Donington Park won’t host 2015 MotoGP (Update)

UPDATE The future of Britain's motorcycle grand prix has been "thrown into doubt after officials at Donington Park walked away from a deal to keep the event safe until it is moved to a planned new track in Wales," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES.

An announcement on Tuesday "also casts into doubt the viability of the Circuit of Wales, which was due to open next year" but which has been at the center of controversy "since it was first mooted." The Circuit of Wales "snatched the contract" for the Moto GP British Grand Prix from Silverstone, which was attracting more than 75,000 fans each summer to the Northamptonshire circuit. However, there appears to have been "little progress in construction of the new circuit on a greenfield site near Ebbw Vale, amid planning wrangles and complaints from environmentalists."

Now Donington has "sprung another shock by announcing that they, too, have doubts." With the Circuit of Wales "unable to pay for track upgrades at Donington, the fate of the entire project is unclear." Dorna, the Spain-based commercial rights holder for MotoGP, "may be faced with going cap-in-hand to Silverstone to ensure that there is a race in Britain, for this year at least." Donington said in a statement that "the commercial risks and the lack of time are now too great to allow Donington to proceed." London Times

02/10/15 The 2015 MotoGP of Great Britain, set to take place on Aug. 30, will no longer take place at Donington Park.

MotoGP ended its contract with the Silverstone Circuit after the 2014 British GP, and began a contract with the new Circuit of Wales – which remains under construction.

Knowing that they would not be ready to host a race at the Circuit of Wales circuit, the organizers struck a deal with Donington Park to hold the 2015 race at the historic circuit.

Donington Park announced Tuesday that, "The Board of Directors and Staff of Donington Park Racing Limited ('DPRL') are greatly disappointed to have to report today that the Circuit of Wales company, and its new subsidiary GP15 Limited, have as yet been unable to complete their agreement with DPRL, nor meet long-planned payment deadlines, in order to set in motion the operation of the 2015 British Motorcycle Grand Prix, MotoGP at Donington Park.

"Despite DPRL's best efforts, the time lost with CoW being unable to complete the funding arrangements has resulted in delays in almost all of the event's critically important operational plans, from track works to equipment hire. Therefore, in the judgment of the Board of DPRL, this current position could jeopardize the safe and successful running of the 2015 British MotoGP at Donington to such an extent, that both the commercial risks and the lack of time are now too great to allow Donington to proceed.

"Therefore Donington Park must withdraw from any further participation. Consequently, the 2015 British round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship will not now be held at Donington Park on August 30th 2015."