<
On Labor Day weekend Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) south of Colorado Springs hosted the 12th of 13 rounds of the AMA Superbike races.
PPIR is a new, first-class facility with a one mile oval and a 1.315 mile road course that includes portions of the oval and the infield. PPIR also has a two large garages for the racers, plenty of food stands and restrooms, and large grandstands. A good place to go to the races. And if you buy the least expensive grandstand ticket and a garage pass, you can have some fairly inexpensive entertainment for the day.
We parked in the "motorcycle corral" in the infield area ($10 and not really worth it), toured the garages to see all the race bikes and riders, and picked a bunch of places to view the practice and qualifying sessions. There were plenty of bikes to see with the Superbikes, 750 Supersport, 600 Supersport, Pro Thunder (twins and triples), 250cc Grand Prix, and Formula Xtreme classes. After seeing the AMA racers on TV, it's sure fun to watch them in person as they sweep into turn one at 140 mph and then negotiate the tight infield section with its series of quick turns. Makes you appreciate the skill level at which those guys ride.
If you haven't seen the AMA Superbike races, and all the supporting races, you really ought to go sometime. Just be sure to take along a water bottle and sun screen. The Colorado sun sure gets hot when it is shining down on all that asphalt and concrete.
-- Randy Bishop, Littleton Colorado
Back to Ride Colorado reports page