With F1 coming to Brands Hatch - it has come as a surprise that the circuit has lost out on one of its most prestigious races.

The provisional calendar for the 2009 World Superbike championship has been released and, shockingly for British fans of the sport, it does not include Brands Hatch. Jonathan Palmer, who works for MotorSport Vision, revealed the company’s anger at unreasonable financial demands made by event promoters, FG Sport.

Palmer stated that the promoters were demanding over twice the fee paid in 2008, which “is odd given the economic crisis”. This increase would have resulted in the price of a race day ticket rising by approximately £15, which is simply unacceptable in the current financial climate.

Although the choice not to include Brands Hatch in the provisional calendar will disappoint many fans, Palmer believes that it was an unavoidable decision. FG Sport seem to have been unwilling to negotiate with MotorSport Vision, despite a “substantially increased offer”.

Furthermore, it is not just the fans who will feel the loss of the circuit. Brands Hatch usually attracts the biggest crowd of any circuit on the calendar, so both promoters and sponsors will be upset at its absence from the calendar.

Fans of the World Superbike championship may seek some consolation from the news that MotorSport Vision is planning a “major new bike event” that will be held at Brands Hatch. This event will probably be timed to coincide with the traditional World Superbike championship date so fans will still have something to keep them entertained.

The provisional calendar starts on the first day of March in Phillip Island in Australia. In April, the championship will move to Valencia in Spain before finally ending on the 25th of October in Portimao, Portugal.

Written by Charlotte Cook