Redevelopment For Motorcycle Racing
To make room on Donington Park's calendar for the 'switch' of the British Grand Prix, it was announced in early 2009 that in return, Silverstone would get the option to host MotoGP in 2010 onwards. Just after the 2009 British Grand Prix on the 21st June, tickets became available on the official Silverstone website for MotoGP in 2010.
Both the FIM and Silverstone acknowledged a need for the circuit to be remodelled in order to become more suitable for motorcycle racing, with particular concerns raised by riders over the proximity of the bridge at Bridge corner.
A £5m renovation plan was put forward in February 2009. The most notable change of the remodelling is the addition of a new "Arena" section that will see riders turn right at the Abbey Chicane and head towards the new Arena section in what is currently the infield, turning left onto the National Circuit straight and then rejoining the original Grand Prix circuit at Brooklands, just before Woodcote and the Finishing straight. The new 'Arena' will consist of three new grandstands. Silverstone later claimed that the changes would make the circuit the fastest track on the MotoGP calendar. This additional section was also used in the 2010 Formula 1 British Grand Prix, as well as the following Formula 1 Grands Prix. From the 2011 Formula 1 British Grand Prix onwards, the start/finish straight and pit building was moved from between Woodcote and Copse, to between Club and Abbey.
On 22 January 2010 it was confirmed that Silverstone would host the British round of the 2010 Superbike World Championship season, taking over from Donington Park after the circuit was deemed "un-raceable" due to the postponed construction that had commenced in 2009.
Read more about this topic: Silverstone Circuit
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—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)