How disappointing is this for North East motorcyclists……..
Series promoters, MSVR, announced its calendar for the 2012 MCE Insurance-sponsored championship yesterday and it came as a surprise to many that Croft was not among the circuits to be visited.
The three-day event is one of the North-East’s top sporting attractions and regularly draws tens of thousands of motorsport fans to the venue outside Darlington.
It was thought by some that the inclusion of the Dutch circuit, Assen, next year might have been the reason for Croft’s omission, but though circuit bosses have yet to confirm the finer details, BSB series director Stuart Higgs said the decision was made in the North-East and had more to do with the after-effects of a long-running High Court case.
In January 2009, Croft Promosport, the circuit’s tenant, was ordered to pay damages and legal costs to three neighbours because the enjoyment of their homes had been affected by “loud, intrusive and repetitive noise”.
The ruling also restricted the number of annual noisy days – when the circuit can run cars and bikes with unmuffled exhausts – to 40.
Higgs said it was this and not any decision on MSVR’s part that led to yesterday’s announcement.
“We offered a round to Croft as part of the normal course of events back in September, the operators said things were very difficult for them, as has been well-documented. They’re operating under very tough operating arrangements which are probably the most stringent in the UK. With only 40 commercial days, they have had to make a commercial decision and maximise the use of those days on a risk-free basis. BSB would account for three days and is quite a big financial outlay, meaning they are hugely reliant on revenue on the day and need a good crowd and good weather, etc. We’re in the business of operating circuits as well, and with only 40 days use a year, they’re very, very tough, if not impossible, conditions to work with.”
Higgs said Croft had provided a good venue for the championship since 2004 and a round could return if conditions for the track improved.
A spokesman for Croft Circuit said they hoped that this would be the case. Although unable to expand on the matter, he said: “It is not a long-term decision. It has not been possible to run the British Superbikes in 2012, but we appreciate it is a prestigious event and we will be looking to bring it back in 2013.”
So no BSB racing at our local circuit, meaning that instead of travelling 28.5miles from Durham to Croft you will have to travel :
158 miles to Donington Park
163 miles to Oulton Park
166 miles to Cadwell Park
167 miles to Knockhill (where it’s usually rained off)
215 miles to Silverstone
259 miles to Snetterton
281 miles to Brands Hatch
306 miles to Thruxton
or either go to Holland (Assen) OR watch it on the TV
What really hurts though is that Brands Hatch is now running three (3) rounds, Oulton Park two (2) rounds and there is even a round at Assen in Holland. The series organizers MSVR own four of the circuits : Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch.
Perhaps the series could be renamed Southern Superbikes !! (SSB) instead of British Superbikes (BSB)
You can email BSB at : bsb@msvracing.co.uk if you want to let them know how disappointed you are to be losing the North East round of BSB.
The full BSB calendar for 2012 is as follows :
1 6.7.8.9 April : Brands Hatch Indy
2 13.14.15 April : Thruxton
3 5.6.7 May : Oulton Park International
4 25.26.27 May : Snetterton 300
5 22.23.24 June : Knockhill
6 6.7.8 July : Oulton Park International
7 20.21.22 July : Brands Hatch GP
8 25.26.27 August : Cadwell Park
9 7.8.9 September : Donington Park GP
10 21.22.23 September : TT Circuit Assen (NL)
11 28.29.30 September : Silverstone GP
12 12.13.14 October : Brands Hatch GP