Jonathan Palmer is positive news for the Donington Park circuit

THE recent news as reported in the Echo that Donington Park has new people in charge under the stewardship of the redoubtable Jonathan Palmer has to be viewed as a positive for the circuit.

I attended my first meeting at Donington in 1977, over the ensuing 40 years I have seen all the greats of motorcycle racing plying their trade at this wonderful track.

The late Barry Sheene was very charismatic, and always likely to boost crowd levels considerably.

I will say that Sheene was the finest wet weather rider I ever saw in action. He had guile, finesse, and poise when track conditions were poor, as befits a two-time world champion.

I recall the first motorsport meeting I ever went to in 1975; the Race of the Year at Mallory Park. This quaint, 1.3 mile track in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside was packed with avid fans.

In those days all the famous riders from around the world competed at this meeting, riders of the calibre of Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, and John Cooper.

Barry Sheene won the race of the year in 1975 in some style. On my way home from the track all those years ago I knew I had witnessed a special talent go about his work.

Carl Fogarty won the world superbike championship four times, and is a rider I hold in high regard.

I remember a meeting at Donington, it must be over 20 years ago now where Carl was riding. I had to park my car in a country lane about a mile from the track, all roads leading to the circuit were rammed with traffic.

That day over 75,000 fans saw Fogarty take a win and a second in one of the great meetings at Donington. I rate Carl Fogarty to be at least the equal of Barry Sheene in terms of ability.

In my view the greatest rider I ever saw race at Donington has to be the legendary three time world champion, Kenny Roberts.

Here was a man of extraordinary ability, who came to Europe from the states in 1978 and won the world title at the first time of asking, dethroning Barry Sheene.

Roberts was a colossus, a towering giant in the world of motorcycle sport.

His epic victory over Sheene in the British Grand Prix of 1979 is still talked about by many race fans.

I look forward to another good season of racing in 2017 at Donington.

Richard Nielsen Loughborough