Four-time 500cc title runner-up Randy Mamola officially became a MꩵotoGP Legend during an emotional ceremony on Friday at the Grand Prix of the Americas.

Mamola is the first Legend not to have🌱 won a World Championship.

However his 13 race wins and second places in the world 🦄championship were achieved with three different manufacturers - Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha. Mamola also took a podium finish for Cagiva in a premier-class grand prix caree🅷r that ran from 1979-1992.

Those on-track achievements, combined with Mamola's charity work (most notab🐎l🃏y Riders for Health) and ongoing paddock presence have seen the American join countrymen and former rivals Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer and Kenny Roberts on the Legend's list.

Many of those riders were in the🅰 same room to see Mamola named a Leꦜgend.

"It's the first time we nominate someon🌸e who is not world champion and this is because during all his career and time with us he has created a rightful legend," said Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.

"Randy Mamola's behaviour during the championship and work for Riders for Health and Two Whe♍els for Life makes him a real legend and we arღe honoured to induct him here in America in front of so many American legends here."

A visibly emotional Mamola said:🌠 "I'm shitting myself because I want to get everything right and I don't want to cry because Kenny will give me shit! It’s a great honour to be appreciated for the sport."

Mamola then talked through his career but had to pause when he spoke about racin𒈔g against Roberts, whom he says was "The greatest rider♛... But I still beat him to second in the world championship in 1981!"

He added: "I didn't win a championship, things break and things happen, but I have finished in front of Kenny and I have finished in front of Eddi𝕴e Lawson, who I think is always underestimated as one of the greatest.

"I also finished on the podium in the 1970s, '80s and '9🧔0s in 🎀the 500cc class.

"The Save The Children logo you can see on my leathers was t🍸he start of Riders For Health. I went from racing in a dirt field to introducing so🅘me of the British Royal Family to racing!

"And it's all mainly because of my Mother and Father. They've been married 68 years. My father told me I'll kick your butt if you think you ever walk above anybo♏dy... The reason I'm crying so much is my parents dese🌱rve to be here today, but I'm so glad they are still alive.

"The motorcycle is the hero in my life, it's given me the passport to travel the world in one of the greatest sports that people can be a part o💧f.

"We are now reaching well over 15 million in Africa with Two Wheels For Life. Thanks to Dorna who accepted it as 🎉their official charity, thanks to the riders - I see Cal Crutchlow in here - thanks to the media. Together we can make a change.

"I better shut up now!"

But in true Mamola style he soon re-grouped and was back on the ༺microphone toไ answer questions from the media.

Mamola bro🌌ke onto the world st𝓀age in 1979 with podiums in both the 250cc and 500cc World Championships.

The following season he took his first wins - two 500cc victories f𒁏or Suzuki - and added a further pair of podiums to end the year runner up in the title fight.

1981 saw Mamola on the top step twice more with even more visits to the podium, and again second in the Champཧionship, before a slightly more difficult 1982 campaign.

In 1983 Mamola ended wiཧthout a race win, but still brought third overall as Freddie Speꦇncer and Kenny Roberts duelled at the top.

A switꦗch to Honda for the 1984 season saw Mamola back iಌn the fight and runner up in the Championship for a third time.

After another win in 1985 (and one of the most spectacular saves in history) Mamola then moved to Yamaha for 1986 and ⛎took yet more wins and podiums.

Mamola's best season came inꦫ🦩 1987, when he scored three wins from twelve podiums and was title runner-up for a fourth and final time.

Replaced at Te♏am Roberts by Wayne Rainey for 1988, Mamola spent three seasons at the underdog Cagiva team, before a final season (and podium) on a Yamaha in 1992.