Palmer reveals Brands Hatch terms.

Jonathan Palmer reveals why Brands Hatch was not included on the 2009 World Superbike calendar.
Jonathan Palmer has spoken out against the decision not to include Brands Hatch on the 2009 World Superbike calendar, claiming it was unfeasible to meet FG Sport's demands in the current economic climate.

Brands Hatch has hosted a round since 1993, but was excluded from next year's provisional calendar after FG Sport demanded twice the amount that MotorSport Vision paid this season.

A bitter blow for the circuit, which regularly attracts the largest spectator figures of any other event, the loss of the British round comes at a particularly disappointing time for fans given the influx of home grown talent set to take to the world stage next year.

Although Palmer, the Chief Executive for MSV, accepts that WSBK organisers FG Sport are there to run a business, he doesn't consider it viable to pass on the increased fee demand to the spectators.

"Of course it is very disappointing not to have World Superbikes on the calendar for Brands Hatch next year but I have not been able to agree terms with the promoters of WSB, the Italian-based FG Sport company, run by Paolo and Maurizio Flammini," he said.

"It is obviously their business to obtain the highest fees possible from circuits for having a WSB event but unfortunately FG Sport has demanded a fee over twice as much as MSV paid in 2008, which seems strange given the very obvious global economic crisis.

"I have made it very clear to FG Sport that we would be delighted to welcome WSB back to Brands Hatch in 2009 but despite considerable negotiation over many weeks the substantially increased offer I made to FG Sport was not acceptable to them.

"The increase in FG Sport's fee is equivalent to an extra £15 on the price of every race day ticket and we believe that such an increase would not be acceptable to fans in any year, let alone in today's difficult climate.

"The loss of Brands Hatch will be a shame for British fans but also a big loss for the World Superbike Championship, as Brands Hatch has consistently attracted the biggest crowd of any circuit and will clearly be missed by its promoters and sponsors."

Palmer has revealed, however, that he intends the replace the World Superbike event with another as-yet-unknown motorcycle event that will provide action, and value for money, for fans.

"MSV is however more committed than ever to major motor cycle events at Brands Hatch and we are advancing plans for a major new bike event to take place on the traditional WSB date that will provide fans with outstanding entertainment and value. We anticipate making an announcement within the next month."

The UK will still host a round of the championship next year, at Donington Park, where Shane Byrne, Jonathan Rea, Tom Sykes, Tommy Hill and Leon Haslam will all line-up on the World Superbike grid.

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