AMA Pro Racing Superbike Operations Manager Ron Barrick was on site in turn one during the 600cc Supersport race at Daytona and personally watched five riders crash before deciding there was oil on the track and calling for a red flag.

The rider who put down the oil, Roger Hayden, immediately told cornerworkers that there was oil on the track. But Barrick continued to watch as rider after rider fell in the turn before finally ordering a red flag and track clean-up.

Barrick also said he did not hear calls on the radio net for an oil flag at start/finish although grid marshalls on the same frequency have said they did hear the calls for the oil flag, which was not displayed at start/finish.

That’s the story from an AMA employee who came clean in the wake of the resignation of Safety and Logistics Officer Dan Lance in a dispute that, the employee said, centered on safety issues.

Lance declined to comment on the controversy when reached by telephone and hung up on a reporter.

AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice has refused to comment on the Lance situation.

At post time, Barrick had not commented on the issue, although he did return an e-mail last week saying he would comment when he had a chance.