2024 Day of Champions raised an exceptional £246,000, with an extra £25,000 over the rest of the weekend.
What is the MotoGP Day of Champions?
Annually hosted on the Thursday of the British MotoGP weekend, Day of Champions is a charity fundraiser that began at the 1989 British MotoGP. Founded by Andrea and Barrie Coleman alongside ex MotoGP rider Randy Mamola, it raises money for Ms Coleman’s charity, Two Wheels for Life. Tickets not only donate to the cause, but grants buyers the chance to roam the paddock, pitlane and meet the riders, but also enter charity raffles and the Day of Champions afternoon auction featuring the riders themselves.
Two Wheels for Life works to ensure healthcare workers in Africa have transportation, often in the form of bikes, to reach communities that larger vehicles cannot access. Their programmes have supported a significant reduction in disease growth, curbing outbreaks of disease, reducing maternal and infant mortality across African countries.
The inspiring intentions of Day of Champions means riders and team members are very happy to engage with the runnings of the event. For example, none of the riders require attendance or need to appear on stage for the auction. Yet every single of them make the effort to. Their infectious enthusiasm for the Day of Champions becomes apparent through every rider’s energy in the auction and willingness to spend time meeting fans, taking pictures and doing signings.
What happens on Day of Champions?
Between 11am and 3pm, ticket-holders can freely roam the paddock and soak in the atmosphere, without the sharp uptick in price or strict restrictions in place over the rest of the weekend. Since no bikes hit the track, riders and team crew members can casually be seen milling around between weekend preparations, happy to sign an autograph or take selfies.
2024’s Day of Champions saw the unveiling of the 75th Anniversary retro liveries that stormed round Silverstone on Sunday. Bikes and riders were suited and booted in their old-school designs in the pitlane, for fans to get an early-access look from mere metres away. Paddock pass holders also had from 2pm-3pm to stroll down the pitlane, get a glimpse of the pit boxes and take a stroll onto the end of the Hamilton Straight.
The day culminates with the classic Day of Champions auction at 3:30pm. Each rider pairing will have their time on stage, wave to the crowd and help auction off their memorabilia to fans. Auction items have spanned from used racewear to a Yamaha-themed coffee table, signed wheels, plaques, helmets and weekend paddock passes. Sales went from multiple hundreds to well over a thousand.
Riders were having a visibly great time too, discussing the significance of the items being sold and engaging the crowd to get higher bids – often looking blown away when seeing what their stuff sells for. Fabio Quatararo even took it upon himself to be the auctioneer for a pair of racing boots he wore at Assen earlier in the year. Not long before Fabio’s auctioneering masterclass, Johann Zarco jumped off stage to hug and give a peck on the cheek to a woman claiming to be his number one fan. The auction raised just short of £80,000.
Day of Champions provides a very personal experience to MotoGP. A slower approach and an eerily quiet Silverstone allows visitors to admire a quiet circuit and get absorbed in the paddock when it is otherwise chock-a-block with people or closed to the public altogether.
Tickets to Day of Champions can be purchased alongside MotoGP weekend tickets on the Silverstone website. Access to the paddock must be purchased with Day of Champions paddock passes.
Donations for Two Wheels for Life can be made here.