Today was move-in day for teams competing in this weekend’s HANNspree Superbike World Championship StriVectin-SD USA Round presented by HANNspree and the Honda Summit of Speed AMA Superbike Championship at Miller Motorsports Park (MMP). After unloading and settling in, some riders had a look around the 4.5-mile road course and noticed crews applying some sort of surface treatment, which led to concern about the track’s condition heading into its most important weekend ever. “We had our ALMS [American Le Mans Series] event two weeks ago, and they did some damage to the track in two corners,” said MMP CEO and General Manager Alan Wilson. “We flew in asphalt experts to see what it was, what was causing it and what we could do about it. We were prepared to put down the Set 45 [quick-setting patching material], which we’ve done in the past, because we know it works. “They said they had the same situation at different tracks, including Daytona, and they recommended a product called ‘Track Bond.’ It’s not a sealer in the sense that it peels up if it gets hot or anything like that. It bonds directly with the asphalt and becomes one with the asphalt. “So we did a test section, and we brought in our lead rider, Shane Turpin. He belted around the track about half an hour after we put it down, and he said he couldn’t feel any difference coming on or coming off it. He said he had ridden on it at other tracks, and he said there was no problem from a rider’s point of view. “We would have done it Sunday night, after the SCCA event, except it rained. And it rained all day yesterday. So today was the first sunny day, because you can only apply it when it gets above a certain temperature. So it will be finished today, and we’re pretty confident that A. no one is going to feel it, and B. it’s going to hold up and there’s not going to be any problems.” Wilson said Turn One has a football-sized section of Track Bond, but the turns needing the most repair work were the “Black Rock Hairpin,” “Right Hook” and “Knock Out” (essentially Turns Five and Six), all of which will be used by both the AMA and World Superbike competitors. “I was pretty worried when I first saw it,” continued Wilson, “but now that we’ve seen it and driven on it and ridden on it I’m pretty confident. We didn’t need that hassle this close in, but that’s what happens.” Crews also applied a fresh, $30,000 coat of non-slip paint to all of the curbings because the ALMS cars had “blackened them all,” according to Wilson. “We’re just trying to make the place look nice.” On-track activities begin Wednesday at MMP with promoter practice, followed by official practice and qualifying on Thursday, May 29. The event concludes Sunday, June 1.