More On The AMA Team Test At Daytona International Speedway

More On The AMA Team Test At Daytona International Speedway

© 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Riders Shake Down New DIS Motorcycle Course

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Jan. 3, 2005) — More than 20 motorcycle riders tackled Daytona International Speedway’s new infield motorcycle road course on Monday during the first day of a three-day tire test at “The World Center of Racing.”

“It’s totally different,” said Suzuki rider Ben Spies. “It’s good. The track is so new. It’s real slick. We’ve just got to get some time on it. It’s not as fast and flowing as it once was but the riders will just have to get use to it. It’s definitely going to make it more exciting for the fans and they can see a whole lot more of the track.”

Construction on the new infield motorcycle road course was part of Daytona International Speedway’s multi-million, multi-faceted infield renovation project that began shortly after the Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event last July.

The new configuration, which will be utilized by motorcycle riders during the upcoming Daytona 200 Bike Week on March 3-12, will exclude NASCAR Turns 1 and 2 and will shorten the course to approximately 3.0 miles. The previous length of the motorcycle course was 3.56 miles.

The Daytona 200, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, will now be 67 laps instead of 57.

Since 1961, when motorcycles began competing at DIS, the course configuration has changed five times with distances varying from 2 miles to 3.87 miles. This is the first change since 1985.

Eric Bostrom, who rides for Ducati Austin, hadn’t climbed aboard his motorcycle yet, but walked the course on Sunday and was pleased with the changes.

“I think I need to ride on it, but it definitely looks like it’s much more flowing,” he said. “Before it was turn, straightaway, turn and now its now got some road course connecting to it. It’s going to be interesting. I think there will be at least one new passing area that has opened up that’s going to be a good passing area.

“I think it’ll be a better rider’s track than in the past.”

The tire test also provided the first look for many of the riders at the other renovations in the infield, which include new garages, an uniquely designed FanZone, new Gatorade Victory Lane, waterfront specialty vehicle and a massive Turn 1 tunnel.

“It’s definitely a different atmosphere,” Bostrom said. “It’s really cool. Certain parts of it look like a park and certain parts look like an entertainment center. It kind of looks like a theme park. It’s nice to see the place revamped and it’s something the fans can enjoy.”

“This is really nice,” Suzuki rider Aaron Yates said of the renovations. “I think the garage setup is a whole lot better. You’re a lot closer to pit road and it seems like a good layout.”

Motorcycle testing continues on Tuesday and Wednesday and is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand available through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.

Tickets for any motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway are available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

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