Casey Stoner backs British MotoGP move

Former world champion Casey Stoner has backed the surprise decision to switch the British MotoGP race from Donington Park to Silverstone for 2010.

Dorna announced a five-year deal with the Northamptonshire circuit on Monday amid rumours Silverstone had doubled the fee paid by Donington Park to win the rights to stage Britain’s biggest bike race.

Factory Ducati rider Stoner believes the switch will be a big success, and he will be one of only a few riders to have previous race experience of the circuit, which has hosted British and World Superbike races.

Chris Vermuelen, James Toseland and Colin Edwards have all raced there in WSB and Stoner reckons the circuit’s plans will benefit MotoGP.

As a member of the MotoGP Safety Commission, Stoner got chance to cast his eye over Silverstone’s redevelopment plans at the Shanghai GP in China last season.
“Until we ride there it’s hard to make an opinion. Who knows until we get out there? It could be great or it could be terrible, you just can’t be sure until you get out on the track.

But it is a big home of motorsport and when I raced British championship I really, really enjoyed that track. There were a couple of corners I don’t think will be in the GP plan, which is kind of disappointing. They were unbelievable and a heck of a lot of fun.”

Stoner said the only shame was that Silverstone’s revamp included plans to scrap some of his favourite corners.
“The last one that comes under the bridge before the final complex where it’s left, left and then a long, long right. There’s a right that goes downhill under a bridge through there was a heck of a lot of fun. It comes over a rise, goes down under the bridge and turns right. That was a very good passing place, because people always have to bring it back and it’s always easy to get out underneath somebody there and there was some brilliant racing through there. But I think that corner is gone because they refuse to move the bridge and the bridge is not within the safety restrictions.”