From a press release issued by VIR:

Hayden Looking Forward to VIR Return

America’s best motorcycle road racers will return to VIRginia International Raceway over the weekend of Aug. 9-11 for the VIR Lightning Nationals, the double-header season finale for the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, and defending race winner Nicky Hayden is hoping for a repeat performance.

Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., rides for the factory Honda team and is currently leading the point standings in this year’s championship 381-345 over Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom, who won the most recent round at Laguna Seca Raceway. With one race remaining at Mid-Ohio before the series returns to VIR and 37 points available from each of the season’s three remaining races, Hayden thinks it will be a fight to the finish.

“I’m sure it’s going to go down to the wire,” he said. “VIR is going to be a double-header, so I’m sure that’s where the title will be decided. It’s going to be huge weekend for us.”

With seven victories from 12 starts so far this season, Hayden has been the dominant rider, failing only once to finish in the top five. He loves a good race, and he thinks VIR will be the perfect venue to settle the issue.

“VIR is definitely one of the best tracks we have in America,” he said, “as far as safety and fun, and just being a real road course. I enjoy it. It’s a track that you’ve definitely got to ride around, too, so I like that. There are a lot of really technical sections, and you’ve kind of got to get in a rhythm and put them all together. You screw up one little corner, it’s going to cost you for a long way. The track is difficult, but it’s a good challenge.”

In a multi-team test at VIR last month Hayden set the unofficial fastest time, posting a 1:25.060 lap over the 2.225-mile VIR North Course to best the pole-winning 1:25.428 set by Suzuki’s Mat Mladin in last year’s inaugural Lightning Nationals. Hayden feels like he and the team are in good shape for the run to the finish.

“It’s going to be good,” he grinned. “I’m ready to go. I think it’s going to be really fun. I’ve got a little bit of a lead right now, but not a lot. We’re just going to try to keep doing what we’re doing, and hopefully when we come back to VIR we’ll be in a good position. It’s going to be tough, but I’m really excited about the rest of the year.”

Following Hayden and Bostrom in the championship point standings are Hayden’s teammate, Miguel Duhamel (298), Suzuki’s Aaron Yates (287) and Ducati’s Pascal Picotte (277). Rounding out the top 10 in the points chase currently are privateer Suzuki rider Brian Parriott (235) and a tightly-bunched pack comprising Ducati’s Doug Chandler (209), Suzuki teammates Jamie Hacking (208) and defending series champ Mladin (207) and the Suzuki-mounted privateer Brian Livengood (201).

In addition to the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, the VIR Lightning Nationals will also include the season finales for the Pro Honda Oils U.S. SuperSport Championship, the Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series, the Genuine Suzuki Accessories SuperStock Series, and the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series.

Three-day advance Super Tickets priced at $50 and single-day advance tickets for Saturday ($30) and Sunday ($35) will be available through July 25. Check VIR’s website, www.virclub.com, for ticket outlets. At the gate, three-day Super Tickets will be priced at $55 and one-day tickets for Friday ($10), Saturday ($35) and Sunday ($40) will also be available. 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 12 miles east of Danville, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (which is also designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club, and the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park.

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. Future plans for VIR include resort lodging and the VIR Euro Rally School and Corporate Motorsport Experience, which will feature three rally stages plus a kart track, motocross track, ATV and SUV training grounds and an advanced safari course.

For more information, contact VIR at 888-RACE099 or visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com.