The complete AMA Superbike Series schedule has been released today with the series set to return to Road Atlanta and Homestead-Miami Speedway while adding a new event at the new NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana.While the AMA last visited Road Atlanta in 2010, the return to Homestead-Miami Speedway will feel brand new to most of those in the paddock. The first and only time the series visited the track in South Florida was in 1996 with Miguel Duhamel winning both the Superbike and 600cc Supersport races.Those two tracks and the new facility in New Orleans come to the series via M1 PowerSports, the promoter of the three aforementioned events that have been added to the series today. Formally known as M1 Entertainment, M1 Powersports promoted events for AMA Pro Racing at both Road Atlanta (beginning in 1998) and Virginia International Raceway in the past and M1 will run the show at Road Atlanta, Homestead and NOLA Motorsports Park.”M1 PowerSports is extremely excited to return to full time event promotion in 2012,” said Cameron Gray, President of M1 PowerSports. “The Big Kahuna Nationals have a long and rich history in AMA Pro Racing and we are excited about our new relationship with the series. Promoting motorcycle road racing events is our passion and what we do best. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship putting on some of the most thrilling racing events in the country.”
Road Atlanta will be the first of the M1-promoted events in 2012 with the race set to run April 20-22 – almost a month after the series starts at Daytona International Speedway, March 15-17.”Road Atlanta has had a storied legacy of terrific top level professional two wheel racing over its 40-plus years,” said Geoff Lee, President of Road Atlanta. “We have been staying close with AMA Pro Racing in the hopes of being able to strike a relationship to bring their series back here soon. This could not possibly be a better way to do so. We, and our fans, are thrilled to have M1 PowerSports returning and bringing the Big Kahuna back to Road Atlanta where it began. With an event of this stature in place again we look forward to more great racing and adding many more years of ‘legend and lore’ to our motorcycle history at Road Atlanta.”The second M1 event will be the return to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Big Kahuna Miami, September 21-23, 2012.”We are thrilled to partner with M1 PowerSports to bring the AMA Pro Nationals to Homestead-Miami Speedway,” said Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Our track will be active more than 280 days in 2012, and this event – featuring the biggest motorcycle series in North America – is a great opportunity for South Florida.”
The season will then close out two weeks later with the third and final M1 event – the Big Kahuna New Orleands, October 5-7, at the new NOLA Motorsports Park. The track, which was designed by Alan Wilson, is located just 20 minutes from downtown New Orleans. AMA Pro Road Racing will then hold its season-ending awards banquet in the New Orleans area on the Monday evening following the event.
“We are excited to be partnering with AMA Pro Racing and M1 PowerSports for our inaugural professional event,” said Mitch Wright, General Manager of NOLA Motorsports Park. “M1 PowerSports has a proven track record of fun, fan-friendly motorcycle events and the riders in AMA Pro Road Racing put on an incredible show. New Orleans and NOLA Motorsports Park will provide the perfect place to cap off their season and have one heck of a party.”
According to AMA Pro Racing, tests will be held at the new tracks in a set of official tests. In an effort to reduce the traveling costs, the test at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be scheduled for soon after the Daytona 200 event weekend and the NOLA Motorsports Park test will be held after the event at Barber Motorsports Park. Full details about the test events will be released at a later date, according to AMA Pro.
The 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing Schedule is as follows:
March 15 – 17, 2012
Daytona 200
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
April 20 – 22, 2012
Road Atlanta
Braselton, Georgia
May 4 – 6, 2012
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, California
May 26 – 28, 2012
Miller Motorsports Park
Tooele, Utah
June 1 – 3, 2012
Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wis.
June 22 – 24, 2012
Barber Motorsports Park
Birmingham, Alabama
July 13 – 15, 2012
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Lexington, Ohio
July 27 – 29, 2012
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Monterey, California
September 7 – 9, 2012
New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, New Jersey
September 21 – 23, 2012
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, Florida
October 5 – 7, 2012
NOLA Motorsports Park
New Orleans, Lousiana
