World Superbike News

Having grown up within a bicycle ride of the Brands Hatch  circuit and revelled in every type of motor racing at the track, it comes as sad news that the track will not be included in the World Superbike calendar for 2009.

My last visit to the track ironically was for the 2002 World Superbike, when Colin Edwards started his unlikely challenge for the title against the then clear leader Troy Bayliss. Edwards going on to win all of the last races to take his second championship.

I also have great memories of WSB legend Carl Fogarty at Brands Hatch in previous years and the wild support from the enthusiastic crowd for the rider, even after retiring from racing Fogarty was given an enormous reception when taking his ill fated Petronas bike round the track for a lap whilst in obvious pain from injury. 

The track lost out to Silverstone for the F1 circus some years ago, after excessive demands from Bernie Ecclestone, so it is no real surprise to hear the World Superbike news that it too has been priced out of the market.

Former racing driver Jonathan Palmer of MotorSport Vision, the owners of the track, has accused WSB promoters FG Sport of “making unreasonable fee demands” on the track to stage the event in 2009. Palmer says that FG Sport “wanted over twice what we paid in 2008, which is odd given the economic crisis.”

Once again greed rears it’s ugly head in sport and I support Palmer’s stand fully, particularly when he says “The increase is equivalent to an extra £15 on the price of a race day ticket. We think that’s unacceptable to fans.”

Brands Hatch has supported the World Superbike series since 1993 and has consistently attracted the biggest crowd of any circuit to the sport. The last World Superbike results from Brands Hatch in August 2008 saw Ryuichi Kiyonari take wins in both races.

It is a shame that this years British Superbike champion Shane Byrne will not get the chance to perform on his home track at World Superbike level, but sadly once again money and greed have robbed the fans of a thrilling weekend of entertainment in the Kent countryside.