34 Facts About Randy Mamola

Randy Mamola was born on November 10,1959 and is an American former professional motorcycle racer and television sports presenter.

Randy Mamola competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing between 1979 and 1992.

Randy Mamola was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.

In 2018, Randy Mamola was inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame by FIM.

Randy Mamola began competing in dirt track racing in Northern California and earned sponsorship from Yamaha when he was 14.

Randy Mamola then focused on road racing with coaching from former racer, Ron Grant.

Randy Mamola 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, Randy 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.

Randy Mamola's performance earned him a place on the American team for the 1979 Transatlantic Trophy match races.

Randy Mamola entered the 1979 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, Randy Mamola moved up to the premier class and took over the team's Suzuki RG 500.

Randy Mamola ended his rookie season ranked fourth in the 250cc class and eighth in the 500cc class.

However, Randy Mamola was able to turn things around and won the first 500cc Grand Prix race of his career at the 1980 Belgian Grand Prix, making him the youngest Grand Prix premier class winner in history at the age of 20 years, 239 days, surpassing the previous record set in 1961 by Mike Hailwood.

Randy Mamola won again at the British Grand Prix to close the gap on Roberts to 13 points as they entered the final race of the season held at the daunting, 14.2 miles long Nurburgring racetrack, considered too dangerous for the Formula One championship.

Randy Mamola won the pole position however, his motorcycle experienced fouled spark plugs during the race, relegating him to fifth place.

Randy Mamola completed his first full season in the premier class with an impressive second place in the final standings behind Roberts.

Randy Mamola ended the 1980 season with a victory at the prestigious Mallory Park Race of the Year.

Randy Mamola's performance was negatively affected by a helmet visor that misted in cool or damp weather forcing him to slow his pace.

Spencer and Roberts each won 6 of the season's 12 races as Randy Mamola rode to a respectable third place in the championship standings.

Randy Mamola lost his job when Suzuki withdrew from Grand Prix racing after the 1983 season however, when Spencer suffered an injury during the pre-season 1984 Trans-Atlantic Match Races, Honda contracted him to join their racing team.

Randy Mamola rode the Honda NS 500 to a second-place finish behind Eddie Lawson at the 1984 Spanish Grand Prix in his Honda debut.

Randy Mamola went on to win three of the last five races of the season, including a win at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone aboard the new, V4 Honda NSR500 which featured an upside down chassis with its fuel tank beneath the engine and its exhaust pipes routed over the top of the engine.

Randy Mamola had a disappointing season in 1985 when Spencer and Lawson dominated however, he did manage to win one race at the Dutch TT.

Randy Mamola held the motorcycle upright while it careened off the track before he was able to swing his left leg back onto the machine and regained control.

Randy Mamola joined the newly formed Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team in 1986.

At the French Grand Prix, Randy Mamola was lying in second place on the final lap when he performed a stoppie just prior to crossing the finish line.

Randy Mamola began the 1987 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.

Randy Mamola then joined Cagiva to help them develop their Cagiva C589 race bike.

Randy Mamola stayed with the Italian team for three years, but lack of funds hampered the team's success.

Randy Mamola scored his final podium finish with a third place at the 1992 500cc Hungarian Grand Prix and finished the season ranked 10th in the world championship.

Randy Mamola won a total of 13 Grands Prix and finished second in the championship four times: in 1980,1981,1984 and 1987.

Randy Mamola later became a television commentator for motorcycle Grand Prix races as well as working as a columnist for several motorcycle magazines.

Randy Mamola began his charity work while he was still racing in 1986 when, he became involved with the global charity program Save the Children.

Randy 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.