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2011 AMA Pro Racing
The top American road-racing series, AMA Pro Road Racing, sustained a deadening blow Monday when Round 8 at Virginia International Raceway was canceled.
And of course, this story quickly filtered through the motorcycle media. The news of the Virginia International Raceway cancellation upset many across the industry, and many of AMA Pro Road Racing fans.
With anything of this magnitude to a series that has seen many ups and downs the last few years, much controversy began.
The AMA was first to release a statement, and in it AMA Pro Racing’s COO and Managing Member David Atlas said "AMA Pro Racing has made VIR a part of its season calendar for the past decade, and I am gravely disappointed by the impact this will have on our paddock, fans, and other series participants. I assure all of those involved parties that a significant effort was made to negotiate an arrangement that would have preserved the event."
Once this was released, many fans began flooding the VIR and AMA Pro Road Racing Facebook pages with upsetting comments, pointing fingers.
And on Tuesday, officials at Virginia International Raceway wanted to show that the decision was not "one-sided," but rather from both sides (AMA Pro Racing and VIR).
Following is the release from VIR:
"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."
This will surely not be the end…
To read more, click here.
