A group of Mexican students hit back at Top Gear presenters who described their fellow countrymen as ”lazy and overweight” by staging a sponsored bike ride.
The BBC2 show’s host Richard Hammond jokingly described Mexicans as ”lazy, feckless, flatulent and overweight” during an episode of the show in January.
So a group of 12 students studying in Bath, Somerset, decided to organise a bike ride to quash the national stereotype.
The team of Mexicans spent the day cycling to Bristol and back – a total distance of 24 miles.
Student Enrique De La Fuente Favela said: ”Jeremy Clarkson should realise that we are not lazy. We cycled all day just before the start of our final exams.”
Josue Emmanuel Raygoza Galindo added: ”We were offended by Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear presenters, when they joked about typical Mexicans being fat and lazy.
”We have learnt a lot about your charities and charity shops in Bath, and we wanted to help in a fun way.”
The students have all been studying British history and culture at the independent Bath Academy before heading back to the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico after Easter.
Their ride last Sunday (17/04) managed to raise £120 for the charity Julian House which helps homeless people in Bath.
Teacher Andrew Nicolson said: ”We are proud of these kids. Some of them had not cycled for five years, and they were pretty saddle-sore by the end of the day.”