From a press release issued by Dorna:

Auction boosts Riders coffers past £145,000 mark

The traditional Riders for Health auction at the Donington Park circuit enjoyed unprecedented success on Thursday night, with over 4,000 people turning out and boosting the total money raised by Day of Champions to an incredible £145,000. All of the MotoGP riders turned out for the event, donating leathers, helmets and other equipment, as well as team uniforms, t-shirts and unique memorabilia.



The item which fetched the highest price was a set of leathers donated by Colin Edwards, with a winning bid of £5,350 which delighted the Telefonica Movistar Honda rider. However, for the majority of the crowd the highlight of the evening was the arrival of MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi, who sold off knee sliders, signed paintings and even the cap off his head, which fetched a staggering £1,000.



Max Biaggi was also hugely popular, the white leathers he wore during a practice session for his home Grand Prix at Mugello fetching £4,500, whilst the crowd also reserved a particularly warm welcome for former British and World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss, who threw a boxful of goodies into the crowd. Meanwhile, a bid of £1,200 secured one of the most unusual items up for grabs – the final day of qualifying on Saturday at Donington Park with Team Suzuki.



The MotoGP charity, who strive to provide transport network solutions for medical relief in third world Africa, also benefited from a special dinner in London on Wednesday night, attended by HRH Princess Anne The Princess Royal and a host of representatives from the Grand Prix paddock, which raised £25,000.



The gates of the paddock itself then opened on Thursday morning for Day of Champions, with thousands of fans flooding in to meet their MotoGP idols, taking part in a quiz, scooter races and circuit ride-in, as well as being entertained by a classic bike show, stunt riders and a world record attempt for the fastest top speed on a mini-bike. A handful of visitors even got the chance to live out their Grand Prix dream, completing several laps of the Donington Park circuit on board the two-seat Ducati Desmosedici ridden by Randy Mamola.