 Superbike racing is popular in the UK |
A businessman is promoting a Nottinghamshire town as the first centre of excellence for Grand Prix motorcycling. Kevin Newton, a Mansfield businessman, already runs an elite squad of motorcyclists from the town.
His proposed centre at Millennium Park in Mansfield would train up to 100 top-class riders.
He said the scheme has the backing of the county council and the East Midlands Development Agency.
Specialist training
"We want to put together a centre where the riders and mechanics get specialist training - we don't have any centres with formal training for Superbike mechanics," he said.
Coun Chris Winterton of Notts County Council, who heads the economic generation committee, says the centre has a good chance of succeeding.
"If we can get the track screened and baffled against the noise - I think it is a great idea," he said.
Mr Newton said: "In the UK the riders are not trained on how to ride or how the bike works, it is all knowledge that is usually passed down father to son.
"The mechanics all seem to be motorbike mechanics and not race mechanics because there is not training available.
"Why should we move to Donington Park or Silverstone when we have fantastic facilities in Mansfield - why not have the next Grand Prix world champion based in Mansfield," he said.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
