Mladin Donates Motorcycle for Haskovec Benefit Event
SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Six-time AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin will literally give you his Suzuki GSX-R750 on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at Infineon Raceway during a benefit for injured AMA rider Vincent Haskovec.
Mladin will join 100 other riders in this fund-raiser, which is being hosted by 3J's Motorcycle Track Days. The event will feature a full day of riding on the raceway's twisting road course, a sumptuous lunch, T-shirt and raffle, with all proceeds going to Haskovec, who will be in attendance. Cost for the track day is $290.
Mladin, who rides for Suzuki, is purchasing a GSX-R750 to ride that day, and once the track day is over, he is graciously going to put the motorcycle up for auction to the highest bidder. The bike will be auctioned off during the Spaghetti Feed and Auction, which will take place that night, also at Infineon Raceway.
It is a tremendous gesture by Mladin, who is the most decorated Superbike rider in the history of the AMA with 51 career AMA Superbike victories, 50 career AMA Superbike pole positions and six AMA Superbike championships. Additionally, Mladin holds the AMA Superbike record for most wins in a single season with 11 victories in 2005.
"I'm looking forward to going up to Infineon and supporting a day for Vincent," said Mladin. "I have two buddies coming with me and it should be good fun to go out and just ride for the pleasure of it. At the same time, this is a good cause to support and I hear it's almost a sold-out event. I'm glad so many race fans are excited to come out and support this track day for Vincent."
Haskovec was injured as a result of an accident at an AMA event at Infineon Raceway in 2005 and is currently receiving care and living in Arizona. Since the event was announced less than two weeks ago, more than 90 slots have been filled for the track day, and people from around the country have donated items for the auction. The raceway hopes to sign-up 100 riders for the event.
In all, more than 40 items will be up for bid at the dinner, or raffled off during the track day. Some of the items include:
* A 'Day on a Dozer.' You will drive a real Caterpillar D8 bulldozer at one of Ghilotti Construction's sites in the Bay Area. * Rich Oliver's Mystery School Two-Day Fun Camp. * Variety of motorcycle riding jackets, including Kawasaki and Joe Rocket. * 20-minute ride in the backseat of a World War II fighter (P51 Mustang), from Sonoma County Airport. * Two-day course at Lance Keigwin's Track Days, and a 20-day Big Dog Pass at Mark Duncan's Track Club. "I cannot begin to thank Mat Mladin and the motorcycle community for their generosity," said Jere Starks, vice president of facilities at Infineon Raceway, who created 3J's Motorcycle Track Days in 2003 with friends Jim Randolph and Jay Brosius. "People have really responded and I really feel we are going to exceed our goals. Mat's generosity alone has been incredible." Starks hopes to raise $60,000 for Haskovec. Individual seats ($100), as well as entire 10-seat tables ($1,000), are available for purchase for the Spaghetti Feed and Auction - cost for the dinner is separate from the on-track motorcycle day. Starks, Randolph and Brosius, who are all avid motorcycle riders, have hosted nine 3J's Motorcycle Days at Infineon Raceway, raising more than $100,000 for qualified youth groups in Sonoma County through Speedway Children's Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway. This marks the second fund-raiser for Haskovec - the first generated $40,000 last year. To sign-up for the on-track motorcycle day, or for more information, please visit www.3jstrackdays.com. If you cannot attend the fund-raiser but would like to contribute, make your check payable to the NEXT STEP FOUNDATION and mail c/o Jere Starks at Infineon Raceway (Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA. 95476).
