Donington Park to Be Sole Host of British Round for 2014 World Superbikes Championship

Donington Park has confirmed they will be on the World Superbike Championship calendar for 2014 becoming the sole British host following Silverstone’s withdrawal.

One of the most popular events on the calendar, Donington Park will retain a similar place on the timetable with the event taking place on May 23-25, 2014.

The Leicestershire venue has been a mainstay of the calendar since it hosted the first-ever WSBK event back in 1988, but temporarily lost its slot to Silverstone in 2010 when Donington Park ran into financial difficulties as a result of its failed attempt to snare the rights to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

Managing director Christopher Tate said: “Dorna (the championship organisers) are aiming to make something special out of the series.

“I think they will feel some real synergy with the group of people we have here at Donington.

“It is our biggest international event and an important race meeting at a true motorcycle circuit.”

Reinstated from 2011, Donington Park has hosted the ‘European’ round of the series since then, with Silverstone billed as the British event. 

However, with its WSBK contract ending in 2013, Silverstone has since confirmed that it has not extended its agreement into 2014, leaving Donington Park as the sole British event on the calendar.

Silverstone will continue to host Britain’s round of the MotoGP championship.

Managing director Richard Phillips said: “We believe it is only commercially viable to stage one round of the championship in the UK at the moment. As a result, we will be focusing our efforts and attention on hosting MotoGP and the British Superbike Championship next year.”