AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick inspected Miller Motorsports Park (MMP), located in Tooele, Utah, December 19 to check on the placement of gravel traps, guardrails and other barriers and reported that everything was coming together as expected. Barrick told Roadracingworld.com that one guardrail had been placed in a spot where it could potentially cause a hazard to motorcycle racers who rode off track, and Miller Motorsports Park’s designer and General Manager Alan Wilson and Director of Motorcycle Operations Dan Solomon agreed that the barrier should and would — be moved. Another safety item, the proximity of the wall (separating the front straightaway and hot pit lane) at the exit of the final corner, was looked at, again, as well. According to Barrick, the wall in question had already been shortened, at his request, so that it is farther away from the exit of the final corner, and the wall should not be a major issue. “But I guess we’ll wait and see what the guys (racers) have to say when we test here,” added Barrick, alluding to an AMA team test scheduled for early April. If the wall still appears to be a hazard to the racers, Barrick said he had ideas on how to slow down the final corner, like placing artificial curbing on the outside edge of the track to narrow the exit. Barrick was the only representative from AMA Pro Racing at the inspection. Eric Bostrom was prepared to come to the track to give a racer’s opinion if Barrick had requested it, but Bostrom was not called in. Three-time former World Champion Freddie Spencer, who will run Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding Schools at MMP starting in 2006, had no problems with the safety of the final corner when he inspected the course earlier this fall, according to Solomon. However, added Solomon (who is an active club racer), “We’ve already ordered 1000 feet of Airfence Bike, and we won’t be embarrassed to use it.” Solomon also said construction on the paddock garages and buildings was on-schedule and that the entire 4.5-mile, multi-configuration road course has been paved for some time. In fact, Solomon said he has actually ridden a Yamaha YZF-R1 streetbike on the slower East Course and used only third through sixth gears. Barrick said he continues to think the AMA race event will be held on the 3.06 “Outer Course,” which is said to have the fastest average lap speed of any of the MMP configurations. The reasoning, according to Solomon, is the shorter course will mean more laps in each race, which means more laps in front of spectators. Solomon added that all of the earthen berms in the spectator zones have increased in height to offer better views of the course. MMP is scheduled to host the “Thunder Run” AMA Superbike doubleheader event June 16-18, 2006. For more information, go to www.millermotorsportspark.com.