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Brands Hatch to lose Superbikes slot

Superbikes
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Brands Hatch will not host a round of the World Superbikes championship in 2009 after being left off the provisional calendar, venue owner Jonathan Palmer has revealed.

"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.

"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."

So what do you make of this? Do you think it is a disastrous move, or are you glad that someone has made a stand on an issue like this? Or does the fact there is a round at Donington make up for it?

Your thoughts and opinions please...

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posted Oct 22, 2008

for too long british sports fans have been getting ripped off - i'm glad someone has finally said no to an inevitable price hike.

mind you - they'll come crawling back once they realise what they're missing.

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posted Oct 22, 2008

How can owning four circuits be a monopoly? MSV doesn't own every circuit in the UK so it is not a monopoly. There are other companies that does corporate days at race circuits so there is not a monopoly there. BARC own at six motorsport venues. So shouldn't you have a go at them.

Jonathon Palmer is in business to make money. The doubling of the sanctioning fee to €2 million would mean an increase in ticket prices. JP has done the right thing is saying no to FG Sport

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comment by Wud82 (U7033908)

posted Oct 22, 2008

I like cars so I don't care. Brum brum!!

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posted Oct 22, 2008

The point I was trying to make but forgot that it has to be absolutely crystal clear for some on these posts to grasp is....MSV, the group and it various interests are now in a position to decide which events to host and which not to. If they decide to drop WSBK that will impact the fans, but as a group they can always put on at virtually no cost to themselves one of their own series. Point being how long will it be before one of the MSV circuits, probably Brands is angling for an F2 race, heck maybe even the vacant WSBK round will now be a good date ? With them having won a tender to run the series, with them owning the circuits, with Palmers son probably driving one of the cars....and everyone testing the cars at Bedford before each race, you have to suggest that he has every base covered ! All I`m suggesting is he now holds a lot of power in British racing and I was simply questioning whether the paying fan is getting value for money in the availability of events that he does`nt promote at his circuits. To ThaRobster, your knowledge amazes me and the depth which you have studied my post and raised your points pleases me. My original post actually said - If I WANT to go its either £50 or theres no racing on, not that I turned up to see no racing !!!! - maybe your time would have been better spent reading my post even more carefully than thinking up and being so desperate to post the many barbs with which you littered your comments.

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posted Oct 22, 2008

If you think that holding a major race meeting doesn't cost the much you are seriously out of touch. There is the sanctioning fees, track licences, maintenance, race weekend staff that need to paid (that does not include the marshals), medical teams and ambulances, breakdown, extra medical equipment that has to be hired in, policing the event. It cost a lot of money. Would you prefer that JP pay the €2 million required and pass the costs on to the fans or make a stand against these high fees?
To give you an example Silverstone don't make a profit out of the British Grand Prix and MSV barely broke even hosting WSBK

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posted Oct 22, 2008

comment by Camp Danish (U12850498)

posted Yesterday

Camp...

I am absolutely gutted that there will be no WSBK round at brands,

I'm still moaning they stopped the Brands-Silverstone year on year turnaround for F1 - showing my age now!

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comment by Nibball (U1233705)

posted Oct 23, 2008

Irvine, the problem I have is that you appear to be trying to cite yourself as an authority on the subject of MSV, with you saying you knew all the points made before and you are "well versed in the structure" of MSV.

Unfortunately, your comment regarding F2 shows this up. Anyone seriously paying attention to MSV's dealings would know that F2 is being aligned with the World touring car championship, therefore already had a date booked at brands before the WSBK deal fell through and FPA is not nearly big enough to headline an event. The other series MSV owns is the British superbikes which already does Brands twice in a season, I can't see them going for a third time.

Had you properly read my post, Irvine, you'd see that I gave examples of MSV charging comparable prices for tickets, so how MSV give any less value for money than any other circuit owner, I'm not entirely sure. And surely them owning the likes of BSB and being able to offer lower prices for the event is only a good thing?

You're complaining about raising ticket prices (which I have shown to be going on all over, not just at Brands) AND MSV refusing to host an event because it would have to be too expensive for the fans. You can't have it both ways. Things are more expensive than they were 20 years ago, it sucks but it is a fact. If you want cheaper prices, complain to the organisers, not the hosts.

Oh and by the way, I'm still interested to know when you think there was no racing on at Brands, because between March and the end of November there has been some form of racing at Brands every weekend. Outside of this time, well they need to maintain the track some time, plus its hard to race when its icy / snowy.

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posted Oct 23, 2008

As you say Robster F2 has already been aligned to the WTCC pacakge therefore it has managed to make an appearance at an MSV track straight away as I suggested might happen, as you also point out they also have the rights to BSB and already run two rounds, at Brands alone. Maybe my point about having a monopoly was incorrect, but building one, one I consider quite dangerous is maybe more accurate. The cost issue is one I actually never complained about in my post, I was just stating that now there seems very little opportunity for others as either MSV`s own event, own promoted events or championships are running at their own circuits for a considerable part of the season. It isn`t the money, it isn`t anything about other circuits, its about having the access to things that aren`t forced upon you by the same entity all the time - and before you all cry, I know I don`t HAVE to go to these events and its ultimately my choice.

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posted Oct 26, 2008

No need really to have 2 rounds in one country, i rate Donington much higher than Brands Hatch and would rather go there myself. Thats further aided by the new tracks thats soon to be built there and the fact that Donington hosted the first ever superbike race!

That said, does seem a bit odd to do away with a round that is hugely popular both with riders and fans!

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posted Oct 31, 2008

Brands is a fantastic track, but Palmer has done the right thing by not bowing to FG Sports demands If he were to pay the price they wanted then the ticket prices would have to go up or he'd make a loss, and in a business that just isn't worth his while. They may come back to him with a better offer allowing Brands to be put back on the calander, either in '09 or 2010! It's a sad loss for the sport though, and for British fans, atleast we still have Donington though, many countries don't even have 1 round!

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