Will There Really Be 11 AMA Rounds In '05?
no series sponsor and two rounds dropped?
by dean adams
Monday, December 20, 2004
It's probably not the kind of thing a sanctioning body wants publicized when their series is without a sponsor for the next season, but it is doubtful that there will be AMA Superbike rounds at Brainerd or Virginia International Raceway in 2005.
Brainerd International Raceway has been on the schedule--on and off--since 1983, but no current contract exists between the AMA and BIR for an '05 event. The track is currently for sale and while BIR sources say it will be business as usual next year, the parent company's CEO told Superbikeplanet last month that they'll "probably hold any races which are historically profitable". Obviously, the NHRA event is Brainerd's bread-and-butter race, taking in the majority of their revenue.
Meanwhile, in old Virginia, a nasty schism has developed between the AMA and VIR since the track's postponed race this season, with the track giving mixed signals whether they'll have the '05 event or not. No contract exists between VIR and the AMA for 2005.
Last week AMA Roadrace manager Ron Barrick referred all questions regarding Brainerd and Virginia to AMA VP John Farris.
Beyond the damage of possibly losing two rounds (to an already short in most persons' eyes series), losing rounds on good old fashioned road courses like Brainerd and VIR is especially painful for the purist fan.
