From a press release issued by VIR:

VIR Gearing Up For Suzuki Lightning Nationals

Alton, Va. The fastest and most exotic road racing motorcycles in America will return to VIRginia International Raceway for a fourth time over the weekend of September 17-19, as AMA Pro Racing’s wildly popular Suzuki Lightning Nationals brings the best in the business to do battle in their season finale.

The double-header format will give fans two feature races, one Saturday and one Sunday, for the headlining AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, where the factory teams and world’s best riders compete for corporate bragging rights, utilizing staggering budgets to produce the most technologically advanced bikes to be seen in this country.

Rounding out the program will be AMA’s other professional road racing series, the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, the Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Championship and the Repsol Superstock Championship.

With one race to go prior to the season finale at VIR, at Road Atlanta over the weekend of Sept. 3-5, it appears that at least three of the four series will settle their championship battles in Southside Virginia.

In the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Suzuki’s four-time and defending series champ Mat Mladin leads Honda’s rookie Jake Zemke 457-436. Both of the year’s final events will be double-headers, and each race winner can win a total of 38 points (36 for a win, plus one each for pole and leading the most laps), leaving a maximum of 152 points to be won.

Neither rider is taking anything for granted.

“Things are looking good so far,” said Mladin while testing at VIR this week, “but we’ve got a long way to go. We’ll have to hopefully get a couple of good races under our belt at Atlanta before we come to VIR, so we’ll see what happens.”

Zemke was admittedly struggling during this week’s test trying to perfect his set-up for VIR, but remains optimistic.

“Mat’s definitely got a lead on us in the championship,” he said, “but with both the last two races being double-headers, that gives us four races. Anything can happen, and we’re just going to go to Atlanta and see if we can get that championship going.

Mladin would, of course, like to be able to wrap up his unprecedented fifth series title early, and that would allow him to do something he’s never been able to do at VIR.

“Racing at VIR, for me, has been one of those things where I haven’t been able to put it all on the line because I’ve been trying to win a championship,” he said. “Hopefully, for one race this year we can let it hang out and see how we go.”

Advance tickets for the weekend will be available either over the telephone or online, priced at $45 for a three-day Super Ticket (including a complementary race program) and single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday priced at $25. At the gate, three-day Super Tickets (with program) are priced at $55, with single-day tickets priced at $10 (Friday), $35 (Saturday) and $40 (Sunday). For advance ticket sales, call 1-888-RACE099 ext. 116 (American Express®, Discover®, Visa® or MasterCard®) or purchase your tickets online at www.virclub.com with Visa® or Mastercard®. VIR is a family-friendly facility, where children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Spectator camping is available.

VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, which is a showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; the VIR Safety and Security Institute, which provides specialized training for U.S. Government and military groups; and the VIR Euro Rally and Corporate Motorsport Experience, which features four rally stages plus a kart track as well as an ATV and SUV trials course and trails. Future plans include The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room hotel overlooking the track, and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse.

VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club days.

For more information, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR toll-free at 888-RACE099. For more information on the VIR Euro Rally and Corporate Motorsport Experience, call toll-free 877-RALLY66 or visit their website at www.vireurorally.com. For more information on the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, visit their website at www.ussuperbike.com.