Donington Park becomes sole British WSBK round

INSTEAD of Silverstone, Donington Park will take over as the sole British round for the World Superbike Championship in the 2014 season.

The Leicestershire track hosted the first ever WSBK event in 1988, but unfortunately lost its slot 3 years ago to Silverstone. Even though Donington Park was reinstated in the WSBK championship in 2011, it only hosted the ‘European’ round of the series not the British event. 

Donington Park boss Christopher Tate said: “It is exciting for us to be able to announce that Donington Park will be the sole UK round for the heavily revamped new World Superbikes visit in 2014. We have been working closely with Dorna over the past many months, and built a solid relationship with the new management team for the series.

“While we have understood very well what they are trying to do to re-boot the championship, what has been so encouraging is the way Dani Carrera and all his team have been so open to ideas coming in from us, and from other corners of the WSBK world – riders, teams, sponsors and manufacturers.”

Tate continued: “This is now a series that will look very different in 2014, but excitingly for us at Donington Park, the first ever host circuit for Superbikes back in 1988, it will be the only place in the UK to see such a strong group of top British riders, with Tom Sykes back as champion, increased manufacturer presence and a proper battle expected for every place, here at the heart of British motorcycle racing.”

The British World Superbike round will take place from May 23-25 next year at Donington following confirmation that Silverstone has not extended its WSBK contract for 2014.