The excitement at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is getting dialed up to the next level for both the Stock 1000 Championship and the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship next weekend.
There is a jam-packed field of entries in each class, with 45 riders signed up for Stock 1000 and 46 riders for Super Hooligan. What that means is that Road Atlanta is going to be positively buzzing with high-speed action.
With all those riders on track, MotoAmerica has implemented a High-Density Racing Protocol for those two race classes to make sure things run smoothly.
Here’s what you need to know about the Protocol and what it means for riders and fans alike:
What Is High-Density Racing?
In motorcycle road racing, rider density refers to how many racers are signed up for a particular event or session. When there are too many riders on the track during practice or qualifying sessions, things can get crowded—and that’s not just dangerous, it also reduces the quality of the racing experience.
To make sure every rider has a fair shot and also to ensure safety, MotoAmerica has rolled out a specific Protocol for the literbike riders and high-handlebar heroes at Road Atlanta.
Here are the details:
• Super Hooligan Split Sessions: To manage the high number of entries in Super Hooligan, on Friday, those riders will be split into two separate practice and qualifying groups. The specific group assignments will be announced closer to the event, but you can expect to see the riders divided in a way that makes for smoother sessions.
• Qualifying Threshold: For the Stock 1000 and Super Hooligan riders, if they’re more than 2% off the qualifying pace on Friday, they won’t be allowed to participate in Saturday morning’s Qualifying 2 sessions or the races on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. It’s a tough call, but it keeps the race action on Saturday and Sunday fast and competitive.
The Protocol helps ensure that the track doesn’t become overcrowded, and it enables all the riders entered to showcase their skills without the added stress of dodging too many bikes in every corner. While the Protocol might feel a little harsh, it’s designed to help in the following three ways:
1. Safety First: With so many riders on the track, it’s important to reduce congestion. Split sessions help riders get more time on the track without dealing with the chaos that too many competitors would create.
2. Fairness: Riders who are struggling to qualify aren’t being penalized. Instead, this ensures that those riders who are close to qualifying get the track time they need to improve their lap times. By limiting the number of riders in each session, it ensures those who can compete have the space and track time to do so.
3. Rider Experience: For the riders, the High-Density Racing Protocol means they get the opportunity to improve their lap times without the distraction of being stuck behind slower riders. This makes qualifying much more accurate and allows for a better overall race weekend.
The alternative? Limiting the number of entries, which would ultimately prevent some riders from even having the chance to qualify.
Friday’s Schedule For The Super Hooligan Riders
Here’s a quick look at the Super Hooligan schedule for Friday at Road Atlanta, where the riders will be split into two groups for both the morning’s Practice 1 session and the afternoon’s Qualifying 1 session:
- 8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. — Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Practice 1 Group B (20 minutes)
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. — Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Practice 1 Group A (20 minutes)
- 4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. — Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Qualifying 1 Group B (20 minutes)
- 4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. — Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Qualifying 1 Group A (20 minutes)
Big Fields = Big Action
For both the riders and the fans, the High-Density Racing Protocol at Road Atlanta brings an added sense of anticipation and a few challenges. But the goal is simple: keep things safe, exciting, and competitive.
As the weekend unfolds, the Protocol should help create a more streamlined experience for everyone involved.
So, whether you’re racing or spectating, get ready for a weekend of non-stop action—just with a little more order to the MotoAmerica Madness.
