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Phillips: Silverstone will be a 'proper bike circuit'
Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips seeks to reassure the purists that the Northants track will be a 'proper bike circuit' when it stages MotoGP for the first time in more than two decades next year
Silverstone will 'absolutely' be a 'proper bike circuit' that is rewarding for both riders and fans alike when the MotoGP circus arrives there next summer – that is the assurance of the Northants track's managing director Richard Phillips, as preparations to stage the blue riband British Grand Prix continue apace.
Back at the beginning of this year, Silverstone agreed a five-year deal with MotoGP commercial and television rights-holder Dorna Sports to welcome the premier class from 2010 onwards, with next year's race set to be held over the weekend of 18-20 June. The arrangement marks the first time in more than two decades that the pinnacle of international motorcycling will take place at the celebrated 'Home of British Motor Racing'.
Initially, the announcement had the purists up in arms that a true riders' circuit in Donington Park had been abandoned in favour of one far less testing of competitors' abilities – but Phillips is confident any such fears will be rapidly assuaged by the heavily revised layout due to greet all concerned in six months' time.
“Absolutely,” he fired back, when asked by Crash.net Radio whether the 'new' Silverstone will test riders' skill levels to the maximum. “We've started work on the circuit now, so the £5 million improvements are underway. We did need to change the circuit and make it into a proper bike circuit, and now you've got the chicane disappearing and Woodcote coming back to what it used to be in the old days.
“It looks very exciting; the riders are very excited about it, and the fans seem to be queuing up to buy tickets, so we're very happy with it at the moment. MotoGP is a very popular event, so to have it coming in is just phenomenal, and a huge, huge boost for us.”
CRASN.NET
Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips seeks to reassure the purists that the Northants track will be a 'proper bike circuit' when it stages MotoGP for the first time in more than two decades next year
Silverstone will 'absolutely' be a 'proper bike circuit' that is rewarding for both riders and fans alike when the MotoGP circus arrives there next summer – that is the assurance of the Northants track's managing director Richard Phillips, as preparations to stage the blue riband British Grand Prix continue apace.
Back at the beginning of this year, Silverstone agreed a five-year deal with MotoGP commercial and television rights-holder Dorna Sports to welcome the premier class from 2010 onwards, with next year's race set to be held over the weekend of 18-20 June. The arrangement marks the first time in more than two decades that the pinnacle of international motorcycling will take place at the celebrated 'Home of British Motor Racing'.
Initially, the announcement had the purists up in arms that a true riders' circuit in Donington Park had been abandoned in favour of one far less testing of competitors' abilities – but Phillips is confident any such fears will be rapidly assuaged by the heavily revised layout due to greet all concerned in six months' time.
“Absolutely,” he fired back, when asked by Crash.net Radio whether the 'new' Silverstone will test riders' skill levels to the maximum. “We've started work on the circuit now, so the £5 million improvements are underway. We did need to change the circuit and make it into a proper bike circuit, and now you've got the chicane disappearing and Woodcote coming back to what it used to be in the old days.
“It looks very exciting; the riders are very excited about it, and the fans seem to be queuing up to buy tickets, so we're very happy with it at the moment. MotoGP is a very popular event, so to have it coming in is just phenomenal, and a huge, huge boost for us.”
CRASN.NET
