting the chassis weight distribution. Mamola began the season with a victory at the Japanese Grand Prix but then Gardner went on a streak, winning four of the next five races to take command of the championship. The organization also provides training in vehicle maintenance to help insure the delivery of medical assistance. Mamola is the figurehead for the charity at motorsports events across the globe, helping raise money by soliciting donations from MotoGP racers of items such as helmets, gloves and other items to be auctioned off. His fund-raising activities also include providing passengers an opportunity to experience a fast lap of a race track aboard a special two-seater Ducati MotoGP bike.

Grand Prix career statistics Source:

Points system from 1969 to 1987: Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 Points system from 1988 to 1992: Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Points 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)