Ducati's Pegram and M4 Suzuki's DiSalvo Win AMA Pro Road Racing Superpoles in Topeka; Four makes on SuperBike front row for first time since 2002; fifth Superpole for DiSalvo

AMA Pro Racing Press Release

Larry Pegram on the No. 72 Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing Ducati 1098R won his first AMA Pro Road Racing pole since 1996 in AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited competition while Jason DiSalvo on the No. 40 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600 earned his fifth AMA Pro Daytona Sportbike presented by AMSOIL pole of the season in Friday's Superpole qualifying for the Tornado Nationals presented by BriggsAuto.com at Heartland Park Topeka.

Pegram paced a competitive group of American Superbike competitors that saw four different manufacturers on the front row for the first time since the May 2002 race at Road Atlanta.  It was also the first Superbike pole for Pegram since the 1996 Road America race and the first for Ducati since Eric Bostrom qualified first at Daytona in March 2004.

Round 9 of the AMA Pro Road Racing series arrives at Heartland Park Topeka for the Tornado Nationals this weekend, July 31- Aug. 2. Will the American Superbike title be decided?

Ron Lieback
AllAboutBikes.com Content Editor/Staff Writer

For the second time since 1991, Heartland Park Topeka will host national-level motorcycle racing. The 2.5-mile, 18-corner Grand Prix Course that will be used this weekend only hosted one other AMA event this century, the AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT race in 2008.

Prior to that, the last AMA Pro event at the track was a Superbike weekend in 1991. Scott Russell took the win on a Kawasaki. He also rode a Kawasaki to victory in that weekend’s Superstock race, while Miguel Duhamel won the AMA Pro Supersport event aboard a Suzuki.

Heartland Park Topeka track revisions complete in advance of AMA Pro Road Racing's return

AMA Pro Racing Press Release

A full schedule of AMA Pro Road Racing events will be held during Heartland Park Topeka's Tornado Nationals presented by BriggsAuto.com on a track that has been put through a full slate of modifications and safety improvements, including an important change planned for 2010 that has been made now.
 
Through the ongoing efforts and cooperation of Heartland Park Topeka officials, the AMA Pro Rider Safety Committee and AMA Pro Road Racing, the 2.5-mile Kansas road course is a full-year ahead of schedule in regards to suggested track modifications and improvements.  In addition to a list of completed 2009 modifications, Heartland Park and AMA Pro officials announced today the Turn 1 Alpha wall - which was not scheduled to come down until next year - has been removed in time for the Tornado Nationals.

AMA Pro Racing suspends Technical Director Al Ludington indefinitely following Mid-Ohio event; Ludington apologizes for actions…Janson to oversee at-event Technical Operations in interim

Press Release

AMA Pro Racing officials have announced the indefinite suspension of the organization's Technical Director of Competition Al Ludington for conduct detrimental to the sport of professional motorcycle racing following this past weekend's AMA Pro Road Racing event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The indefinite suspension will preclude Ludington's participation in AMA Pro Road Racing events commencing with next weekend's round at Heartland Park Topeka following his actions and behavior at Mid-Ohio on Saturday, July 18, in an exchange with AMA Pro American Superbike rider Johnny Rock Page, which was caught on film (click here for YouTube video). Ludington has issued a letter of apology to Mr. Page and the overall AMA Pro Racing community.