Valencia Day of Champions Raises €27,000
Stars and fans of MotoGP rounded off the season in Valencia raising €27,000 for Riders for Health.
Hundreds of people came out to support the official charity of MotoGP at Riders for Health’s annual fundraising event, Dià de los Campeones, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia on Thursday.
The Spanish Day of Champions, organised by Riders’ local volunteer group – Motos Solidarias – raises thousands of pounds every year to support the organisation’s crucial work in Africa and gives fans the chance to experience behind the scenes of the world’s premier motorcycle racing series. The money raised at the event will help mobilise more health workers with reliable motorcycles so they can deliver lifesaving health care to remote rural communities.
Despite the rain, dedicated fans were able to walk down the pit-lane and see MotoGP teams in their garages gearing up for the final race of the 2011 season. The riders generously gave up their time to sign autographs and pose for photos with the local fans.
Lucky ticket holders were given the rare opportunity to ride around the Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo Circuit. Leading the three lap ride-in was Riders’ co-founder, Randy Mamola. Randy was also joined by Red Dwarf actor Danny John-Jules, BBC MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts and Yamaha dealer Steve Keys. Having left London five days earlier, the trio arrived at the circuit to complete their Viva Valencia motorcycle adventure in aid of Riders for Health. For more information or to support the Viva Valencia trip, visit www.motoventures.co.uk.
The highlight of the day was the famous Riders for Health MotoGP auction. Stars from all three racing classes took to the stage to auction off signed t-shirts, caps, racing boots and gloves. MotoGP riders Dani Pedrosa, Hector Barberà, Toni Elías and Alvaro Bautista were popular with the crowd while, from Moto2, Marc Márquez, Aleix Espargaró, Julián Simón, Esteve Rabat and Pol Espargaró came to show their support, as well as 125 riders Nico Terol, Maverick Viñales and Efrén Vázquez.
Dani Pedrosa was joined on stage by two female fans who read a moving letter in memory of MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli who was tragically killed in a racing accident at the Malaysian GP. Everyone in the crowd was in agreement when the girls said Marco’s untimely death was a loss to the whole motorsport community.
Riders for Health would like to thank all the teams, riders, circuits and everyone at MotoGP for their support throughout the season. It is thanks to the support of MotoGP that Riders for Health are able to provide access to health care for over 10 million men, women and children across rural Africa.
