MotoGP stars help Red Cross

Spanish MotoGP duo Jorge Lorenzo and Sete Gibernau were among a star-studded line-up that took part in a special charity sporting event this week.

250GP rider Alvaro Bautista joined the pair as world tennis number one and Wimbledon champion Rafa Nadal and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas staged an indoor football match to help the Red Cross in its fight against Malaria.

Fiat Yamaha rider Lorenzo, who was the 2008 MotoGP Rookie of the Year, and veteran Gibernau joined Barcelona football star Samuel Eto’o, Ryder Cup golf star Sergio Garcia and Australian Open tennis champion Novak Djokovic in Nadal’s team.

Bautista was with former F1 world champion Fernando Alonso and a host of football stars in the event at the Madrid Sports Palace. It included a game of football, a tennis match and a go-kart race.

Casillas’ team won the kart race while not surprisingly Nadal’s squad then hit back to claim glory in the tennis event.

The deciding football match ended in defeat for Lorenzo and Gibernau as they went down 12-9.

The event is expected to raise well over £100,000.