Bikers practice before races

TOOELE — The track belonged to the privateers on Thursday. Factory riders stood on the upper decks of the Miller Motorsports Park track and watched.

It is, said one of the onlookers, an opportunity to give independent riders a little extra practice time for when they go up against the best riders riding the best motorcycles.

Qualifying for the Honda Superbike Championships will begin today. Races will be held Saturday and Sunday.

The event has brought in close to 100 of the top superbike racers in the country, including Ben Spies of Henderson, Nev., the current points leader, and Mat Mladin of Longview, Texas, a six-time national champion and second in the standings.

Spies and Mladin were not allowed on the track on Thursday, but they were able to run it for practice a few weeks back.

Spies called the track "nice" and very different from other tracks on the circuit.

"It's fast and has some huge changes ... 190 mile per hour straight that goes into the first three turns where you'll hit 130 to 140 with your knee down. Then at the end you'll have to drop down to 45 mph. No, it's wide and fast and smooth. Right now, and they're still making improvements, it's the best track we go to," he said.

Aaron Yates, currently in fifth in the standings, said being a new track, "it's going to take a little getting used to. Personally, I like new tracks. This one is more open and faster in the corners. You can carry good speed into the corners and get a good rhythm going.

"With other tracks, you accelerate out of the corners and then have to stop or slow down for the next turn. This track is so big and spread out you can let the bike go."

There was some concern being expressed by riders over tire wear. New asphalt is rough on tires, so it may mean riders will start fast, then back off a little in order to ensure tires are inflated at the end of the race.

Qualifying will begin today at 2 p.m. The second round of qualifying will begin at 9:50 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. on Saturday. The first race is at 3:50 p.m. There will be a superstock race at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, followed by a 13-lap supersport race at 1:45 and the Superbike Championships at 3 p.m.

Ticket information can be found on the Web site at www.millermotorsportspark.com/.

On a second track at the race complex, top riders will compete in the newest motorsport event — supermoto. This is a blend of road racing on asphalt and motocross racing on dirt.