Infineon Raceway Increases On-Track Safety for Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown Weekend SONOMA, Calif. “” Infineon Raceway has added 102 pieces of Airfence that will increase on-track safety for motorcycle riders at the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend, May 19-21. The weekend is presented by Supercuts. Raceway officials will also implement additional safety measures after a meeting with top riders Mat Mladin (Suzuki), Ben Spies (Suzuki), Jamie Hacking (Yamaha) and Jake Zemke (Honda) during a test session in March. “We are very reactive to rider input and many of the enhancements you’ll see are a direct result of the meetings we had with the riders at the test session in March,” said Jere Starks, vice president of facilities at Infineon Raceway and an avid motorcycle rider. “We’ve spent millions of dollars on improvements over the last four years and these are just more elements.” Infineon Raceway will deploy 102 pieces of Airfence around the 12-turn, 2.2-mile road course, plus an additional 38 pieces supplied by the AMA (total of more than 1,700 linear feet). The 140 total pieces will give the raceway more Airfence protection than it has ever had for an AMA visit, dating back to 1977. The 102 pieces provided by the raceway represents more than a 500-percent increase over the number of pieces Infineon Raceway provided in 2005 (20 pieces). The massive increase in Airfence is a joint effort between the raceway, the American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM), Roadracing World Action Fund and the AMA. The raceway gave the AFM a $70,000 no-interest loan in January, with the AFM using the money “” in addition to AFM funding “” to purchase 92 pieces of Airfence. The additional 10 pieces were donated by the Roadracing World Action Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people on the importance of deploying soft barriers. Infineon Raceway has agreed to store the Airfence for the AFM on its property, and will oversee maintenance, which includes installation and removal during motorcycle events “” at no cost. In addition to AFM and AMA events, the Airfence will be available for rental during motorcycle track days at Infineon Raceway. Airfence, which is a non-inflatable soft barrier that is designed to gradually absorb the energy of a crashed rider, will be placed at Turns 1, 2, 5, 8 and 10 on the Sonoma Valley road course (not including where AMA will place its Airfence). Airfence is the primary choice of riders “” AirBale, haybales and straw will also be placed at strategic points around the raceway. Other changes that will be implemented as a result of a meeting with the riders include: · The berm at the exit of Turn 1 will be reconfigured, with the pavement behind the berm being extended by approximately one foot. · An additional 40 feet of runoff has been created at Turn 3. · The protective wall and tire pack in Turn 6 (Carousel) has been moved to the top of the slope and away from runoff. · The protective wall on rider’s left at the approach to Turn 7 will be moved back an additional 10 feet. “We really appreciate that the people in Sonoma listen to what we have to say,” Zemke said at the test session in March. “It really shows that they care about what we do and that they’re trying to work with us on making things as good as they can be.” WHAT: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, CA 95476 WHEN: May 19-21. COURSE: 12 turns, 2.22 miles. 2005 WINNERS: Mat Mladin (Superbike, both main events, Suzuki); Tommy Hayden (Supersport, Kawasaki); Jake Zemke (Formula Xtreme, Honda); Aaron Yates (Superstock, Suzuki). SUPERBIKE SCHEDULE (All times Pacific): Friday “” Superbike practice, 9:40-10:40 a.m.; Superbike qualifying, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday “” Superbike qualifying, 9:50-11 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #1, 3:50 p.m. (28 laps); Sunday “” Superbike practice, 10:20-10:50 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #2, 3 p.m. (28 laps). TICKETS: $10-$65, 12-and-under free, parking is free. 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day.