Yes Yes YEAH

Hopefully this is true, I really miss Donington and the great atmosphere compared to Silverstone.
MotoGP: British GP to return to Donington? | MCN

It would be great but spectator and camping facilities need massive improvements to bring them up to shiverstone's standards.

yamfan said:

It would be great but spectator and camping facilities need massive improvements to bring them up to shiverstone's standards.

Click to expand...

It says improvements are needed in the article, hopefully that will include access and egress , track changes and better burger vans.

I went to Donnington when I was about 18 or so... knew nothing about bike racing at the time and went with a boyfriend. I remember....
- camping - absolutely packed in, off our faces, rest of population similar, people fleeing around on bikes all night, taking something and tripping, fascination with glow sticks, disgusting toilets.
- racing - I was used to watching F1 and expected it to go on for hours. Sat on the grass for a snooze and suddenly it was finished.
- aberdeen to donnington on the back of a gsxr carrying camping stuff...

Boyfriend was a massive Schwantz fan to the point of obsession. He collected pepsi cans ffs.

Must have been around 1988 I think... might have to see if I can find out

Was hoping with the potential move to Donington, there might alsobhave been a move back to the June/July dates of old. Before the bikes had to make way for the Bernie Ecclestone road show. Provisional dates only so there's hope yet.
Still a trip to Donington is always easier, and the viewing better so hope the move happens.

danski said:

It says improvements are needed in the article, hopefully that will include access and egress , track changes and better burger vans.

Click to expand...

Absolutely but better spectator facilities like decent toilets and more seating will attract families and the like as well as hardcore race fans. All too often when we hear about circuit investment, the larger sum of the cash is spent on hospitality suites and corporate facilities. Granted some corporate is required for expansion, but the main focus should be the fans so they return year after year.

Furiosa said:

I went to Donnington when I was about 18 or so... knew nothing about bike racing at the time and went with a boyfriend. I remember....
- camping - absolutely packed in, off our faces, rest of population similar, people fleeing around on bikes all night, taking something and tripping, fascination with glow sticks, disgusting toilets.
- racing - I was used to watching F1 and expected it to go on for hours. Sat on the grass for a snooze and suddenly it was finished.
- aberdeen to donnington on the back of a gsxr carrying camping stuff...

Boyfriend was a massive Schwantz fan to the point of obsession. He collected pepsi cans ffs.

Must have been around 1988 I think... might have to see if I can find out

Click to expand...

Sounds like my first trip to Wsbk. Good times!

If you live in a glass house don't throw rocks.

Furiosa said:

I went to Donnington when I was about 18 or so... knew nothing about bike racing at the time and went with a boyfriend. I remember....

Click to expand...

Good times. Another miracle of surviving young and dumb? I claim to be a wonder of youth survival.

As a comparison to Donnington:
DORNA really wanted Laguna Seca to add garages, and facilities for the teams, and more suites. They didn't really care much about more grandstands or facilities for the fans, which Laguna may also need. Nope, it was all about the Circus members. Laguna, being owned by government bureaucrats that can't tell their fanny from an 200/60 slick, declined. And thus Laguna is gone from the schedule when a relatively small investment could have paid off in 4 to 5 years. And I would still have MotoGP in my backyard. pffff.

yamfan said:

It would be great but spectator and camping facilities need massive improvements to bring them up to shiverstone's standards.

Click to expand...

Well as its owned by Jonathan Palmer it will be a given. He spent a lot of his own money on Brands a few years ago and he mixes with the crowd, I like him.

I love the Dunny layout. The section after the first corner is one of my favorites section to watch bikes race on. Its got a good flow to it.

Iamapony said:

Good times. Another miracle of surviving young and dumb? I claim to be a wonder of youth survival.

Click to expand...

Absolutely. I don't know how I survived. And reasonably intact at that.

danski said:

Hopefully this is true, I really miss Donington and the great atmosphere compared to Silverstone.
MotoGP: British GP to return to Donington? | MCN

Click to expand...

No intent to be intentionally contrary - but why? and when was the last time you went to either?

The notion that Donington became the 'spiritual home of bike racing' is part mythology and part misty eyed reminiscence. I find this tiresome lament over the loss of the round and the suggestion that moving to Silverstone was some sort of sacrilege, very peculiar. I agree, the atmosphere not only on Craners, but throughout the circuit was at times incredible and the spectator experience arguably the best on the calendar - but I think this would be very hard to recapture - contrive even.

Although this is an integral part of motorcycle racing, for me the entire experience has become polluted by yellow and the collective negativity associated with the influx of these idiots has left me jaded and jaundiced. At least at Silverstone this is more diluted. Following the decline of WSBk and the Foggy factor and the emergence of Rossi, GP enjoyed a renaissance in the UK. Prior to that, I'm sure you recall the tumbleweed during the Doohan years and which others choose to overlook in their romantic recollections.

Above all - the racing is ..... Admittedly, one of the greatest individual rides I have ever seen trackside was Rossi in 2005, but that was due to his masterful performance in the near impossible conditions. Since 2002, the advent of the MotoGP era, name one good/memorable premier class race. I attended the final GP with Rog, Bonnie and Willski in 2009 and even the atmopshere was stale by then. Didn't help that the place resembled the Somme and the weather was dire, but the move to Silverstone felt like the progression that this sport needed. Silverstone is a prestigious world class facility and throughout the last seven years has produced far better racing due to the fast flowing nature of the circuit. Remember, it's also on show to around 300m worldwide. Redgate to Coppice may well be one of the most glorious ribbons of racing asphalt in the world but it is completely butchered by The Melbourne Loop and Goddards which for GP in particular destroys any hope of close racing.

Donington is my backyard, I've completed more trackdays there than I have attended races - and that's a lot. Love riding the place, utterly opposed to the suggestion of GP returning there when the racing at Silverstone has been so enthralling in comparison. Silverstone is perceived to lack atmosphere largely due to the sheer size of the place in comparison to Donington.

You miss the atmosphere you say?

https://youtu.be/4dFnLLJELQ4

Furiosa said:

I went to Donnington when I was about 18 or so... knew nothing about bike racing at the time and went with a boyfriend. I remember....
- camping - absolutely packed in, off our faces, rest of population similar, people fleeing around on bikes all night, taking something and tripping, fascination with glow sticks, disgusting toilets.
- racing - I was used to watching F1 and expected it to go on for hours. Sat on the grass for a snooze and suddenly it was finished.
- aberdeen to donnington on the back of a gsxr carrying camping stuff...

Boyfriend was a massive Schwantz fan to the point of obsession. He collected pepsi cans ffs.

Must have been around 1988 I think... might have to see if I can find out

Click to expand...

....... hell - sounds more like Monsters of Rock, which was like something out of a Mad Max movie. Aberdeen to Doni riding pillion on a 1980s gixer???!!! - and I thought Daniboy's 2005 experience was hardcore.

I was there too - recently unearthed these and sent them to Jum on WhatsApp...

Last time i went to Donington was 2009, also went in 05, 06, 07 & 08.
Silverstone 10 & 11 and that was enough .

Arrabbiata1 said:

....... hell - sounds more like Monsters of Rock, which was like something out of a Mad Max movie. Aberdeen to Doni riding pillion on a 1980s gixer???!!! - and I thought Daniboy's 2005 experience was hardcore.

I was there too - recently unearthed these and sent them to Jum on WhatsApp...

Click to expand...

Yep, and it's put me off for life!!! I often look at things like PolePosition and sort of half consider going, but can't bring myself to do it.

I spent most of my teens and some of my 20s folded up on the back of various gsxrs and before that gpzs. I expect that's one reason my hips are a bit raggedy now! Crunched and hunched up, with my face buried in the sort of collar of the driver!!! haha WTF. For hours on end... wow

I can only find photos of a few other people in our party in various stages of drool and stupor. Can't even find any pics of the bike, or little me swamped with stupid camping stuff. A good few pics of the bike once it was pink but I don't think it was pink when we did Donnington.

Funny the stuff you do remember and the stuff you don't! I suppose it's coming up to 30 years ago now which I'm not sure how, as I'm still only 27...

danski said:

Last time i went to Donington was 2009, also went in 05, 06, 07 & 08.
Silverstone 10 & 11 and that was enough .

Click to expand...

Odd that you didn't feel the same upon leaving Donington Park in 2009...complete shambles.

In the final decade - 2000 (Rossi's first win there in the senior class), the final UK 500cc GP in 2001, then 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 09.

Silverstone, 2011 (the arctic blast on race day), 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Of those years we've collectively mentioned, which circuit would you honestly say has consistently produced the closest and best racing? Actually, I can help you with that...it's not Donington Park.

Arrab, I know the state of Donington was questionable by the time GP left, but I have to agree with Danski on this as I still much prefer it to the current incarnation of Silverstone. Once they eliminated the old Bridge section at Silverstone, I was done with the circuit. It doesn't help the braking zones are more akin to speed bumps due to the F1 cars running the circuit. That alone I think is a requisite that GP goes back to Donington as I'd rather see a stable track surface for the bikes even though for worldwide viewing audiences, Silverstone is the best. Donington also will forever have a soft spot in my heart because of April 11, 1993 when F1 ran there that lone time because we were treated to this:



That opening lap....

Also with the current state affairs in GP Arrab, I think you would find GP at Donington more enjoyable this time around with the performance levelers currently in play.

I've been to Donington Park a few times for 500GP's and MotoGP, can't say I'm a fan of the place, last time I went was 2005 as a 19 year old on the back of a girlfriends 916 and I just remember getting soaked to the bone, having a dodgy burger and shitting my pants before I could get to the toilet, think that's the day Rossi won.

Personally I think Brands Hatch is a way better track for bike racing and it does actually produce great racing.

JPSLotus said:

Arrab, I know the state of Donington was questionable by the time GP left, but I have to agree with Danski on this as I still much prefer it to the current incarnation of Silverstone.

Click to expand...

Post alterations the racing has not been compromised though - unlike Donington which is destroyed by the bolt on section. Far worse was the brief introduction of the chicane pre alterations at Woodcote which was so tight even the superbikes had to lower their tickover to negotiate it. My question still remains - name me a close or memorable GP at Donington in the MotoGP era besides Rossi's extraordinary individual feat in '05.

JPSLotus said:

Once they eliminated the old Bridge section at Silverstone, I was done with the circuit.

Click to expand...

I agree that the Bridge Section was magnificent. We did manage to briefly restore it to its former glory though...

JPSLotus said:

It doesn't help the braking zones are more akin to speed bumps due to the F1 cars running the circuit. That alone I think is a requisite that GP goes back to Donington as I'd rather see a stable track surface for the bikes even though for worldwide viewing audiences, Silverstone is the best.

Click to expand...

I do agree about the surface at Silverstone- although Donington has always reminded me of Misano, whatever you do to it the adhesion is always questionable. There is an old riders myth perpetuated that this is due to aircraft fuel from East Midlands airport which is complete bollocks. Although it doesn't have to endure the downforce of F1 braking Donington still hosts truck racing which means that let five tonne tractor units lose about the the place and in parts it's worse than a pikey's driveway. In addition to that it still runs many four wheeled events, including BTCC.

JPSLotus said:

Donington also will forever have a soft spot in my heart because of April 11, 1993 when F1 ran there that lone time because we were treated to this:



That opening lap....

Click to expand...

Wasn't it called the European GP? Otherwise, remember it well - but the GP status was the reason that the circuit was extended and the damn car park section added. In the 1930s the pre war lay out which raced through the estate villages and parkland must have rivalled old Sachsenring.

Indeed, I have many fond memories of the place in terms of bike racing, but few in the recent history of MotoGP. In fact even before 2002, the racing was largely crap, My point still stands - name me a good Donington GP...you'd be going back to the early nineties and beyond.

JPSLotus said:

Also with the current state affairs in GP Arrab, I think you would find GP at Donington more enjoyable this time around with the performance levelers currently in play.

Click to expand...

A potent point, but I prefer circuits that are fast and flowing in nature - which is a terrible shame given the first two thirds of Doni. I still contend that over the course of a race the Esses, Melbourne loop and Goddards would completely ruin any prospect of close racing. I would willingly be proved wrong, but I don't believe Donington can ever hope to match the spectacular racing that we have seen over the last seven years at Silverstone. 2011, being the only exception - although as I recall, Bradley produced an amazing ride from the back of the grid in Moto2 that year.

AntG said:

Personally I think Brands Hatch is a way better track for bike racing and it does actually produce great racing.

Click to expand...

Absolutely agree and I've been saying this for years. WSBk Brands was magnificent. Love to see GP go there. Beautiful circuit.

Furiosa said:

A good few pics of the bike once it was pink but I don't think it was pink when we did Donnington.

Click to expand...

A pink gixxer!! I've been chuckling over this all afternoon. Only in the 80s.

It's not so much Donington being the spiritual home for me but almost the other way round. Motogp used to be the pinnacle of what was on offer at Donington and should have been treated as such.
It's no coincidence that when the last owners chucked everything at trying to entice F1 there it really hit the skids and lost Motogp.

Motogp will always be treated like a poor relation when sharing tracks with F1, whether that be dangerous run offs, change of date like I all ready mentioned or any other reason that those in charge dictate.
Hopefully new owners will learn from the previous mistakes and not repeat them.
I still think it's a better viewing circuit, all be it with dilapidated facilities, but hopefully that's in hand.