AMA Pro Racing has issued a press release blaming the promoters of the Willow Springs AMA National for cancellation of the event, which was originally postponed from this weekend by AMA Pro Racing.

Willow Springs’ Greg Huth said he wanted to go ahead with the race this weekend, or at least delay a decision, but AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth cancelled the race, citing travel problems and “questionable appropriateness of holding the event.”

But the track had limited options available for rescheduling.

AMA officials refused to allow the race to be postponed one week, to September 20-23, saying that it would be too close to the following weekend’s race at Virginia International Raceway, and that giving teams just one week to get from Willow Springs to VIR would create a hardship. The race could not be postponed two weeks to September 27-30 because it would have been on top of the AMA race at VIR.

The race could not be rescheduled for October 4-7 because, again according to AMA officials, it would be too much of a hardship for teams to get from VIR to Willow Springs for back-to-back races.

The October 12-14 weekend is a long-planned and promoted Porsche Owners’ Club charity event, which could not be moved.

Moving the AMA race to the October 18-21 weekend date would have put the event on top of the Formula USA season finale and CCS Race Of Champions at Daytona, which is attended by several riders and teams competing in the AMA Series, and would have also displaced a WSMC event at the track.

Rescheduling to October 25-28 would have put the event on top of the WERA Grand National Finals and Suzuki Cup Finals at Road Atlanta.

AMA officials also declined to allowed the race to be rescheduled in November.

The AMA Pro Racing press release on the cancellation follows:



Willow Springs round of AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championships cancelled

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Round 10 of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship has been cancelled by the event promoters of Willow Springs International Raceway.

Originally scheduled for Sept. 14-16, the race was postponed following the tragic attack on the United States in New York and Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11. The difficulty of air travel as well as the questionable appropriateness of holding the event were the factors in the postponement, and substantial efforts were made to schedule an alternate date.

However, despite best efforts by AMA Pro Racing, racing teams and key television partners, the promoters of Willow Springs International Raceway opted instead to cancel this weekend’s event entirely. Promoters of Willow Springs Raceway cited insurmountable scheduling conflicts as the driving force behind their decision.

Fans who have purchased tickets in advance for the Willow Springs round should contact Willow Springs International Raceway at (661) 256-2471 for more information.

The AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship concludes at the end of this month, Sept. 28-30 at the new Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., with a unique 150-kilometer Superbike race featuring the drama of pit stops.