At the request of AMA racers, 900 linear feet of concrete K-rail barriers on rider’s left near the kink in the infield straightaway at California Speedway was moved back between 10 and 100 feet Friday night. The proximity of the angled wall to the tricky kink (known best among riders for the violent headshakes it produces) was an issue raised during pre-season testing at California Speedway. In response, a section of wall was moved back significantly before the Suzuki Superbike Challenge weekend began. At Friday’s riders’ meeting, however, riders led by Eric Bostrom pointed out to AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick that there was enough room available to move additional sections of the wall back and said that action should be taken as soon as possible. Barrick discussed the request with California Speedway officials, who organized work crews to relocate the concrete K-rails and a chain-link fence on top of the K-rail. Shortly after the final checkered flag Friday afternoon, track workers began moving the sections of K-rail back with several fork lifts and loaders. Increased communication on safety matters between riders, track officials and AMA officials this season has already contributed to 700 feet of wall being relocated in turn one at Barber Motorsports Park. During the Superstock race at Barber, racer John Haner crashed and landed where the turn one wall had been located, and credited the wall relocation with allowing him to avoid serious injury or death. Additional wall relocation projects and gravel trap installations will be completed at Barber later this year. In addition, officials at Infineon Raceway have responded to rider requests by promising to move the wall Vincent Haskovec hit there last May. In a meeting held Wednesday in Southern California, members of the AMA Board’s Racing Committee emphasized that the organization’s top priority must be rider safety and directed AMA race officials to organize additional meetings between riders and track officials.
Updated: Wall Moved Back Overnight At California Speedway
Updated: Wall Moved Back Overnight At California Speedway
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