Racers and members of AMA Pro Racing’s competition department recently visited Heartland Park Topeka to recommend changes in the layout of the track to increase rider safety, according to the AMA. On January 19, riders Josh Hayes, Cory West and Dane Westby visited the 2.5-mile road course along with the AMA Pro Racing’s Roy Janson and Bill Syfan. The AMA Superbike series is set to visit the facility July 31-August 2, racing there for the first time in more than a decade pending another evaluation by the AMA Pro Racing Rider Safety Committee, which currently includes Hayes, West, Westby, Tommy Hayden, Larry Pegram and Chris Ulrich. According to AMA Pro Racing’s Ollie Dean, “The staff at Topeka were enthusiastically in support of our recommendations including those surrounding the track layout, safety, marketing and other operational issues. “We will continue to work with the track leading up to the event and are excited to work with a group of people that are willing to do everything that we have asked of them to put on a great show for our fans, teams, riders and partners.” Last year, ASRA racer Brian Hall crashed, slid across grass and hit a wall at the facility and suffered serious injuries, demonstrating the need for safety improvements at the track. The AMA rider safety group is expected also to visit the new track in New Jersey, which also is on the AMA schedule this year. Dean says the AMA will turn to the riders safety committee for advice on safety and improving the quality of the racing at other tracks on the schedule as well. “Whether it is a facility that we have not raced at before or a long standing promoter of AMA events, there will be a constant need to work together to provide our fans the best possible experience for their entertainment dollar,” Dean says. “We are pleased to put together a group of riders on the rider safety committee that will be able to help us provide guidance and answer questions about track layouts and possible changes to our venues that will allow us to put on a great show while maximizing the element of safety for our competitors.”