A CHARITY auction raised more than £15,000 in memory of well-known racer Simon 'Ronnie' Smith.

Motorcycle racing fans turned up in their hundreds to pay tribute to the North Yorkshire man, who was killed in a road accident near his Harrogate home in January.

Racing celebrities, including Honda works riders Steve Plater and Karl Harris, local racer Dennis Hobbs and the reigning Supersport champion, Stuart Easton, were present at Club Amadeus, in Northallerton, for the charity auction.

Such was the generosity of friends and colleagues within the motorcycle trade that a mammoth 96 lots went under the hammer and nearly 50 raffle prizes were handed out to those present.

Auction lots included a set of Neil Hodgson's 2003 Fila Ducati leathers that went for £1,400, a pair each of Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa's leathers that brought £1,000, and Karl Harris' Rizla Suzuki leathers that were auctioned for £400.

One of the more unusual lots - a Middlesbrough Football Club shirt signed by the entire team - was snapped up for £150.

The evening's proceeds will be donated to the Ronnie Smith trust fund.

Anyone wishing to make a donation is asked to do so by sending a cheque, made payable to NYRRSC, to Sue Symons, secretary, NYRRSC, 129 Tedder Road, York, YO2 3JE.