Classic motorcycle races could be staged at a British MotoGP for the first time since the birth of the historic movement in the 1980s, if the Lansdowne Series stages events at  Donington Park on August 28-30.In a sign of the continuing boom in the classic movement, the Circuit of Wales - organisers of the British MotoGP - have invited the Lansdowne club to provide part of the support programme when the UK round returns to the Derbyshire circuit for the first time since 2009.

"The MotoGP deal is still tentative, but there could be a classic race there," Richard Adams, organisers of the Lansdowne series, said. "We're still talking about this."

The move would be a considerable coup for the Lansdowne Classic Series, which encourages the use of pre-1963 grand prix bikes such as the Manx Norton, Matchless G50 and AJS 7R  built to original specification that stars of the fifties and sixties, such as John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Derek Minter and John Cooper would have used. Highly modified classics, such as short-stroke G50s and four-valve Manx Nortons, which were never manufactured in that form in the classic era, are not eligible for Lansdowne events.

A Lansdowne race includes four classes:
•    500cc Bonhams series (2014 champion - Mike Edwards, Ripley Land G50);
•    WRR Lansdowne series for 500s with limited modifications (Peter Crew, Manx Norton);
•    Avon 350cc championship (Seh Perez, AJS 7R)
•    Classic Motor Cycle series for 1950s' bikes (Mike Farrall, Rudge).

The Lansdowne team report a revived interest in the classic movement in favour of original-spec bikes. "We've got a lot of new people joining us, and there are six, seven or eight people building new bikes," Adams said. "The highly modified bikes are so expensive, and the short-stroke motors won't do a full season."

While advanced-spec G50s and Manxes are said to cost upwards of £30,000, he reckons a bike eligible for the Lansdowne could be built for around £24,000 from new parts, or for less if used spares are found.

Richard Adams' tip for a great club-and-classic weekend? Castle Combe on June 27-28, the only motorcycle event of the year on the 1.85-mile Wiltshire circuit, run by the North Glos club and incorporating three Lansdowne races. "A big crowd and a fantastic atmosphere," he promises.