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Motorcycles: AMA Pro Racing Program Has Trained More than 300 Cornerworkers

18 November 1998

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- As the sport of motorcycle racing continues to grow in popularity, so has the need for the safety of its participants. AMA Pro Racing is at the forefront when it comes to rider safety, and the AMA Pro Marshals Program, which has trained more than 300 cornerworkers at tracks across the nation in the past year, is a prime example of that commitment.

AMA Pro Racing -- the only sanctioning body to train its own cornerworkers -- started the AMA Pro Marshals program last year. The program is a national cornerworker-training curriculum that emphasizes motorcycle racing safety. Trained at tracks around the country, the program's more than 300 graduates work primarily at MBNA Superbike Tour roadracing events, although many Pro Marshals also use their training to work regional, local and other select events.

"It is the cornerworkers' job to communicate with the rider as to the track's racing condition, and the AMA Pro Marshals training program teaches people how to do that, and do it safely. Our cornerworkers do a lot of work on what we call a 'hot track'," said Dan Lance, the lead instructor for AMA Pro Marshals. In addition, workers are trained to deal with the unique situations of motorcycle races. Motorcycle cornerworkers must often run onto the track during the course of racing action to do their job, creating a need for specialized training.

The two-hour training program is available at most stops of the MBNA Superbike Tour. For information, interested parties should contact Dee White, AMA Pro Racing special projects manager.

For immediate post-race results, rider information, AMA Pro Racing notes and news, check the Pro Racing pages of AMADirectlink, at http://www.ama-cycle.org