New AMA Pro SuperBike Final Qualifying Procedure to be Implemented at Road America
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 20, 2014) – AMA Pro Racing is proud to announce a new and exciting final qualifying format for AMA Pro SuperBike which will debut later this month when AMA Pro Road Racing takes to the 4.05-mile track at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., for the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader on May 30 – June 1, 2014.
All AMA Pro SuperBike competitors will participate in Qualifying 1 and 2. The 12 fastest riders from the first two sessions advance to a third and final qualifying session immediately after. Those 12 riders will battle it out to set positions 1-12 on the provisional starting grid based solely on times in the final session.
“The new qualifying procedure has been geared to provide even more excitement for our fans,” said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. “We look forward to seeing the top riders put on a great show for the fans at Road America.”
The riders are excited for the new format, which is similar to those used by the other top series in the world.
“I think it’s a really cool format, and I like that it’s similar to the way final qualifying is done in World Superbike and MotoGP,” said three-time AMA Pro SuperBike champion Josh Hayes (No. 4 Monster Energy Graves Yamaha YZF-R1). “Plus, it gives us a little more time to work on bike setup during that first qualifying session. Getting the fastest 12 guys out there on the track and all going for the pole during a short session adds excitement for the fans, and it’s going to be fun for us, too.”
“I think the new qualifying format is really cool and something different,” said Roger Hayden (No. 95 Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000). “It gives the fans something else to get excited about and I’m really looking forward to getting our first crack at it at Road America.”
Next up for AMA Pro Road Racing, the series heads to Road America for the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader on May 30 – June 1, 2014. For tickets and additional information regarding the event, please visit http://www.roadamerica.com/buy-tickets/superbike-doubleheader-ama-pro-racing.html. Fans that are unable to visit Road America for Round 2 of the 2014 AMA Pro Road Racing season are encouraged to tune in to FansChoice.tv to catch all of the live streaming action.
About AMA Pro Road Racing
AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. The series is comprised of four production-based classes: AMA Pro SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series. Learn more about AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
More, from a competition bulletin issued by AMA Pro Racing:
2014 AMA Pro Road Racing
Technical Bulletin #2014-05
To: All AMA Pro Road Racing Competitors
Date: 5/20/2014
Effective Date: Immediately
Subject: New American SuperBike Final Qualifying Procedure
Note: The following updates over write the current rule book and are effective immediately. The online rulebook will reflect these changes as will the printed version of the 2015 AMA Pro Road Racing rulebook. All regulation is subject to modification.
AMA Pro Racing is implementing a new and exciting final qualifying format for the American SuperBike category. The template for this procedure is as follows:
– All American SuperBike competitors will participate in Qualifying 1 and 2. At the conclusion of Qualifying 2, based off of the fastest riders overall combined qualifying time, the 108% qualifying cut-off will be applied to set positions 13 and lower* on the provisional starting grid.
– The top 12 riders will advance to Qualifying 3 to set positions 1-12 on the provisional starting grid. Times posted during Qualifying 3 will not reset the 108% cut-off.
– These 12 riders will take the first 12 grid positions according to their fastest times in Qualifying 3. If a rider does not record a lap time in Qualifying 3 they will start from the 12th grid position. In the case of more than one rider not recording a time in this session, their grid position, in relation to other riders also not recording a time, will be determined from Qualifying 2, the slower of these riders being 12th then 11th and so on.
– If Qualifying 3 is cancelled, the provisional grid will be set based on the overall combined qualifying times.
– Should circumstances prevent all scheduled timed qualifying for a particular class from being run, and no further timed practice sessions of suitable duration are scheduled before the final race for that class, the grid will be based upon timed practice session(s) previously completed during the event.
– If no timed sessions are available to set the grid for a class, riders will be placed in order on the final race grid based upon point standings for the current season and order of entry. For the first race of the season the final point standings from the previous season will be used. Priority for grid positions will be determined as follows:
Rider point standings.
Riders without points in the class being raced by the order in which they registered for the event.
*Session specific and provisional starting regulation may add riders to the back of the grid.