SILVERSTONE NAMED BY FANS AS THEIR NUMBER ONE BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CIRCUIT Bennetts, title sponsor of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, has revealed that Silverstone has been voted by the fans as their favourite race circuit. Motorcycling fans have been casting their votes in the official Bennetts British Superbike Fans’ Awards by logging onto the Bennetts website (www.bennetts.co.uk), and also filling out questionnaires at the final rounds of the Championship, to have their say – the survey of results have now been published. Silverstone, which hosted round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this year, polled the most votes ahead of Brands Hatch and Cadwell Park in the eleven circuits used in the racing calendar. Silverstone, one of the country’s most famous race circuits hosts a number of high profile motoracing events in the sporting calendar including the British Grand Prix. The Northamptonshire circuit has been revealed as the Bennetts British Superbike fans’ premier choice for viewing all the race action and witnessing all the high speed overtaking, and also topped the poll as the number one circuit for atmosphere. More than 15,000 fans attended round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the world famous circuit in August, and witnessed two thrilling races as leading contenders for the championship crown Gregorio Lavilla and Ryuichi Kiyonari each recorded a victory on the day. Richard Phillips, the Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, on learning the circuit received the thumbs up from fans said: “We are delighted that bike fans have voted Silverstone as their favourite circuit. The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is one of the most prestigious dates in our racing calendar and we are looking forward to welcoming the fans for another thrilling days racing next year. We are due to meet with organisers in the hope that we will soon be able to confirm and announce our 2006 date.” In other categories of the fans’ survey, Michael Rutter has been named Rider of the Year after finishing third in the Championship, while Airwaves Ducati rider Leon Haslam has been named as the most improved rider. Silverstone was also voted as the fans’ favourite circuit for both all-round racing action and atmosphere. Former Rizla Suzuki rider John Reynolds, who has recently announced his retirement, and enjoyed a long and highly successful career that included three British Superbike Championship titles, received the most votes as the rider the fans would most like to ride pillion with. John confirmed his status as the fans’ favourite rider when he topped the poll of which rider they would like to invite around for dinner, and came a close second in the Rider of the Year accolade. Kal Samra, Director of Bennetts, said: “The Bennetts British Superbike fans’ survey has been very revealing. We have been delighted to be title sponsors of the British Superbike Championship for 2005 and it was a thrilling climax to the series. The fans’ survey has been just one of a number of initiatives we introduced to get the fans closer to the action.”