2011 Japan Earthquake
To assist recovery efforts in Japan due to the March 11 Earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated the country, Ryan Dungey and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki team have offered some SX race apparel to be auctioned off.
The Fox racing gear will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross via the Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ). Suzuki states the gear will then be included in a special charity auction at the All Japan Motocross Championship round at Hiroshima in May.
The Fox race gear that the reigning AMA Supercross Champ wore at the Jacksonville, Fla., round will be on the block; Suzuki says the exclusive red and white clothing is emblazoned with the Japanese symbol, pronounced “Kiboh,” which translates into English as “Hope.”
Suzuki says the shirt is also red and white to symbolize the country’s Rising Sun flag. As a mark of respect and support, all riders at the March 19 AMA Supercross race in Jacksonville sported the Japanese flag.
Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki Supercross) says: “We’re all very appreciative of how Japan has supported us in this industry and racing. I feel like it’s our job to do anything that we can do to help them in this time of need and help return the favour. It’s going to take a lot for them to rebuild and get back to normal. I just want them to know that we’re here for them and they are in our thoughts and prayers.”
As of Thursday, the death toll is more than 12,000 and there are over 16,000 people missing. There is also fear of a nuclear power-plant meltdown due to the quake.
The 2011 Japan Earthquake is considered the deadliest natural disaster since the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which claimed the lives of more than 142,000 people.
Many others across the motorcycle industry have also assisted, including Harley-Davidson, Polaris, Motorcycle Industry Council, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.
