Yeah, it's a big Susucki promo but it will still be fun rooting for Yamaha.
Practice/qualifying starts Friday, with Speed TV paddock party and swag give away in the evening. On Saturday more qualifying and Round 1 Superbike and Formula Extreme. Sunday is Round 2 Superbike, Superstock and Supersport.
http://www.moto1usa.com/kahuna.php
http://www.amaproracing.com/prorace/pdf ... hedule.pdf
Weather predicted to be in the 80's, sunny and dry all weekend.
VIR is a great place wth lots of palces watch the races and big Jumbotron set up so you can see the Speed TV broadcast. I love walking the paddock and seeing the bikes and racers (an a few umbrella girls) up close too.
http://www.moto1usa.com/UserFiles/File/VIR%20Map_v6.pdf
I'm going with my son--he just got his MC license. We have to drop my daughter at VA Tech on the way so we'll trailer two bikes down and ride once we get there.
Hope to see you there.
Kontoboy
Anyone else going to the Big Kahuna AMA Races at VIR?
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KontoBoy
- Help!!! I need a LIFE!!!
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Not the best weekend for Yamaha but the there was some closing racing and great crowds.
We (son and I ) got in on Thursday evening after 7 hours of driving--first to Blacksburg to drop my daughter at VA Tech, then on to South Boston, VA where we were staying at a B&B (cheaper than a motel and much much nicer). We unloaded the bikes--my K1200RS off the trailer and the EX250 out of the back of the van (I need a bigger trailer). Rode around town a get a bite to eat and get supplies for the next day.
Next morning up early and loaded our folding chairs and cooler on the Beemer and off to VIR early. VIR is about 30 miles from where we were staying. It was just nice to have a quiet ride in the countryside without the traffic I constantly face at home.
VIR is getting popular. Three years ago there was hardly anyone there Friday. This year they were already lining up at the gate to get in when we arrive about 10:00. We still got there early enough to stake out a good spot near the Jumbotron and corners 3-4-5. It was most practice on Friday with some qualifying session in the afternoon.
After a long, hot (mid 90's) humid day of watching practice and qualifying, visiting some vendors and walking the paddock we left about five PM to go eat and then came back in the evening for the Jason Britt (Speed TV Superbike show) stunt show. Holy crap those guys can ride. That show was in the parking lot with noting but cones between the performance and the audience. They were playing chicken with the audience running up and doing hard stoppies right in front of the spectators.
By Saturday the crowd was building more--all the vendors were open now and the parking area was filled with bikes. The chairs were about three rows deep at the fence line and we had to climb over folks to get back to our front row seats and cooler that we left set-up the night before.
The Superbike race started out close but soon Mladin was out front and Spies couldn't keep the pace. The real race was Hacking and Yates. I'm glad to see Yates and the Jordon team doing well but a really wanted Hacking to break up the Suzucki domination (even if Hacking did leave Yamaha). They traded position several times but Hacking got back in front on the last lap. Yeah!
After the Formula Extreme we took our time heading out to let the crowds clear. The police were in force with State Troopers all over pulling over bikes. I wasn't worried since--my son just got his license and that 250cc he was riding wouldn't be able to keep up so I took it real easy.
And if you are concerned about the horrendous fines in VA, the law only applies to VA residents. If you are out of state then you pay the regular fines. Two VA court districts say that is unconstitutional so it looks like they will rewrite the law when the legislature convenes this fall.
Sunday was a bit cooler and overcast Sunday morning--a welcome relief from the heat. Lap times improved significantly with the cooler weather.
This time Suzucki swept Superbike and Superstock when Hacking couldn't hold off Yates. The Sucki machines swept Superstock too with the only glimmer for Yamaha being Bostroms fourth place finish. Superbike was a fun race to watch with Pegram, Attard and Cragill swapping 2 and 3rd.
It was a long ride back. There were a reported 60,000 there on Sunday and the traffic backed up for miles getting to the highway. We drove back to the B&B, loaded the bikes and then another 4 hours back to DC, getting in about midnight.
Still a great time and I'm looking forward to it again next year. Plus MotoGP at Indy!
Kontoboy
We (son and I ) got in on Thursday evening after 7 hours of driving--first to Blacksburg to drop my daughter at VA Tech, then on to South Boston, VA where we were staying at a B&B (cheaper than a motel and much much nicer). We unloaded the bikes--my K1200RS off the trailer and the EX250 out of the back of the van (I need a bigger trailer). Rode around town a get a bite to eat and get supplies for the next day.
Next morning up early and loaded our folding chairs and cooler on the Beemer and off to VIR early. VIR is about 30 miles from where we were staying. It was just nice to have a quiet ride in the countryside without the traffic I constantly face at home.
VIR is getting popular. Three years ago there was hardly anyone there Friday. This year they were already lining up at the gate to get in when we arrive about 10:00. We still got there early enough to stake out a good spot near the Jumbotron and corners 3-4-5. It was most practice on Friday with some qualifying session in the afternoon.
After a long, hot (mid 90's) humid day of watching practice and qualifying, visiting some vendors and walking the paddock we left about five PM to go eat and then came back in the evening for the Jason Britt (Speed TV Superbike show) stunt show. Holy crap those guys can ride. That show was in the parking lot with noting but cones between the performance and the audience. They were playing chicken with the audience running up and doing hard stoppies right in front of the spectators.
By Saturday the crowd was building more--all the vendors were open now and the parking area was filled with bikes. The chairs were about three rows deep at the fence line and we had to climb over folks to get back to our front row seats and cooler that we left set-up the night before.
The Superbike race started out close but soon Mladin was out front and Spies couldn't keep the pace. The real race was Hacking and Yates. I'm glad to see Yates and the Jordon team doing well but a really wanted Hacking to break up the Suzucki domination (even if Hacking did leave Yamaha). They traded position several times but Hacking got back in front on the last lap. Yeah!
After the Formula Extreme we took our time heading out to let the crowds clear. The police were in force with State Troopers all over pulling over bikes. I wasn't worried since--my son just got his license and that 250cc he was riding wouldn't be able to keep up so I took it real easy.
And if you are concerned about the horrendous fines in VA, the law only applies to VA residents. If you are out of state then you pay the regular fines. Two VA court districts say that is unconstitutional so it looks like they will rewrite the law when the legislature convenes this fall.
Sunday was a bit cooler and overcast Sunday morning--a welcome relief from the heat. Lap times improved significantly with the cooler weather.
This time Suzucki swept Superbike and Superstock when Hacking couldn't hold off Yates. The Sucki machines swept Superstock too with the only glimmer for Yamaha being Bostroms fourth place finish. Superbike was a fun race to watch with Pegram, Attard and Cragill swapping 2 and 3rd.
It was a long ride back. There were a reported 60,000 there on Sunday and the traffic backed up for miles getting to the highway. We drove back to the B&B, loaded the bikes and then another 4 hours back to DC, getting in about midnight.
Still a great time and I'm looking forward to it again next year. Plus MotoGP at Indy!
Kontoboy
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stan
- Help!!! I need a LIFE!!!
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- Location: Geelong Victoria, Aus
Great write up, and it is great to get first hand info from an AMA round
Due to the number of Australians competing in several classes, and one Jamie Stauffer, the current Aussie superbike champ heading over, i take a keen interest in the preceedings
I have always been a huge Maladin fan, having watched him in his first foray into roadracing on a RGV 250, against Gary McCoy. Maladin Stood out simply because he was a fat bastard and needed to take a different line to every one else.
And we could all do with a bigger trailer
Stan
Due to the number of Australians competing in several classes, and one Jamie Stauffer, the current Aussie superbike champ heading over, i take a keen interest in the preceedings
I have always been a huge Maladin fan, having watched him in his first foray into roadracing on a RGV 250, against Gary McCoy. Maladin Stood out simply because he was a fat bastard and needed to take a different line to every one else.
And we could all do with a bigger trailer
Stan
Motorcycling, it's a participation sport!!