Boy rider in top form

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34047, 10 January 1976, Page 36

Boy rider in top form

A 16-year-old schoolboy from the United States, Randy Mamola, will steal some of the thunder from the international stars who will be contesting the final rounds of the Marlboro $30,000 motor-cycle series at Ruapuna Park tomorrow. Mamola, who is competing only in the class races on 125 and 250 c.c. Yamahas, has been in outstanding form since the series started. But he has had his share of problems. He was forced out of the 125 c.c. race at Tirnaru last Sunday when his engine failed while he was leading, and in the later 250 c.c. race he was again leading when his chain snapped. However, Mamola, who is only 4ft 9in tall and looks younger than his 16 years, left no doubts about his ability in later supporting races.

In the 125 c.c. race on Sunday, his chief rivals will be the New Zealand champion, Kevin McCleary, of Christchurch, and the Australian champion, Geoff Sim, both riding 125 Yamahas. McCleary, who also leads the present national series,

had a lucky escape last Sunday when his front brake locked just as he was trundling into the pits after a 250 c.c. race, throwing him to the ground. A broken spring had fallen down and jammed the drum brake on. “If that had happened at the end of the back straight there would have been • hell of an accident,” said McCleary, who believes he has a few more grey hairs since the incident. He has got a disc unit for the bike but has not yet had time to fit it. McCleary intends to "have a go” at beating Mamola in the 125 race on Sunday but feels that his chances are slim, although Ruapuna is his home track. "He is a tremendous little rider. “But it is weight which

- gets him there. He weighs ‘ just 85 lbs. If he carried a > pillion passenger of the ■ same weight we would then > be competing on level terms. i Mamola’s Yamaha is stan--1 dard, as is McCleary's. But Sim's Yamaha is modified to t run on alcohol, which gives 1 it a considerable increase in 1 power in comparison to the I standard machines. ! In the 250 c.c. races, Brent s Wylie, of Christchurch, will i continue his rivalry with ; Mamola. Honours so far > have been fairly even, although Mamola, chiefly be- > cause of his light weight, i has the advantage. t Wylie, nevertheless, must i be well satisfied with what ; he has achieved so far. He - has a handsome lead in the New Zealand 250 c.c, chami pionship series.