WorldSBK starts Australian bushfires charity auction

The World Superbike championship has started a charity auction to raise funds for the Australian bushfire crisis ahead of Phillip Island hosting the 2020 season-opener.

The paddock heads to the Australian circuit for the final official pre-season test next week (February 24-25) which acts as prelude before the opening round on February 28-March 1.

The World Superbike auction has been organised through CharityStars and will see special rider and team merchandise, memorabilia and fan experiences go under the hammer.

The championship, riders and teams have come together during the recent tests at Jerez and Portimao to source their own gear, with exclusive helmets, leathers, gloves and various other team apparel clothing set to get auctioned.

Headlining the auction offers is Scott Redding’s leathers from pre-season test, while his Aruba.it Racing Ducati teammate Chaz Davies is giving away his helmet. From the Pata Yamaha team, Toprak Razgatlioglu is presenting gloves and a visor with teammate Michael van der Mark putting up a pair of knee sliders, a visor and a pair of boots.

Reigning world champion Jonathan Rea has donated gloves and boots to the cause, while BMW is providing a mudguard signed by riders Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty.

World Superbike organisers are also offering pit lounge passes and behind the scenes experiences which include starting grid access and a Safety Car lap.

The funds raised will go to BlazeAid, a volunteer-based set-up working alongside rural families and individuals impacted by the fires and floods.

The online auctions begin today (February 17) and end on March 3.

For a full list of items being auctioned and how to bid on each of them, please follow this link to CharityStars.