DONINGTON Park will no longer be holding the British round of World Superbikes after the event was signed up by Silverstone.

It is yet another major event that the track has lost since its parent company Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd went into administration.

The circuit lost a 17-year contract to host the F1 British Grand Prix due to its inability to raise funds for a £100m revamp.

And last month the circuit was pulled from the British Superbikes calendar.

Donington Park had been due to host World Superbikes at the end of August but it will now take place at Silverstone between July 30 and August 1.

Silverstone will also host the British Grand Prix from July 9 to 11.

Businesses in Donington said they were disappointed that another major event had been lost from the track's calendar.

Andy Moon, landlord at The Cross Keys pub, said he hoped World Superbikes would be back next year.

He said: "It will impact on us a bit but not the extent of places that, for example, let rooms.

"Anything like this brings welcome customers and we'd like to see it return."

Councillor Tony Saffell, who represents the village on North West Leicestershire District Council, said he was buoyed by news that several parties had shown an interest in taking over the track and bringing back Superbikes.

He added that some of the parties were also interested in battling Silverstone for the Grand Prix.

Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, said he was delighted that World Superbikes was coming to the track.

He said: "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."

The Wheatcroft family, which owns Donington, was unavailable for comment last night.