This isn't good

[fastwin]

Wow. Out of nowhere.

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2011/07/11/vir-cancelled-ama-pro-road-racing-eight-rounds/

I'm thinking breach of contract here. Like the article says the AMA wouldn't have had it on the schedule if the ink wasn't dry.

More...

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2011/07/11/atlas-comments-on-vir-cancellation/

[bdfinally]

I'm truly bummed. I've been there every year since they started. I grew up in the area and attended WERA races when they were actually ERA races back at the original track. The current management is notorious for being difficult to deal with. I've heard that personally from people running beverage vending to bike dealers at the track. I'm afraid it's going to be more that a single missed year before AMA shows up there again. Damn!

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=45247

[fastwin]

Yep, I'm thinking VIR shot themselves in both feet with that little stunt. I don't see AMA/DMG having anything else to do with them. Expect maybe in a court of law! They seriously have messed up the season for all the classes. Obviously every rider and team was counting on all the races on the schedule being run. AMA will have to do some hard thinking real quick to come up with a do-able plan to make up for VIR going bye bye. Not cool.

[avizpls]

AMA+

VIR-never to get a penny from me. And  I really wanted to ride that track next season.

[mitt]

What would provoke a track to do this?  As a series boss, I would never sign anything with a track that did this to a series 1 month before the race...


mitt

[ducatiz]

very strange..  interested to see what comes out of this

[gm2]

not necessarily a good reason, but there's got to be a reason.  and it for sure has to do with $$.

[Spidey]

I just don't get it.     

[bdfinally]

I don't think anyone gets it yet. There's talk of adding a 3rd race to the NJMP w/e, but one of their principals is the guy behind VIR

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-david-atlas-on-vir-cancellation-options

[Spidey]

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-david-atlas-on-vir-cancellation-options

I hate business-speak.  That was a two page interview in which he didn't say a single thing.  I thought only lawyers did that shit.

[bdfinally]

Yep, but it was a speedtv interview...Toby & Jules might have been a little more forceful in getting to the bottom of things.

[fastwin]

All I see is total bullshit. And I don't see where AMA/DMG did anything wrong. I'd be the first to throw stones but I just don't see it. Long time venue for the series, signed contract, dried ink, schedule has been out there for all to see for months and VIR pulls this bullshit? I'm not getting it. Makes no sense. Like what the hell couldn't they work out that was so big a deal that VIR says screw you, we're done? And takes the chance of being drug into court over breach of contract? What leg do they think they have to stand on? It potentially tosses all the class championships into turmoil. Again, hopefully AMA/DMG will come up with something to satisfy the teams and riders as well as their contract with Speed TV.

[zooom]

there HAS to be something behind this decision...

[ducatiz]

Once again it sounds like DMG is full of it:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23634519/VIR%20Statement.pdf

...apparently no "signed contract."

"VIR has received a number of inquiries and expressions of disappointment regarding
the lack of a 2011 AMA Pro Racing event at VIR. As with any disagreement, there are
two sides to every story. We want to make it clear that the decision was not one-sided,
as David Atlas' remarks have implied, and that VIR made numerous proposals to AMA
Pro Racing to keep this event on schedule. Due to our 10 year history with this
premiere event, we are as disappointed by this outcome as most of those we have
heard from.
VIR has worked hard to bring the event to fruition for months. Despite requests by VIR
beginning in December 2010, AMA Pro Racing did not deliver its proposed contract for
the 2011 event to VIR until early June 2011. Resulting discussions made it apparent
that insufficient time remained to negotiate the new terms in the proposed contract and,
if agreement were reached, to plan, promote and conduct the event in a professional
manner.
In an effort to preserve the date, VIR went to extraordinary lengths to reach an
alternative agreement with AMA Pro Racing, which AMA Pro Racing chose to reject.
Given these circumstances, we had no choice but to take the date off the calendar and
notify the public promptly."

[mitt]

Once again it sounds like DMG is full of it:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23634519/VIR%20Statement.pdf

...apparently no "signed contract."

Based on AMA/DMG recent history, I immediately figured it was them and not VIR (the truth is probably both of them to some %).  It is always the guilty that is the first one to go public with a defense, which it seemed like DMG did.


mitt