LCR Honda Selected Paddock Girl Via Playboy Contest

Randy de Puniet will be one lucky MotoGP rider this weekend, regardless of his behavior during the Gran Premio d’Italia Alice at Mugello circuit. Of course, a Top 5 performance in Italy would boost his morale this season even more, but the Playboy contest on the Thursday prior to the weekend action didn't hurt either.

Team Manager Lucio Cecchinello and the Frenchman got plenty of action starting from as early as yesterday, as De Puniet's umbrella girl on Sunday was chosen out of a group of Playboy playmates and local stars. The girls took part in a contest – organized by LCR Honda and title sponsors Playboy – with the duo being part of the jury.

The event was scheduled to get under way in the Central Park club in Cascine (Florence) starting 10.30 PM – as reported by the series' official site, MotoGP.com – while benefiting from the presence of Padova-born model Francesca Lukasik, Italian playmate Sarah Nile, and local star Cristina de Pin. The winner will be announced during the course of today.

Other sports figures have also attended the event, apart from top models and LCR members.

First racing-related action on the Mugello circuit will get under way later today, starting with the first practice of the 125cc class. MotoGP Practice 1 will follow, starting 13.55 PM (local time), with the quarter-liter class closing the Friday action later today.

Randy de Puniet will try to bounce back from his disappointing 14th place in his home race at Le Mans two weekends ago, which demoted him to 10th overall in the riders' standings.