A ses débuts il courrait sur Yamaha.
"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."
"Mamola joined the newly formed Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team in 1986. Riding a YZR-500"