Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The start of AMA practice at Daytona is on hold due to fog and a wet track.

Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport practice was scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday but has not started as of 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time due to a wet track and low visibility from fog.

“The tower can’t see the back straight,” said AMA Superbike Operations Manager Ron Barrick. “Visibility is not good. So we’re on hold for that and for the wet track.”

Originally, the Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport, Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock and MBNA 250cc Grand Prix classes were each scheduled to have 40 minutes of practice Wednesday morning, followed by a 90-minute Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike practice session.

Wednesday afternoon’s schedule calls for the Supersport, Superstock, 250cc Grand Prix and BMW Boxer Cup classes to each get approximately 30 minutes of practice, followed by another 90-minute Superbike practice.

Obviously, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly as soon as practice starts, and the weather forecast for Wednesday is good, calling for temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit and no rain.

The reason BMW Boxer Cup riders were not scheduled to practice Wednesday morning, according to Barrick, was because the BMW Boxer Cup organizers were concerned that not all of their competitors would arrive at the track in time.

Thursday’s schedule includes approximately 35-minute practice sessions for the support classes and a 60-minute Superbike practice in the morning followed by Supersport, Superstock, BMW Boxer Cup and Superbike qualifying sessions.

The front row of the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike grid will be locked in on Thursday with the rest of the grid being set in other qualifying sessions on Friday.

After practice Friday morning and final Superbike qualifying on Friday afternoon, the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock and Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport final events will take place, separated by 250cc Grand Prix qualifying and final qualifying for the BMW Boxer Cup.

No on-track road racing activity will take place on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Sunday’s schedule calls for short warm-up sessions for 250cc Grand Prix, BMW Boxer Cup and Superbike riders with the 250cc Grand Prix, BMW Boxer Cup and Superbike final events taking place in the afternoon.

The Superstock race will run 15 laps, the Supersport final will last 18 laps, the 250cc Grand Prix race will go 18 laps, the BMW Boxer Cup race will run 13 laps and, of course, the 62nd Annual Daytona 200 by Arai Superbike race will go the traditional distance of 57 laps or 202.92 miles.