British MotoGP moves to Silverstone.

It has been confirmed that the British Grand Prix will be held at Silverstone from 2010 after Dorna concluded a five-year deal with the Northamptonshire circuit.

A return to the venue, which held MotoGP races between 1977 and 1986, the Silverstone deal brings an end to a lengthy partnership with Donington Park, one that has spanned more than twenty years.

The agreement with Silverstone comes despite Donington Park's ambitious plans to overhaul the circuit in readiness for the proposed 2010 Formula 1 British Grand Prix, which this week received the necessary planning permission to get underway.

Indeed, Donington Park had always stated their intentions to retain MotoGP alongside Formula 1, but despite the upgrade in facilities and the layout changes, Silverstone is likely to have offered a more attractive proposal in its bid to secure at least one major international event in 2010.

As such, the contract will keep MotoGP at Silverstone from 2010 until 2015, as Crash.net first reported back in February.

Hailing the circuit's facilities and heritage, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta was delighted to be adding the globally recognised Silverstone circuit to the MotoGP calendar once again.

"We are delighted that the MotoGP World Championship is returning to Silverstone as of 2010. The venue has excellent facilities and a circuit with a great heritage, having hosted some superb Grand Prix racing in the 1970s and 1980s.

"We are sure that MotoGP?s visits to the UK will continue to be highly successful when we make the historic move back to Silverstone next year."

Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips was also thrilled to be welcoming MotoGP back to the reputed 'Home of British Motor Racing'.

"Silverstone is the UK?s premier motor racing venue and we are thoroughly looking forward to hosting the world?s premier motorcycle racing event from 2010. We have worked closely with Dorna Sports to bring MotoGP to Silverstone and both parties are extremely excited about the opportunity to take this world-class event to another level.

"Silverstone is a unique UK race circuit; rich in heritage and unrivalled in terms of what we are able to offer fans, championships and teams. The Grand Prix circuit offers a combination of high speed straights and technical corners, presenting a real challenge to the riders, while the facilities for teams and spectators are second to none."

Despite its fairly short tenure on the MotoGP calendar, Silverstone is well remembered for hosting the classic 1979 battle between Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene.