Randy Mamola
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Randy Mamola (born November 10, 1959) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is considered one of the most talented riders never to have won a world championship.
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[edit] Career
Mamola's first 500cc motorcycle Grand Prix race was in Sweden in 1979, riding a Yamaha. His first victory in the 500cc class was at Belgium in 1980. He went on to win a total of 13 Grands Prix, and finished second in the championship four times: in 1980, 1981, 1984 and 1987. During his Grand Prix career he rode for Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Cagiva.
Randy also was well-known for being a real crowd pleaser. For example at the Dutch TT, he crashed his bike during warm-up, only to return to the pit to get his spare bike, and wheelying and showing of to the crowd, during the main race
He currently works as a television commentator for MotoGP races on the Eurosport network.
[edit] Charity work
Mamola began raising money for Save the Children in 1986. On visits to Africa, he noticed that motorcycles being used to transport medical supplies to remote areas were breaking down and being abandoned due to poor training and maintenance. In 1996, he became one of the founders of Riders for Health, a charity which provides motorcycles and training to projects which give the population of rural Africa health and medical support. His fund-raising activities include giving passenger rides on a two-seater Ducati MotoGP bike.
[edit] Motorcycle Grand Prix Results
Year | Class | Classification | Machine | Victories |
---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | 250cc | 4th | Yamaha | 0 |
1979 | 500cc | 8th | Suzuki | 0 |
1980 | 500cc | 2nd | Suzuki | 2 |
1981 | 500cc | 2nd | Suzuki | 2 |
1982 | 500cc | 6th | Suzuki | 1 |
1983 | 500cc | 3rd | Suzuki | 0 |
1984 | 500cc | 2nd | Honda | 3 |
1985 | 500cc | 6th | Honda | 1 |
1986 | 500cc | 3rd | Yamaha | 1 |
1987 | 500cc | 2nd | Yamaha | 3 |
1988 | 500cc | 12th | Cagiva | 0 |
1989 | 500cc | 18th | Cagiva | 0 |
1990 | 500cc | 14th | Honda | 0 |
1991 | 500cc | 10th | Yamaha | 0 |