Recently, a factory Superbike rider opined that he doesn't miss the old turn one and two combination at Brainerd International Raceway since the AMA circus no longer uses the classic Minnesota track as a round in the series. Presumably he did so because he's afraid of the ultra fast section.

Minnesota's Brainerd Raceway is undergoing big changes. The new configuration will bypass the dragstrip and old turns nine and ten. image: courtesy of Tony Williams

That section's pucker-factor will no longer be as much of an issue, judging by the changes that are now underway at Brainerd. The new track owner had construction equipment on site shortly after Brainerd's NHRA race and as one can discern from the accompanying aerial photo, a new road course is taking shape. (Turn one is near the top center of the photo.)

This configuration bypasses Brainerd's drag strip/front straight and will dramatically bring speeds down when entering BIR's infamous turn one.

Still no word on if BIR will be back on the Superbike schedule in 2009.