Randy Mamola: Difference between revisions
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| death_place = |
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|GP Active years = |
|GP Active years = {{MGP|1979}} - {{MGP|1990}}, {{MGP|1992}} |
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|GP Teams = [[Suzuki]], [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]], [[Honda]], [[Cagiva]] |
|GP Teams = [[Suzuki]], [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]], [[Honda]], [[Cagiva]] |
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|GP Race Starts = 151 |
|GP Race Starts = 151 |
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|GP Total Points = 1050 |
|GP Total Points = 1050 |
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|GP Poles = 5 |
|GP Poles = 5 |
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|GP Fastest laps = |
|GP Fastest laps = 12 |
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|GP First race = [[1979 |
|GP First race = [[1979 Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix|1979 250cc Venezuelan Grand Prix]] |
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|GP First win = [[1980 |
|GP First win = [[1980 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|1980 500cc Belgian Grand Prix]] |
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|GP Last win = [[1987 |
|GP Last win = [[1987 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|1987 500cc San Marino Grand Prix]] |
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|GP Last race = [[1992 |
|GP Last race = [[1992 South African motorcycle Grand Prix|1992 500cc South African Grand Prix]] |
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'''Randy Mamola''' (born November 10, 1959) is an [[Americans|American]] former professional [[Motorcycle racing|motorcycle racer]] and television sports presenter. He competed in [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] between {{MGP|1979}} and {{MGP|1992}}. A 13-time [[MotoGP|Premier Class]] race winner, Mamola was one of the most charismatic Grand Prix [[Road racing|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. |
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After his racing career, he became involved in philanthropy, helping to found the [[Riders for Health]] charity organization and more recently Two Wheels for Life. Over the span of his thirteen-year 500cc world championship [[road racing]] career, Mamola finished second in the championship four times and ranked in the top ten 11 times, making him one of the most accomplished competitors never to have won a 500cc world championship.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/><ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/><ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes">{{cite book |title=Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes |last=DeWitt |first=Norm |year=2010 |publisher=MBI Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-61060-045-3 |page=203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q25p0M_Zm7QC&q=randy+mamola+new+zealand&pg=PA203 |access-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[American Motorcyclist Association|AMA]] [[Motorcycle Hall of Fame]] in 2000.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> In 2018, Mamola was named a [[MotoGP Hall of Fame|Grand Prix Legend]] by the [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]].<ref name="MotoGP Legends">{{cite web |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2018/02/09/randy-mamola-to-become-a-motogp-legend/249310 |title=Randy Mamola to become a MotoGP™ Legend |publisher=motogp.com |access-date=11 February 2018 }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Over the span of his thirteen-year 500cc world championship [[road racing]] career, Mamola finished runner-up in the championship four times in {{MGP|1980}}, {{MGP|1981}}, {{MGP|1984}} and {{MGP|1987}}. 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.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Randy+Mamola |title=Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com |publisher=motogp.com |access-date=2 March 2016 }}</ref> He was inducted into the [[American Motorcyclist Association|AMA]] [[Motorcycle Hall of Fame]] in 2000.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame">{{cite web |url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=221&lpos=0px&letter=M&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 |title=Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame |publisher=motorcyclemuseum.org |access-date=2 March 2016 }}</ref> In 2018, Mamola was inducted into the [[MotoGP Hall of Fame|MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame]] by [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]].<ref name="MotoGP Legends">{{cite web |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2018/02/09/randy-mamola-to-become-a-motogp-legend/249310 |title=Randy Mamola to become a MotoGP™ Legend |date=8 February 2018 |publisher=motogp.com |access-date=11 February 2018 }}</ref> |
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After his racing career, he 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]]. |
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==Motorcycle racing career== |
==Motorcycle racing career== |
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Born in [[San Jose, California]], Mamola grew up interested in a career as a musician, playing in a band at the age of 10.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> However, when he turned 12 his interests turned to motorcycle racing, idolizing fellow Northern Californian motorcycle racer, [[Kenny Roberts]].<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> He began competing in [[Track racing|dirt track]] racing in Northern California and earned sponsorship from [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] when he was 14.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> Mamola then focused on [[road racing]] with coaching from former racer, [[Ron Grant (motorcyclist)|Ron Grant]].<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> 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.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/><ref>{{cite |
Born in [[San Jose, California]], Mamola grew up interested in a career as a musician, playing in a band at the age of 10.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> However, when he turned 12 his interests turned to motorcycle racing, idolizing fellow Northern Californian motorcycle racer, [[Kenny Roberts]].<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> He began competing in [[Track racing|dirt track]] racing in Northern California and earned sponsorship from [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] when he was 14.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> Mamola then focused on [[road racing]] with coaching from former racer, [[Ron Grant (motorcyclist)|Ron Grant]].<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes">{{cite book |title=Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes |last=DeWitt |first=Norm |year=2010 |publisher=MBI Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-61060-045-3 |page=203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q25p0M_Zm7QC&q=randy+mamola+new+zealand&pg=PA203 |access-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLL2WNfLalsC&q=new+zealand+randy+mamola&pg=RA3-PA92 |title=Race Watch |author=Riggs, D. Randy |year=1977 |magazine=Cycle World |access-date=2 March 2016 }}</ref> |
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In 1977, Mamola graduated from high school and began competing professionally in the [[American Motorcyclist Association|AMA]] 250cc road racing championship, finishing as runner up to David Emde in the final standings.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/><ref name="Alone In Europe">{{cite |
In 1977, Mamola graduated from high school and began competing professionally in the [[American Motorcyclist Association|AMA]] 250cc road racing championship, finishing as runner up to David Emde in the final standings.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/><ref name="Alone In Europe">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0o1ii_30AkC&q=alone+in+europe+mamola&pg=RA6-PA67 |title=Alone In Europe |author=Ulrich, John |year=1980 |magazine=Cycle World |access-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref> 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".<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/><ref name="Alone In Europe"/> His performance earned him a place on the American team for the 1979 [[Transatlantic Trophy]] match races.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> The Transatlantic Trophy match races pitted the best British riders against the top American road racers on 750cc motorcycles in a six-race series in England. As a 250cc rider, Mamola wasn't expected to be a challenger on larger 750cc motorcycles however, he surprised observers by finishing the series as the second highest points scorer behind fellow American [[Mike Baldwin (motorcyclist)|Mike Baldwin]] and ahead of former world champion and top British scorer, [[Barry Sheene]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GvgDAAAAMBAJ&q=trans+atlantic+match+races+randy+mamola&pg=PA34 |title=Underdog Yanks Blitz British |access-date=2 March 2016 |last1=Assoc |first1=American Motorcyclist |date=July 1979 }}</ref> |
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Mamola entered the |
Mamola entered the {{MGP|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.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/><ref name="Alone In Europe"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i8_7wR77B1UC&q=zago+suzuki+mamola&pg=RA7-PA85 |title=Mamola Second in 250cc Points |access-date=3 March 2016 |date=January 1979 }}</ref><ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix">{{Citation |first1=Noyes | last1=Dennis |year=1999 |first2=Michael | last2=Scott |title=Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix |publisher =Hazleton Publishing Ltd |isbn=1-874557-83-7 }}</ref> 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]].<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> Despite competing in only half of the 500cc races, he scored a second place at the [[1979 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix|Finnish Grand Prix]] then, led the [[1979 French motorcycle Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]] for five laps before being passed by Barry Sheene and finishing in second place just ahead of his boyhood idol, Kenny Roberts.<ref name="Alone In Europe"/> He ended his rookie season ranked fourth in the 250cc class and eighth in the 500cc class.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> |
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[[File:500cc klasse met aan kop Randy Mamola (2), Will Hartog (44), Middelburg (22) Ken, Bestanddeelnr 931-0178.jpg|thumb|left|Mamola (2) leads [[Jack Middelburg]] (22), [[Wil Hartog]] (44) and [[Kenny Roberts]] (1) during a 500cc Dutch Invitational race at the [[Circuit Zandvoort|Zandvoort Circuit]] in 1980.]] |
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His exceptional rookie season earned him a full sponsorship from the [[Suzuki MotoGP|Suzuki factory racing team]] for the |
His exceptional rookie season earned him a full sponsorship from the [[Suzuki MotoGP|Suzuki factory racing team]] for the {{MGP|1980}} season, filling the position vacated by Barry Sheene who departed to race a [[Privateer (motorsport)|privateer]] Yamaha.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> Mamola and the Suzuki team struggled early in the season as defending champion Kenny Roberts won the first three races of the year. However, Mamola was able to turn things around and won the first 500cc Grand Prix race of his career at the [[1980 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|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 {{MGP|1961}} by [[Mike Hailwood]] (21 years, 75 days).<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/><ref name="Who are the youngest Grand Prix premier class winners?">{{Cite web |last=Sports |first=Dorna |title=Who are the youngest Grand Prix premier class winners? |url=https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/07/20/who-are-the-youngest-grand-prix-premier-class-winners/334503 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=www.motogp.com |date=20 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> His record would be broken in 1982 by [[Freddie Spencer]] (20 years, 196 days).<ref name="Who are the youngest Grand Prix premier class winners?"/> |
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He won again at the [[1980 British motorcycle Grand Prix|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, {{convert|14.2|mi|km}} long [[Nürburgring]] racetrack, considered too dangerous for the [[Formula One]] championship. Mamola won the [[pole position]] however, his motorcycle experienced fouled spark plugs during the race, relegating him to fifth place.<ref name="Fair and Square">{{Citation |first1=Mat | last1=Oxley |year=2024 |title=Fair and Square |work=Classic Bike |publisher=H Bauer Publishing Ltd |issn= 0142-890X }}</ref> He completed his first full season in the premier class with an impressive second place in the final standings behind Roberts.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> Mamola ended the 1980 season with a victory at the prestigious [[Mallory Park Race of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mallorypark.co.uk/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D186%26Itemid%3D79 |title=Race of the Year |accessdate=2013-08-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803115226/http://www.mallorypark.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186&Itemid=79 |archivedate=2011-08-03 }}</ref> |
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In {{MGP|1981}} he started the season strongly with two victories and two second-place finishes to take the lead in the championship, but then [[Roberto Gallina|Gallina]]-Suzuki rider, [[Marco Lucchinelli]] took command with four victories in the next five races to claim the 1981 500cc world championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.motogp.com/en/riders/marco-lucchinelli/a3cef8b7-d874-454c-b7be-08a6f0c9bada?tab=overview |title=Marco Lucchinelli career statistics at MotoGP.com |publisher=motogp.com |access-date=26 October 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://amcn.com.au/editorial/rg-bargy-suzuki-rg500/# |title=SUZUKI RG500: RG BARGY |publisher=amcn.com |accessdate=27 May 2024 }}</ref> His performance was also negatively affected by a helmet visor that misted in cool or damp weather forcing him to slow his pace.<ref name="Fair and Square"/> For the second time in two years, Mamola had finished in second place however, he was only 21-years-old and many observers felt that it was only a matter of time before he would win a World Championship.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/><ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> |
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[[Image:Randy Mamola Pits 2006 0618.jpg|thumb|Mamola in Barcelona (2006)]] |
[[Image:Randy Mamola Pits 2006 0618.jpg|thumb|Mamola in Barcelona (2006)]] |
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A miserable start to the |
A miserable start to the {{MGP|1982}} season saw Mamola struggling to score points however, he recovered to score two second places and a victory in the last three races to finish sixth in the final championship standings.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R_sDAAAAMBAJ&q=1982+randy+mamola&pg=PA56 |title=Parade Lap |access-date=2 March 2016 |last1=Assoc |first1=American Motorcyclist |date=August 1982 }}</ref> The {{MGP|1983}} season was dominated by Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts.<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> While Spencer had the new [[Honda NS500]] and Roberts had a new [[Yamaha YZR500|YZR500]] with a [[V4 engine]], Mamola soldiered on with the once dominant [[Suzuki RG 500 gamma|Suzuki RG 500]].<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> The RG 500 had begun to show its age as, Suzuki's pursuit of a lightweight and compact machine had led to a myriad of handling problems associated with the flexing of the thin aluminum frame tubing.<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> Spencer and Roberts each won 6 of the season's 12 races as Mamola rode to a respectable third place in the championship standings.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/><ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> |
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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.<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> |
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He rode the Honda NS 500 to a second-place finish behind [[Eddie Lawson]] at the 1984 [[1984 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|Spanish Grand Prix]] in his Honda debut.<ref name="50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix"/> Mamola went on to win three of the last five races of the season, including a win at the [[1984 British motorcycle Grand Prix|British Grand Prix]] at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] aboard the new, [[V4 engine|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.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/><ref name="The Honda NSR500 Engine Evolution">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxrepsol.com/en/technology/the-honda-nsr500-engine-evolution/ |title=The Honda NSR500 Engine Evolution |date=22 April 2021 |publisher=boxrepsol.com |accessdate=16 August 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Honda NSR500 Engine Evolution"/> Despite the late season surge, Mamola finished second in the championship behind Lawson.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> It marked the third time in his career that he was runner up in the 500cc world championship.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> |
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Mamola had a disappointing season in |
Mamola had a disappointing season in {{MGP|1985}} when Spencer and Lawson dominated however, he did manage to win one race at the [[1985 Dutch TT|Dutch TT]].<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> 1985 was also the year in which Mamola performed one of the most miraculous saves in motorcycle Grand Prix history at the [[1985 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|San Marino Grand Prix]].<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/><ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> After his rear tire lost and then suddenly regained traction, Mamola was thrown forward over the handlebars.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> In an impressive display of strength and perseverance, Mamola firmly gripped the handlebars while both legs hung off the right side of the motorcycle.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> He 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.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> |
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[[File:Randy Mamola 1989.jpg|225px|thumb|left|Mamola aboard the Cagiva C589 in 1989]] |
[[File:Randy Mamola 1989.jpg|225px|thumb|left|Mamola aboard the Cagiva C589 in 1989]] |
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Mamola joined the newly formed Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team in |
Mamola joined the newly formed Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team in {{MGP|1986}}.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> Riding a YZR-500, he won the [[1986 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|Belgian Grand Prix]] and scored six podium results to finish the season in third place behind Eddie Lawson and [[Wayne Gardner]].<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> At the [[1986 French motorcycle Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]], Mamola was lying in second place on the final lap when he performed a [[stoppie]] just prior to crossing the finish line. Despite not losing a position, Mamola's act incensed Roberts, who viewed it as irresponsible at a time when motorcycle racing was entering an era of increased professionalism with high dollar sponsorship.<ref name="Don Morley's Exposure - Paul Ricard French GP">{{cite web|url=https://www.visordown.com/features/general/don-morleys-exposure-paul-ricard-french-gp|title=Don Morley's Exposure - Paul Ricard French GP|work=visordown.com|access-date=12 December 2022|date=7 September 2009|first=Don|last=Morley|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126055607/https://www.visordown.com/features/general/don-morleys-exposure-paul-ricard-french-gp|archive-date=26 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Mamola began the {{MGP|1987}} season with a victory at the [[1987 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix|Japanese Grand Prix]] but then Gardner went on a streak, winning four of the next five races to take command of the championship.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> Despite scoring two more victories at the [[1987 French motorcycle Grand Prix|French]] and [[1987 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|San Marino]] Grands Prix, as well as nine podium results, he ended the season in second place behind Gardner.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> Roberts decided to shake up his team for the [[1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1988]] season by replacing Mamola and Baldwin with younger riders, [[Wayne Rainey]] and [[Kevin Magee (motorcycle racer)|Kevin Magee]].<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> |
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Mamola then joined [[Cagiva]] to help them develop their [[Cagiva C589]] race bike. He stayed with the Italian team for three years, but lack of funds hampered the team's success. After sitting out the |
Mamola then joined [[Cagiva]] to help them develop their [[Cagiva C589]] race bike. He stayed with the Italian team for three years, but lack of funds hampered the team's success. After sitting out the {{MGP|1991}} season, he returned in {{MGP|1992}} for one last year on a privately supported Yamaha.<ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> He scored his final podium finish with a third place at the [[1992 Hungarian motorcycle Grand Prix|1992 500cc Hungarian Grand Prix]] and finished the season ranked 10th in the world championship.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/><ref name="Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes"/> |
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Mamola won a total of 13 Grands Prix and finished second in the championship four times: in |
Mamola won a total of 13 Grands Prix and finished second in the championship four times: in {{MGP|1980}}, {{MGP|1981}}, {{MGP|1984}} and {{MGP|1987}}.<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/><ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> During his Grand Prix career he rode for [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]], [[Suzuki]], [[Honda]] and [[Cagiva]].<ref name="Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> |
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==Life after racing and charity work== |
==Life after racing and charity work== |
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[[Image:Randy Mamola Ducati 2006 0618.jpg|thumb|right|Mamola demonstrating a dual-seater |
[[Image:Randy Mamola Ducati 2006 0618.jpg|thumb|right|Mamola demonstrating a dual-seater Ducati at Barcelona]] |
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After retiring from competition, Mamola remained involved in motorcycle racing by helping Yamaha develop their race bikes by working as a test rider.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> He later became a television commentator for motorcycle Grand Prix races as well as working as a columnist for several motorcycle magazines.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> |
After retiring from competition, Mamola remained involved in motorcycle racing by helping Yamaha develop their race bikes by working as a test rider.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> He later became a television commentator for motorcycle Grand Prix races as well as working as a columnist for several motorcycle magazines.<ref name="Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"/> |
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* [http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=221&lpos=0px&letter=M&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame] |
* [http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=221&lpos=0px&letter=M&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame] |
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{{MotoGP Legends}} |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Sportspeople from San Jose, California]] |
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[[Category:American |
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]] |
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[[Category:American motorcycle racers]] |
[[Category:American motorcycle racers]] |
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[[Category:AMA Grand National Championship riders]] |
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Latest revision as of 09:58, 11 November 2024
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| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | November 10, 1959 San Jose, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Randy Mamola (born November 10, 1959) is an American former professional motorcycle racer and television sports presenter. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing between 1979 and 1992. 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 1980, 1981, 1984 and 1987. 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.[1] He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.[2] In 2018, Mamola was inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame by FIM.[3]
After his racing career, he 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
[edit]Born in San Jose, California, Mamola grew up interested in a career as a musician, playing in a band at the age of 10.[2] However, when he turned 12 his interests turned to motorcycle racing, idolizing fellow Northern Californian motorcycle racer, Kenny Roberts.[2] He began competing in dirt track racing in Northern California and earned sponsorship from Yamaha when he was 14.[2] Mamola then focused on road racing with coaching from former racer, Ron Grant.[4] 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.[4][5]
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.[4][6] 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".[4][6] His performance earned him a place on the American team for the 1979 Transatlantic Trophy match races.[4] The Transatlantic Trophy match races pitted the best British riders against the top American road racers on 750cc motorcycles in a six-race series in England. As a 250cc rider, Mamola wasn't expected to be a challenger on larger 750cc motorcycles however, he surprised observers by finishing the series as the second highest points scorer behind fellow American Mike Baldwin and ahead of former world champion and top British scorer, Barry Sheene.[7]
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.[4][6][8][9] 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.[9] Despite competing in only half of the 500cc races, he scored a second place at the Finnish Grand Prix then, led the French Grand Prix for five laps before being passed by Barry Sheene and finishing in second place just ahead of his boyhood idol, Kenny Roberts.[6] He ended his rookie season ranked fourth in the 250cc class and eighth in the 500cc class.[1]
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His exceptional rookie season earned him a full sponsorship from the Suzuki factory racing team for the 1980 season, filling the position vacated by Barry Sheene who departed to race a privateer Yamaha.[4] Mamola and the Suzuki team struggled early in the season as defending champion Kenny Roberts won the first three races of the year. However, 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 (21 years, 75 days).[1][10] His record would be broken in 1982 by Freddie Spencer (20 years, 196 days).[10]
He 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 (22.9 km) long Nürburgring racetrack, considered too dangerous for the Formula One championship. Mamola won the pole position however, his motorcycle experienced fouled spark plugs during the race, relegating him to fifth place.[11] He completed his first full season in the premier class with an impressive second place in the final standings behind Roberts.[1] Mamola ended the 1980 season with a victory at the prestigious Mallory Park Race of the Year.[12]
In 1981 he 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.[13] 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.[14] His performance was also negatively affected by a helmet visor that misted in cool or damp weather forcing him to slow his pace.[11] For the second time in two years, Mamola had finished in second place however, he was only 21-years-old and many observers felt that it was only a matter of time before he would win a World Championship.[1][4]
A miserable start to the 1982 season saw Mamola struggling to score points however, he recovered to score two second places and a victory in the last three races to finish sixth in the final championship standings.[1][15] The 1983 season was dominated by Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts.[9] While Spencer had the new Honda NS500 and Roberts had a new YZR500 with a V4 engine, Mamola soldiered on with the once dominant Suzuki RG 500.[9] The RG 500 had begun to show its age as, Suzuki's pursuit of a lightweight and compact machine had led to a myriad of handling problems associated with the flexing of the thin aluminum frame tubing.[9] Spencer and Roberts each won 6 of the season's 12 races as Mamola rode to a respectable third place in the championship standings.[1][9]
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.[9]
He rode the Honda NS 500 to a second-place finish behind Eddie Lawson at the 1984 Spanish Grand Prix in his Honda debut.[9] 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.[4][16] 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.[16] Despite the late season surge, Mamola finished second in the championship behind Lawson.[1] It marked the third time in his career that he was runner up in the 500cc world championship.[1]
Mamola had a disappointing season in 1985 when Spencer and Lawson dominated however, he did manage to win one race at the Dutch TT.[1] 1985 was also the year in which Mamola performed one of the most miraculous saves in motorcycle Grand Prix history at the San Marino Grand Prix.[2][4] After his rear tire lost and then suddenly regained traction, Mamola was thrown forward over the handlebars.[4] In an impressive display of strength and perseverance, Mamola firmly gripped the handlebars while both legs hung off the right side of the motorcycle.[4] He 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.[4]
Mamola joined the newly formed Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team in 1986.[4] Riding a YZR-500, he won the Belgian Grand Prix and scored six podium results to finish the season in third place behind Eddie Lawson and Wayne Gardner.[1] At the French Grand Prix, Mamola was lying in second place on the final lap when he performed a stoppie just prior to crossing the finish line. Despite not losing a position, Mamola's act incensed Roberts, who viewed it as irresponsible at a time when motorcycle racing was entering an era of increased professionalism with high dollar sponsorship.[17] 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.[4] Despite scoring two more victories at the French and San Marino Grands Prix, as well as nine podium results, he ended the season in second place behind Gardner.[1] Roberts decided to shake up his team for the 1988 season by replacing Mamola and Baldwin with younger riders, Wayne Rainey and Kevin Magee.[4]
Mamola then joined Cagiva to help them develop their Cagiva C589 race bike. He stayed with the Italian team for three years, but lack of funds hampered the team's success. After sitting out the 1991 season, he returned in 1992 for one last year on a privately supported Yamaha.[4] He 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.[1][4]
Mamola won a total of 13 Grands Prix and finished second in the championship four times: in 1980, 1981, 1984 and 1987.[1][2] During his Grand Prix career he rode for Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Cagiva.[1]
Life after racing and charity work
[edit]
After retiring from competition, Mamola remained involved in motorcycle racing by helping Yamaha develop their race bikes by working as a test rider.[2] He later became a television commentator for motorcycle Grand Prix races as well as working as a columnist for several motorcycle magazines.[2]
Mamola began his charity work while he was still racing in 1986 when, he became involved with the global charity program Save the Children.[4] This experience led him to become a co-founder of Riders for Health, an organization that provides motorcycles, ambulances and other four-wheel vehicles used to deliver health care to remote locations in seven countries across Africa.[18][19] The organization also provides training in vehicle maintenance to help insure the delivery of medical assistance.[18] 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.[4][19] 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.[4][19]
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)
| Year | Class | Team | Machine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Points | Rank | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 250cc | Bimota-Adriatica | Bimota | VEN 5 |
GER 2 |
NAT 2 |
64 | 4th | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Zago-Yamaha | TZ250 | ESP 8 |
YUG 10 |
NED 7 |
BEL - |
SWE - |
FIN - |
GBR 2 |
CZE 5 |
FRA 4 |
|||||||||||
| 500cc | Zago-Suzuki | RG500 | VEN - |
AUT - |
GER - |
NAT - |
ESP - |
YUG - |
NED 13 |
BEL DNS |
SWE 6 |
FIN 2 |
GBR - |
FRA 2 |
29 | 8th | 0 | ||||
| 1980 | 500cc | Heron-Suzuki | RG500 | NAT NC |
ESP 3 |
FRA 2 |
NED 5 |
BEL 1 |
FIN 4 |
GBR 1 |
GER 5 |
72 | 2nd | 2 | |||||||
| 1981 | 500cc | Heron-Suzuki | RG500 | AUT 1 |
GER 2 |
NAT NC |
FRA 2 |
YUG 1 |
NED NC |
BEL 3 |
RSM 4 |
GBR 3 |
FIN 2 |
SWE 13 |
94 | 2nd | 2 | ||||
| 1982 | 500cc | HB-Suzuki | RG500 | ARG NC |
AUT 7 |
FRA - |
ESP - |
NAT - |
NED 5 |
BEL 5 |
YUG 7 |
GBR 5 |
SWE 2 |
RSM 2 |
GER 1 |
65 | 6th | 1 | |||
| 1983 | 500cc | HB-Suzuki | RG500 | RSA 5 |
FRA NC |
NAT 2 |
GER 8 |
ESP 4 |
AUT 3 |
YUG 2 |
NED 4 |
BEL 3 |
GBR 3 |
SWE 7 |
RSM 5 |
89 | 3rd | 0 | |||
| 1984 | 500cc | HRC-Honda | NS500 | RSA - |
NAT - |
ESP 2 |
AUT 3 |
GER 3 |
FRA 3 |
YUG 2 |
NED 1 |
BEL 2 |
SWE NC |
RSM 1 |
111 | 2nd | 3 | ||||
| NSR500 | GBR 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | 500cc | Rothmans-Honda | NS500 | RSA 5 |
ESP NC |
GER 8 |
NAT 4 |
AUT 4 |
YUG NC |
NED 1 |
BEL NC |
FRA 3 |
GBR 5 |
SWE 5 |
RSM 3 |
72 | 6th | 1 | |||
| 1986 | 500cc | Lucky Strike-Yamaha | YZR500 | ESP 4 |
NAT 2 |
GER 6 |
AUT 3 |
YUG 2 |
NED 2 |
BEL 1 |
FRA 2 |
GBR 5 |
SWE 8 |
RSM 3 |
105 | 3rd | 1 | ||||
| 1987 | 500cc | Lucky Strike-Yamaha | YZR500 | JPN 1 |
ESP 6 |
GER 2 |
NAT NC |
AUT 2 |
YUG 2 |
NED 3 |
FRA 1 |
GBR 3 |
SWE 3 |
CZE 4 |
RSM 1 |
POR 2 |
BRA 3 |
ARG 2 |
158 | 2nd | 3 |
| 1988 | 500cc | Cagiva | C588 | JPN NC |
USA - |
ESP - |
EXP - |
NAT 7 |
GER NC |
AUT NC |
NED NC |
BEL 3 |
YUG 4 |
FRA 6 |
GBR 11 |
SWE 10 |
CZE NC |
BRA NC |
58 | 12th | 0 |
| 1989 | 500cc | Cagiva | C589 | JPN 16 |
AUS NC |
USA NC |
ESP NC |
NAT DNS |
GER 12 |
AUT NC |
YUG 7 |
NED 11 |
BEL 23 |
FRA 11 |
GBR - |
SWE - |
CZE 11 |
BRA 11 |
33 | 18th | 0 |
| 1990 | 500cc | Cagiva | C590 | JPN NC |
USA 7 |
ESP - |
NAT 7 |
GER 9 |
AUT 10 |
YUG NC |
NED 18 |
BEL NC |
FRA 7 |
GBR 6 |
SWE NC |
CZE 11 |
HUN NC |
AUS - |
55 | 14th | 0 |
| 1992 | 500cc | Budweiser-Yamaha | YZR500 | JPN 5 |
AUS 8 |
MAL 7 |
ESP 8 |
ITA 10 |
EUR 9 |
GER NC |
NED 5 |
HUN 3 |
FRA 8 |
GBR NC |
BRA 10 |
RSA NC |
45 | 10th | 0 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Randy Mamola career statistics at MotoGP.com". motogp.com. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Randy Mamola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Randy Mamola to become a MotoGP™ Legend". motogp.com. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u DeWitt, Norm (2010). Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes. MBI Publishing Company. p. 203. ISBN 978-1-61060-045-3. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ Riggs, D. Randy (1977). "Race Watch". Cycle World. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d Ulrich, John (1980). "Alone In Europe". Cycle World. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ^ Assoc, American Motorcyclist (July 1979). "Underdog Yanks Blitz British". Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Mamola Second in 250cc Points". January 1979. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dennis, Noyes; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-874557-83-7
- ^ a b Sports, Dorna (20 July 2020). "Who are the youngest Grand Prix premier class winners?". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
- ^ a b Oxley, Mat (2024), "Fair and Square", Classic Bike, H Bauer Publishing Ltd, ISSN 0142-890X
- ^ "Race of the Year". Archived from the original on 2011-08-03. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
- ^ "Marco Lucchinelli career statistics at MotoGP.com". motogp.com. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "SUZUKI RG500: RG BARGY". amcn.com. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Assoc, American Motorcyclist (August 1982). "Parade Lap". Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ a b "The Honda NSR500 Engine Evolution". boxrepsol.com. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ Morley, Don (7 September 2009). "Don Morley's Exposure - Paul Ricard French GP". visordown.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Riders for Health - What We Do". riders.org. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ a b c "Randy Mamola at Riders for Health". riders.org. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
External links
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