GRAEME Gowland is ‘gutted’ at the news Darlington’s Croft Circuit has lost its annual round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.
The Allendale rider, who last week re-signed for the WFR Honda BSB squad for next season, was shocked when the news broke on Monday that Croft had been axed from the 2012 calendar – instead the series will head out for a round at Assen in The Netherlands in September.
Gowland said: “I am gutted about it, I don’t even think I can describe how disappointed I am we are not going to Croft next year.
“Croft is my local circuit and it is also the local circuit for all the bike racing fans in the North East of England.
“It is all we have and to suddenly find out it is not going to be on the calendar in 2012 is devastating.
“It has always been a very popular round, and I am sure I am not alone feeling so disappointed.
“We do not have our own home round anymore, it is really very sad.”
The news comes as further blow for North East motorsport fans and is a result of the circuit being hit with a court ruling in 2009 which restricted the number of ‘noise days’ to 40 each year.
A statement from BSB series director Stuart Higgs revealed the reason Croft was not on next year’s calendar was a decision made by the circuit itself.
He said: “It is disappointing not to have a round in the North East.
“The simple fact is Croft was offered a 2012 round, but sadly for them they are working under extremely tough operating conditions, probably the most of any UK circuit with only 40 operational days use a year.
“ BSB accounts for three of those days and they made a decision that they need to maximise those 40 days’ use on a risk-free basis – basic track hire as opposed to the outlay of running a major promoted meeting. “
Croft hopes to be back on the BSB calendar in 2013.
For Gowland, though, it is a bitter pill to swallow.
He added: “I love Croft, not just because it is my local track but because it is a great circuit.
“I did not get to race there last year because I was injured. I so desperately wanted to get out and I did try, but it was not possible.”
