Silverstone Completes Track Resurfacing

Silverstone is excited to announce the completion of resurfacing the Grand Prix circuit ahead of the 2019 GoPro British Grand Prix MotoGP on 23 to 25 August.

The requirements stipulated by FIM, the governing body, have been met ahead of Silverstone’s showcase two-wheel racing calendar this coming Bank Holiday weekend.

The FIM track licence was formally issued today (Thursday, August 22) for another year following an inspection earlier this afternoon.

The new track surface has met with universal praise from all of those who have ridden on it so far; from Silverstone trackday customers through to top-level racers and expert journalist testers.

Former British and World Superbike racer and BT Sport MotoGP presenter Michael Laverty is so far the fastest rider on the fastest bike to have lapped the track when he tested a Triumph Moto2 prototype for a television feature.

He said: “Silverstone is the smoothest race track I have ever ridden on. They’ve done a great job. In my opinion this has now set Silverstone up to be the best racetrack in the world. With the work that has been done, come rain or shine, we’re going to have a British GP.”

MCN journalist Emma Franklin took part in a Silverstone trackday and said after a full day of riding: “The fresh surface gives the high-speed circuit a really surreal feeling, much like playing a video game.

“The grip and stability translates to huge cornering confidence, and you feel like there’s no limit to your lean angle. It’s quite simply a mind-blowing place to ride any motorcycle, but especially a modern litre bike, and is something every rider needs to experience. Get it booked!”

And Visordown’s Simon Hancocks said: “The venue is once again a world-class facility and now one of my favourites to ride. While we can’t promise a dry MotoGP event this year, we can confirm that should the heavens open, the hardware is in place to ensure that racing can go ahead. And if it’s dry, expect the lap records to tumble!”

MotoGP™ at Silverstone is the highlight of a busy year of two-wheel activity at the Northamptonshire circuit, with the event taking place this weekend.
The track work was carried out by leading construction solutions business, Tarmac under the guidance of track consultant Jarno Zaffelli of Dromo, who was appointed by Silverstone as an expert advisor for the resurfacing works.

Silverstone’s Managing Director Stuart Pringle said: “The work needed to get to this point has been a tough few months for the Silverstone team but I’m incredibly proud of the work they have put in.

“We have a world-class racing circuit that is among the very best in the world and we are all hugely excited about what the new track surface will allow us to do in the coming years.”

Paul Fleetham, managing director of Tarmac’s Construction business said: “Our highly skilled team of experts worked around the clock using some of the most ambitious cutting-edge digital construction technologies available to deliver fantastic results at Silverstone.

“We’re exceptionally proud of our work on this iconic British race circuit.  It’s been extremely rewarding to see the positive response from track users to the new surface, which has been successfully built to the highest durability and ride quality requirements for international racing series.”

Silverstone earlier this year confirmed an extension to the contract to host MotoGP™ at the world-class venue through to the end of 2021.

MORE THAN JUST RACING

Along with the incredible on-track racing will be a packed entertainment schedule including award-winning band Clean Bandit and massive-selling Toploader playing on the mainstage.

Away from the track will be great campsites, great food and drink venues around the track and a large area devoted to showing off the latest motorcycles from Yamaha, Triumph, Suzuki, KTM and Ducati.