Antoine Richards will have a heavy heart this weekend when he races at the Virginia International Raceway (VIR) where Toriano Wilson died two years ago.

Wilson was killed in a freak crash at the VIR during a Red Bull Rookies Cup event in August 2008. He was aged just 14.

While delivering a good performance at the AMA PRO Supersport Championships will be Wilson's priority he admits the memory of Wilson would be at the forefront of his mind.

"This is the same racetrack and event that we lost Toriano, so it will be a little emotional," he said.

"Obviously, I will have that in my head and when I make my way around the first few times in practice I will say a prayer for him because you can't really put these sorts of things out of your head.

"Once I start rolling on the track I will have to put everything as far back in my mind as possible to produce a good performance.

"Focus is important, we're racing in a dangerous sport, it wasn't the track's fault and I know he would want me out there racing as hard as I can. That's what I'm going to do."

With only two rounds left before the National Championships in Alabama, Richards will be looking for a marked improvement on his 18th place finish at the Mid-Ohio Raceway in Lexington, Ohio last month.

That round was the first time Richards had experienced the testing Lexington track, a distinct disadvantage against more seasoned competitors.

But the Celtic Racing rider is adamant he can only get better and believes this weekend's race will be a good barometer of how far he has come this season.

"My focus will be to continue to make progress with my performances and improve on my last performance," he said.

"I know the track quite well and get around it pretty good, so it should be better this time than my last race in Ohio.

"I think it will be a good race for me to gauge where I am in terms of producing on a track I'm familiar with."