In a surprising move, Virginia International Raceway announced it would not host its scheduled AMA Pro Racing round, just a month before the event was to take place.
The Alton, Va., circuit was set to host AMA Pro Racing on Aug. 12-14 but VIR officials have now decided against hosting or promoting the event. VIR released a brief statement to the media on July 11, reading:
“No AMA Pro Racing event will take place at VIR in 2011. If circumstances are conducive in 2012, VIR looks forward to renewing its relationship with AMA Pro Racing.”
No other explanation was provided by VIR.
AMA Pro Racing released a statement responding to VIR’s decision.
“AMA Pro Racing has made VIR a part of its season calendar for the past decade,” says David Atlas, AMA Pro Racing chief operating officer and managing member, “and I am gravely disappointed by the impact this will have on our paddock, fans, and other series participants. I assure all of those involved parties that a significant effort was made to negotiate an arrangement that would have preserved the event.”
The VIR round was penciled into the 2011 AMA calendar after the circuit and AMA Pro Racing agreed to terms in December. In an interview with SpeedTV.com, Atlas said he first learned of VIR staff’s intent to withdraw on June 23 and made an effort to get them to reconsider before track officials made its announcement.
AMA Pro Racing has not announced plans to schedule another round to replace the VIR event.
[Source: AMA Pro Racing, SpeedTV.com]
VIR Cancels Suzuki White Lightening Nationals,
AMA Pro Road Racing Round 8
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (July 11, 2011) – It is with deep regret that AMA Pro Racing is forced to announce VIR’s cancellation of the Suzuki White Lightening Nationals, Round 8 on the AMA Pro Road Racing season calendar. Despite AMA Pro Racing’s efforts to preserve the originally scheduled August 12-14 event, VIR staff notified AMA Pro Racing late Monday, July 11, of its final decision not to host or promote the race weekend.
“AMA Pro Racing has made VIR a part of its season calendar for the past decade,” said AMA Pro Racing COO and Managing Member David Atlas, “and I am gravely disappointed by the impact this will have on our paddock, fans, and other series participants. I assure all of those involved parties that a significant effort was made to negotiate an arrangement that would have preserved the event.”
AMA Pro Racing will refund all event-specific fees paid to AMA Pro Racing by series participants.
The AMA Pro Road Racing Championship was in action this past weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course — its 29th appearance at the historic Ohio facility — where track officials welcomed a banner crowd that witnessed fiercely competitive action in all four classes. AMA Pro Racing looks forward to bringing its talent-packed paddock to fans at upcoming 2011 events, the schedule for which can be viewed at amaproracing.com.
The AMA Pro Road Racing series next heads to Monterey, California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for Round 7 on the calendar. The July 22-24 event will run as part of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MotoGP World Championship weekend.
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