Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127795
----'---_'----",1 Riders for Health Day of Champions I_'C_HA--'---.R_'TY----'-." (Left) Michael Doohan had his head shaved during the Riders for Health Day of Champions at Donlngton Park. The two-time World Champion said he'd get the new hairdo if 55000 was raised. Here he's pictured with Saaka Dumba of Ghana, who presented Doohan with a plaque in appreciation of his efforts. (Above) Randy Mamola poses with the Riders for Health Roc Yamaha which was ridden in the Grand Prix by Brit Sean Emmett. By Bruce SCholten Photos by Martha Scholten OONINGTON PARK, ENGLAND, JULY 18 s athletes and fans poured into the centennial Olympics in Atlanta, a similar mix from around the world forgot their daily struggles to take part in the first Day of Champions (DoC) held by Riders for Health (RFH) in its new status as an independent body totally focused on motorcycle-related projects in Africa, A record 46,606 pounds ($70,000) was raised at Donington Park on the day itself, (More was collected at Sunday's British GP, when Randy Mamola took donations pledged on his performance in the Triumph 900cc Speed Triple support race,) Organizer Andrea Coleman said: "Day of Champions literally goes from strength to strength, I think Mick Doohan's haircut sums it all up, It's real commitment and at the same time it's a lot of fun for fans and riders alike, It symbolizes what Riders for Health is all about. I want to thank the riders and the teams, Two Four Sports, Donington, Dorna, IRTA and the amazing Riders for Health volunteers," FLEET ADVISORS ATIEND DOC '96 Every year fleet advisors from RFH projects in Africa check out progress on the European end, On his fourth trip from mountainous Lesotho, Mohale Moshoeshoe is famous for training his countrymen, other Africans and Europeans in preventive maintenance, Mohale says, "We call the system PLANS, for petrol, lubrication, adjustments, nuts & bolts, and stop checks," On his first visit from Ghana, Saaka Dumba says that in his Upper West district (population 550,000), healthcare deliveries are up 400 percent in two years, Many villages unreachable by pricy Land Rovers (which can't negotiate the rocky stream beds, that serve as roads), now get prenatal care, midwifery, child welfare and immu- nizations - all delivered regularly by motorcycling health workers. In all of Ghana (about the size of England, population 16 million), there are about 1200 bikes in-country, with 500 more AG]OO Yamaha two-strokes soon to be added (by DANIDA of the Danish government). Around 2000 nurses (75 percent of whom are women) are being trained in safe riding, and Saaka is glad to say, "We have a very minimal injury rate." Saaka says, "Riders for Health is different from programs that collapse into a leadership vacuum when the nonAfricans go home." Fieldworker Stuart Walker, who was assisting Dumba, now must find another job. But Stuart relishes the challenge: "There's more work in Ghana, and I'm selling my house in England to stay." GPCIRCUS Some fans attend DoC every year. Gary "Chunky" Cummings, a technician at the issan factory in Sunderland, scheduled a day off work to take his Dad (a former BSA 350 rider) the ]60 miles to Donington. "It's even more fun than the races," Chunky says. "The riders are relaxed, you get autographs, see what's in the paddock - and see amazing people like Gary Rothwell." W~at Gary Rothwell does with a GSXRllOO should not be attempted at horne. What do you say about a guy who wheelies a GSXRll00, sitting backward on the handlebars? He recently set a world wheelie record with nine passengers. At Donington Rothwell skied behind his Suzuki, and lay across it tweaking the throttle with his foot. A new touch this year was a stoppie while pirouetting ]20 degrees. Rothwell was briefly joined by Scott Russell (a ghost in sunglasses with bright white hair) wheelying a pit scooter. The crowd was just as appreciative, but somehow (a Piaggio next to a GSXR?).the overall effect was different. After burning enough doughnuts to satisfy a police precinct, Rothwell's rear