Brands Hatch owner Jonathan Palmer has today confirmed the track's World Superbike race will not take place in 2009 after he could not agree terms with WSB promoters FGSport but he has stated there will be a a major event at the track in its place.
The provisional calendar was released by the FIM yesterday with no date for Brands but a spare round, scheduled for Italy, later in the year. This gave some fans hope that this may be altered to bring one of Britain's biggest sporting events back into the calendar. But Palmer says no.
“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.
 
“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.”