By David Swarts

Due to several race cancellations in the 2001 season, American Suzuki’s Matt Ellis and Jeff Wilson have confirmed that the company will be pay Suzuki Cup qualifying points at the WERA National scheduled for this weekend, September 22-23, at Virginia International Raceway.

“We will be paying Suzuki Cup points for the WERA sprint races at VIR this weekend,” said Ellis in a telephone call to Roadracing World. “I’m still waiting to receive some race results and to do a check run, but I hope to have point standings and a final word on the minimum amount of points needed to qualify for the Suzuki Cup Finals before the end of the week.”

Originally, Suzuki required riders to earn a minimum of 10 Suzuki Cup points to be invited to the 16th annual Suzuki Cup Finals October 24-28 at Road Atlanta. But due to the cancellation of Suzuki Cup events at Rausch Creek, Memphis Motorsports Park and Gateway International Raceway in 2001, Suzuki is considering lowering the minimum amount of points needed to attend the Suzuki Cup Finals to possibly as low as one point. Paying Cup points at VIR this weekend is also in direct response to other races being cancelled.

For more information on the Suzuki Cup road racing contingency program see the related roadracingworld.com August 8 or September 13 postings or go to http://www.suzukicycles.com/racing/racers.htm. On the Suzuki site, click on Contingency, click on Road Race, scroll down, and click on Details On The Suzuki Road Race Contingency Program.

In a side note, WERA will run two separate endurance races on Saturday, September 22 at Virginia International Raceway, one as a make-up for the Memphis race that was cancelled by rain. Each race will be between three and five hours in length with a 30-60 minute break in between the races.