Randy Mamola gave up his plans to become a drummer at the age of twelve in favor of motorcycle racing. He trained his driving skills on the course at a police sports facility near his parents' house. He gained his first racing experience at small racing events near the San José airport and soon became one of the fastest young drivers in California. Mamola was 14 when he was sponsored by Yamaha . Based on his idol Kenny Roberts sr. In whose colors he drove his races, he was given the nickname Baby Kenny . After Mamola had won the New Zealand 125 cc championship, he acquired the AMA racing driver's license at the age of 16 and began his professional career as a racing driver in 1977 after graduating from school.
Mamola started in the AMA 250 Championship , took three podiums in its first season, finished second in the championship and took the title the following year, 1978. 1979 drove Mamola for Bimota the AMA 250 cc race in Daytona , where he was third behind Skip Aksland and Freddie Spencer . This was followed by a second place in the English-American Match Races behind Mike Baldwin , but in front of Barry Sheene .
In 1979 , as a consequence of the previous successes, he was promoted to the motorcycle world championship . Mamola finished fourth in the 250 cc class with a Yamaha and eighth in the 500 cc with a private Suzuki - although he only took part in half of the races in the large class. This achievement earned him a works contract with Suzuki for the 500 cc class in 1980 , which he converted into his first victories and a second world championship place. Mamola drove for different teams in the world championship until 1991 and won 13 races. He was a total of four times vice world champion, but could never win the title.
Mamola worked until 2009 as a commentator on transmissions of motorcycle races for the British TV station Eurosport . He is committed to the aid organization Riders for Health, which he co-founded . As part of MotoGP races, Mamola chauffeurs celebrities on a two-seater Ducati Desmosedici with 230 hp at racing speed around the respective route.
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