Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

David Swarts

Organizers of the second annual, $150,000 WSMC Toyota 200 race say they are not concerned that AMA Pro Racing has scheduled its Superbike season finale at Barber Motorsports Park on the same date, September 21, 2003.

“I don’t think that really matters to us one way or another,” said Willow Springs International Raceway Operations Manager Chris Huth. Starting in October 2002, WSIR began printing posters to promote the 2003 Toyota 200, before AMA Pro Racing announced its 2003-season-ending date at the AMA Pro Racing awards banquet November 23. “I don’t think there was any intent for the AMA to do it on that date. But who knows? I’m not privy to that.

“Everybody’s kind of like, ‘What is the AMA doing?’ They want to blame people right off the bat or think that there’s some kind of reason. I take it as kind of a compliment or flattery that somebody would think we’re a big enough deal to upset the AMA National final, big-deal race.

“But on our part, we’ll still go for it. It’s tough to get those factory guys out anyway. Seeing as how the final’s back East, we’ll get a good group of the privateers and support from the other classes. I’m looking for the same or better support as we had last year regardless of when AMA holds their last race.

“It’s sort of unfortunate, I guess would be the best way to put it. It would be better if it wasn’t, naturally, but it makes no difference. We’re going to go on with our deal. We’re in bad shape when we start having to plan our deal around what everyone else does. It’s better just to focus on what you do and do the best you can.

“We’ve been through this scheduling thing, not just with motorcycles, but with club car races and different things. It’s always a pain. There’s always going to be some conflict somewhere. You jockey things around too much and that takes away from it, I think.

“The riders will probably have a big say in what happens, people that would intend on racing in the (Toyota 200) race. If I get some input from people saying, ‘It would be great to come back, but we need to do the AMA thing.’ Then that would probably be the only thing to make us change the date.

“We could (re-schedule), of course. It wouldn’t be any problem at all. We could re-schedule it to October or whenever, but it’ll remain the same. I’m pretty sure.”