Rizla Suzuki newsletter

Bautista visits Motorcycle Live in the UK

Alvaro Bautista with Motorcycle Live organisers Dean Linehan (left) and Finlay McAllan (right)align=right

Rizla Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista made a fleeting visit to the UK this week as he attended the Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham.

Bautista was the special guest on Tuesday at the UK's premier motorcycle show, which is being held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. During his one-day visit, Bautista visited Suzuki's stand to sign autographs and chat with fans and staff about life in MotoGP. The Spaniard was then guest of honour at the Riders for Health booth where he announced that he would be joining MotoGP's official charity for a fund-raising bike ride in Zambia in November 2011, to raise money to save lives in Africa. Bautista will be joined on this unique motorcycle journey by former Suzuki Grand Prix star Randy Mamola, who is a co-founder of the charity.

Bautista spent the day meeting and greeting more fans around the show, before taking part in a fun quiz on the show's main stage. A 'Question of Bikes' was hosted by BBC TV's Steve Parrish and Bautista was joined onstage by former Suzuki BSB rider Tommy Hill and British Supersport Champion Sam Lowes. The three went head-to-head in a well-fought battle against WSBK rider Sylvain Guintoli, BSB star Michael Laverty, actor Danny John Jules and speedway legend Barry Briggs, with the game finally ending in a well-deserved draw.

Bautista will next be in action at Sepang in Malaysia in early February for the first test of 2011. The start of the MotoGP season is scheduled for Sunday 20th March at Losail in Qatar.

Alvaro Bautista:

"I really enjoyed the show and it was great to see so many people having a good time in and around motorcycles. The quiz was fun -- even if I didn't really know what was happening all the time - and it's always great to meet the fans. It's been a good opportunity to spend some time having photos taken with the visitors to the show and to do some autograph sessions. It's a fantastic event with so much to see and do, I'd like to come back as a visitor, but can it be when it's warmer next time -- I'm not too keen on snow and frost!"

Finlay McAllan - Managing Director of Event organisers, MCI Exhibitions:

"It was another brilliant day for us at Motorcycle Live and to have another one of the biggest names from the racing world come along to add their support was fantastic. Alvaro was a great sport and a brilliant ambassador for Rizla Suzuki and MotoGP; he certainly entered into the spirit of things and made many new fans in the UK. He seemed to really enjoy the 'Question of Bikes' quiz that we arranged on the show's main stage and added greatly to overall feel of the event. We are very grateful to him for flying in from Madrid just for us and he is welcome back at any time."

-source: rizla suzuki