BMW Motorrad Motorsport - Haslam reaches for his golf club.

Haslam reaches for his golf club.

BMW Motorrad works rider Leon Haslam will play at the Pro-Am tournament of the BMW International Open 2011 in Munich next week.

Munich - Green grass instead of the tarmac of a racetrack: following the coming race weekend in the FIM Superbike World Championship at Motorland Aragón (ESP), BMW Motorrad works rider, Leon Haslam (GBR), will be in action on a different surface. On Wednesday 22nd June, Leon will tee off at the Pro-Am Experience, which is held as part of the BMW International Open 2011 at Golfclub München-Eichenried (GER).

The Pro-Am tournament sees professionals and amateurs take to the course for a round of golf together. Leon will be testing himself against stars of the international golf scene, including the current world number three Martin Kaymer (GER), Bernhard Langer (GER), Colin Montgomerie (GBR), Dustin Johnson (USA), Paul Casey (GBR) and Retief Goosen (RSA).

However, Leon himself is an excellent golfer and boasts an impressive handicap of -12. He organises his own benefit golf event, the “Leon Haslam SPARKS Classic”, which was held for the first time last week (7thJune) at the Wellingborough Golf Club (GBR). The field there included many celebrities from the worlds of sport and show business, all appearing for a good cause. The proceeds go to the “SPARKS” initiative, which stands for “Sports Aiding medical Research for KidS”. Leon’s team mate Troy Corser (AUS) was one of the participants.

“I am very much looking forward to playing the Pro-Am Experience in Munich alongside leading pros from the European and from the US PGA tour”, Leon says. “Just before the race weekend in Misano I hosted my first charity golf day with the SPARKS Classic event at Wellingborough Golf Club, UK. The format was a celeb-am 18-hole four ball better ball tournament. I played quite well at the SPARKS Classic. Although I highsided in the first Superbike race in Misano on Sunday and hurt my toe and my wrist, I am still pretty confident to be competitive in Munich again. I am really excited and looking forward to playing with some of the best players in the world. Thanks to BMW for giving me this opportunity.”

Leon will travel to Munich directly after the race weekend at Motorland Aragón. Once there, he will test the BMW 1 Series M Coupé on Monday. He and Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport will then head to the BMW Group’s wind tunnel for a series of tests. On Tuesday Leon will play a practice round in preparation for Wednesday’s tournament.