Photo: Oscar Haro
There is power in numbers, even though this is not always the case. However, when it comes to gathering a bunch of motorcycle racing stars to help a noble cause, the more – the better. A recent auction shattered all the previous records famous helmets had set previously and brought in the hefty sum of €225,000 ($278,000). The proceedings went to AECC (Spanish Association against Cancer) (www.aecc.es) and Riders For Health (www.riders.org), motoGP’s official charity body.
The fundraising project idea came from Spanish university student Alberto Hernandez and Oscar Haro, a member of the LCR Honda team. They thought about an AGV helmet painted in pink, the official color of anti-cancer fight campaigns, and have it signed by the biggest names in motorcycle racing they can get to, then auction the lid for charity.
Giacomo Agostini, Angel Nieto, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Márquez, Dani Pedrosa, Wayne Rainey, Loris Capirossi, Alex Criville, Wayne Gardner, Scott Russell and Randy Mamola have all added their precious signatures on the custom-painted pink helmet. Together, the guys who signed the AGV Stop Cancer helmet have won 58 world titles.
The auction was won by Anthony Constantinou, the CEO of CWM FX financial group and the title sponsor of the very LCR Honda team from 2015. He was present in Valencia for the final round of the 2014 season and it was there where he found out about the charitable action. He then decided to take part in this and bid online offering a staggering €225,000 and making this the most expensive helmet ever sold worldwide.
“With so many families affected by cancer, it's important that we all join together to support the charities which provide vital services for patients and their loved ones,” Constantinou declared as he claimed the helmet. “The team has done an excellent job in raising awareness and funds. I'm pleased I could play a part in this deserving cause and I hope it inspires others to get involved in the fight against cancer,” he added.
Other helmets which have, at their time, been deemed as “the most expensive” ones have belonged to Sebastian Vettel, which was sold for €90,900 / $111,660 at the current exchange rates (traded hands in 2013) and Ayrton Senna, which cashed €94,200 / $115,714 at the current exchange rates (sold in 2012). Senna's helmet has an especially sad story, since it is somehow connected to his tragic fatal crash back in 1994, when a part of the suspension penetrated the visor just above his right eye.
The Stop Cancer helmet will definitely be hard to top, at least not without the aid of bling. But you see, adding gold and Swarovski diamonds is not exactly racey… so let’s give Haro and Hernandez, Constantinou and the other 12 riders a big hand for such a lovely Xmas present to those fighting cancer.
12 current and former riders signed the helmet
The Stop Cancer helmet received autographs from no less than 12 motorcycle racing stars, both retired and active, plus the seal of approval and signature confirmation from Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, the rights holder for MotoGP.Giacomo Agostini, Angel Nieto, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Márquez, Dani Pedrosa, Wayne Rainey, Loris Capirossi, Alex Criville, Wayne Gardner, Scott Russell and Randy Mamola have all added their precious signatures on the custom-painted pink helmet. Together, the guys who signed the AGV Stop Cancer helmet have won 58 world titles.
The auction was won by Anthony Constantinou, the CEO of CWM FX financial group and the title sponsor of the very LCR Honda team from 2015. He was present in Valencia for the final round of the 2014 season and it was there where he found out about the charitable action. He then decided to take part in this and bid online offering a staggering €225,000 and making this the most expensive helmet ever sold worldwide.
“With so many families affected by cancer, it's important that we all join together to support the charities which provide vital services for patients and their loved ones,” Constantinou declared as he claimed the helmet. “The team has done an excellent job in raising awareness and funds. I'm pleased I could play a part in this deserving cause and I hope it inspires others to get involved in the fight against cancer,” he added.
Other helmets which have, at their time, been deemed as “the most expensive” ones have belonged to Sebastian Vettel, which was sold for €90,900 / $111,660 at the current exchange rates (traded hands in 2013) and Ayrton Senna, which cashed €94,200 / $115,714 at the current exchange rates (sold in 2012). Senna's helmet has an especially sad story, since it is somehow connected to his tragic fatal crash back in 1994, when a part of the suspension penetrated the visor just above his right eye.
The Stop Cancer helmet will definitely be hard to top, at least not without the aid of bling. But you see, adding gold and Swarovski diamonds is not exactly racey… so let’s give Haro and Hernandez, Constantinou and the other 12 riders a big hand for such a lovely Xmas present to those fighting cancer.
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