Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Testing continues for a third day at Barber Motorsports Park, the lavish new track located near Birmingham, Alabama that features Muzak piped in over the loudspeakers and giant bug sculptures adjacent to the course.

Three teams have been testing at the track since Tuesday, including Valvoline EMGO Suzuki, Annandale Honda and Kawasaki Canada. Annandale packed up and left this morning, to get ready for the AMA National at Infineon Raceway May 1-4.

Weather conditions were fair and sunny with moderate wind and a high of about 79 degrees on Tuesday and fair and sunny, slightly cooler and calm-to-light winds on Wednesday. Conditions today are cloudy with light mist at times; predictions call for scattered thundershowers, and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and Kawasaki Canada riders are staying on track during what would have been the lunch break to take advantage of all available dry track time.

In between practice sessions on Tuesday, Team Hammer Advanced Riding School & Track Ride sessions were held.

Michelin is at the test, working with Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and Annandale to sort through both slick and DOT-labeled treaded tires. Kawasaki Canada is a Pirelli team and brought its own tire-changing equipment.

The Kawasaki Canada technical effort is being led by suspension expert Dale Rathwell.

GMD Computrack’s Kent Soignier is working with the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki crew on suspension set-up, and was seen measuring various team bikes at the track on Tuesday, using the Computrack measuring machine.

Track workers placed a row of haybales in front of a guardrail outside turn four after Steve Rapp said he came close to losing the front while coming over a rise in slightly windy conditions. Riders have also expressed concerns about the exit of the final turn, leading onto the front straightaway.

Haybales were used because no soft barriers were available or could be accessed immediately.

Despite early reports that the track features plenty of run-off room, several areas will require soft barriers (such as Airfence or Alpina modules) for motorcycle racing events.

Cornerworkers on site report that Rapp turned a 1:27.0 on his Superbike-legal Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R1000 on Tuesday.

The involved teams have not released any lap times.