Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Moments after the conclusion of the AMA Supersport race and with calls going out to the Superbike competitors to grid up, it began raining again at Virginia International Raceway.

The rain was not as severe as many expected, but all activities were put on hold to inspect the portion of the track surface that had been affected earlier in the day by an oil spill.

With the rain bringing up oil in the turn three-four-five area, AMA officials and the promoters decided to cancel the rest of the day’s activities and to start again with practice at 8:00 a.m.

“The water (rain) brought the oil right back up on the track and made it too slick through turns three, four and five,” said AMA Pro Racing Road Race Series Manager Ron Barrick. “If it weren’t for that we would have sent the Superbikes out on wets for a warm-up and at least got their race in before it got dark.”

“It was pretty bad. All that oil and whatever stuff they put on it just came right back up to the surface,” said Mat Mladin. “The lady from the AMA I went out there with ran along and jumped into it and skated like she was on ice.

“I just wanted to go out and see it because we didn’t know if we were going in or out at the time. I just wanted to go see it with my own eyes in case we did go out. You could see it. The whole track’s white with water and oil mixed, just all coming out.

“That was the best call, because the first guy who went in there was just going to go down. Very slick. It was just a mess, full stop.

“I don’t know what they’re going to do tonight. I guess they’re just going to hope it’s dry in the morning.”

The Superbike race is scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. and to run for 20 laps.

The Formula Xtreme and 250cc Grand Prix races will run 12 laps and will start after the Superbike race.

Barrick said that AMA officials hope to finish racing in the morning so they don’t use up the whole day; Keith Code’s California Superbike School has the course rented on Monday.

Stay tuned.


More, from a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

RAIN FORCES POSTPONEMENT OF SECOND AMERICAN SUPERBIKE RACE AT VIRGINIA – WILL NOW RUN ON MONDAY MORNING

Alton, Virginia, USA (Sunday, 31 August) – Continual rain showers throughout the day at Virginia International Raceway have forced race to reschedule today’s round of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship to tomorrow morning

Officials tried desperately to complete the day’s program, but yet another rain shower hit the circuit moments before the scheduled start of the Superbike race. The wet surface, along with remnants of an oil spill left after an incident during the preceding Supersport event prompted officials to make their decision.

The Superbike national, round 16 of the championship, has now been rescheduled to run tomorrow morning and will run over 20 laps instead of the original 28. The remaining Formula Xtreme and 250cc Grand Prix races will run after the Superbike race.

Earlier in the weekend Australian Mat Mladin won his tenth Superbike national of the year after winning yesterday’s 28-lap race by 2.093 seconds from American Honda’s Miguel DuHamel.

Mladin’s win, his 24th career victory in the championship, has seen him extend his points advantage at the top of the table to 43 as second placed Aaron Yates completed yesterday’s race in sixth position.

There is one double-header round of the championship remaining after tomorrow’s rain delayed race is held, with the series heading to Alabama for the first time to take on the new Barber Motorsports Park course on September 20 – 21.