Motorsports: MEL second round cancelled

The second round of the Motorcycle Endurance League, comprising eight franchise teams, that was scheduled to run this weekend here at the Kari Motor Speedway was cancelled due to the track condition that was rendered "unsafe" when the re-laid surface melted in the summer heat.

The decision was taken late Saturday evening by the stewards who on inspection and after receiving feedback from some of the experienced riders who were allowed a 20-minute practice session, declared the track unsuitable for racing.

The track was damaged at Turns 1 and 2 with the top surface of the freshly tarred track melted in the blazing afternoon sun. With the surface being rendered soft and sticky, the stewards ruled that the track was unsafe.

The organizers made hectic but futile efforts to repair the track, before deciding to allow some of the more experienced riders to assess the condition.

After a 20-minute session that saw three bikes crashing at Turn 1, the riders declared that the track was unsafe for racing and based on their feedback, it was decided to cancel the event.

The surface at Turns 1 and 2 chipped off after the 20-minute practice session and with the track developing "potholes", the Stewards were left with no choice but to cancel the event.