The Silverstone Circuit will return to the Superbike World Championship calendar for 2010, replacing Donington Park as the British round of this series this season after uncertainty has surrounded Donington since mid-2009.

It’s been announced that the Northamptonshire circuit has stepped in to agree to short-term contract with Infront Motor Sports after the event’s immediate future had looked in jeopardy, the World Superbike event set to be staged on 1 August.

The series last competed at Silverstone in 2007, where Troy Bayliss won the opening race before the second was cancelled due to rain. On that occasion, James Toseland was the top British rider with eighth in the opening leg for Ten Kate Honda.

“We are delighted that World Superbikes will be back at Silverstone this year,” Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented. “There was a very real risk that Britain wouldn’t have a round of the Superbike World Championship in 2010. With seven of Britain’s best riders racing in this year’s championship, it would have been a travesty if they hadn’t had a home race, and a home crowd, to perform in front of.

“We are thrilled that Silverstone has been able to step in and keep the race on the 2010 calendar. Silverstone is embracing the biking community. We have already demonstrated our commitment to motorcycle racing by investing more than £5 million [almost $9 million AUD] in a new super-fast circuit and improved spectator facilities. We were already looking forward to seeing MotoGP and British Superbikes on the new Arena Grand Prix circuit in 2010, so to add World Superbikes to that list is fantastic.”

Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports, was also excited to see the series return to Silverstone once again.

“Following all the problems with Donington and the uncertainty that has been created over the last few months, we are now very satisfied to have reached an important agreement with the Silverstone circuit to host the British Round of the championship,” Flammini said. “This agreement confirms the excellent relationship existing between our Group and the Silverstone circuit and we hope it will be the first step of a new long-term relationship.”

The 2010 WSBK championship will commence at Phillip Island on 26-28 February, with Australians Troy Corser, Chris Vermeulen, Andrew Pitt and Broc Parkes looking to stand out on home soil.