Silverstone opens its gates for the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship (BSB) this weekend (26/27 September), when one of the most competitive two-wheeled race series in the world returns to the famous Northamptonshire circuit.
Leon Camier has carved out a significant lead in the championship and is likely to be crowned 2009 Champion on Sunday. Should the Airwaves Yamaha rider be successful in his quest for the rider’s title, there will be a double celebration at the Home of British Motor Racing. Silverstone will also be celebrating the return of two-wheeled Grand Prix racing to the circuit when the FIM MotoGP World Championship touches down in 2010.
To mark the return of motorcycle racing’s premier international series, Silverstone will feature a MotoGP Zone on the Sunday of British Superbikes. In addition to Q&A and Autograph sessions with MotoGP stars from the past and present, a stunning collection of current and classic MotoGP bikes will be on display, including Valentino Rossi’s current Yamaha YZR-M1.
‘The Doctor’s’ bike is being transported over from the FIAT Yamaha MotoGP team base in Italy, and will be displayed alongside Chris Vermeulen’s Suzuki GSVR MotoGP bike. Other British Grand Prix classics featured in the display will be a Suzuki XR45-50, raced by Barry Sheene at Silverstone in 1984; Randy Mamola’s 1983 HB Gallina XR4500 and one of Rob McElnea’s 1984 Carbon XR45 Skoal Bandits, all now owned by Suzuki collector Steve Wheatman.
Randy Mamola, winner of the 1980 and 1984 Grands Prix at Silverstone, will be meeting fans at two Q&Asessions on Sunday 27 September, along with former British World Championship riders Steve Parrish, Jeremy McWilliams, Niall MacKenzie and Rob McElnea. The MotoGP stars will be signing autographs and offering their thoughts on the series’ return to The Home of British Motor Racing.
Some of Britain’s current 125cc MotoGP riders will also be looking ahead to next year’s MotoGP round at Silverstone, including Scott Redding, Danny Webb and Oxfordshire-based Bradley Smith. Eurosport commentator Toby Moody will be hosting the Q&A sessions.
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