Silverstone has agreed a new three-year deal with Dorna Sports to remain as host of the British round of the MotoGP World Championship, ending speculation of a return to Donington Park for the series.
Silverstone played host to grand prix motorcycling’s first British Grand Prix on the mainland in 1977, and remained until 1987 when the series switched to Donington.
A revamped Silverstone took over hosting duties once more from 2010, but lost its contract with Dorna to the Circuit of Wales project at the end of 2014.
With the Ebbw Vale development slowed by financial issues, the British Grand Prix remained at Silverstone for 2015, but organised by the Circuit of Wales.
This continued into 2016, but the death of the Circuit of Wales project in 2017 meant a new deal had to be put in place for MotoGP to continue coming to Britain.
A return to Donington had looked likely for the 2018 event, but Silverstone has since agreed to a new deal with Dorna on the eve of the season finale in Valencia which will see the circuit remain on the schedule through to 2020.
“A lot of time and money has been invested in recent years to ensure MotoGP fans, teams and riders enjoy what Silverstone has to offer, and we are delighted to secured the contract to 2020,” said Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle.
“Two-wheel racing is much a part of Silverstone‘s heritage as four-wheel racing, and we are looking forward to welcoming the Championship and its fans back to Silverstone next August.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, continued: “Silverstone is an iconic British circuit, so naturally we are pleased to be able to continue racing at this track.
“The United Kingdom is an important market for Dorna and has to remain on the MotoGP calendar, especially with the introduction of the British Talent Cup next year, which we hope will inspire the next generation of young British talent.
“We look forward to giving fans more action over the British Grand Prix weekend, and I’m sure fans will be as happy as we are that Silverstone remains on the calendar for the next three years.”
The 2018 British Grand Prix weekend is set to take place on August 24-26, and will once again be the 12th round of the season.
