Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Tray Batey, Mark Junge and John Jacobi of Vesrah Suzuki won round five of the Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series, a six-hour event at Grattan Raceway in Michigan, despite crashing their Suzuki GSX-R1000 late in the race. A seven-lap lead at the time of the crash helped Vesrah Suzuki hang onto its lead, and the team still crossed the line with a two-lap margin of victory.

After leading four laps at the opening of the race, Team Velocity Racing finished second overall and first in Heavyweight Superstock. Chuck Ivey, Reuben Frankenfield, Steven Breckenridge and Bradley Champion rode a Yamaha YZF-R1.

Scotty VanScoik, J.P. Tache and Chris Normand rode the CherokeeChallenge.net Yamaha YZF-R6 to third overall, securing the Mediumweight Superstock victory. The team was second overall until the final 30 minutes of the race, when Team Velocity got past for the spot.

Vesrah Suzuki’s Batey took the lead at the start of the race, but Team Velocity Racing’s Frankenfield stayed with him and passed for the lead entering turn one on lap two. Batey took the lead back on lap six and built a one-lap lead within the first hour. Batey and Jacobi each rode twice before Junge got on the bike.

Junge crashed during his stint, and Vesrah Suzuki’s seven-lap lead dwindled to two laps before the team was able to get underway again. Junge was uninjured, but Jacobi finished up the race.

Sam Fleming, Scott Brown and Ben Walters gave Army of Darkness their 15th consecutive Mediumweight Superbike victory, finishing fourth overall on a Suzuki GSX-R600. The team struggled with tire problems during the race, and they dropped from third to fourth overall in the final hour.

In the Lightweight Superbike class, Bells Suzuki II was once again at the top of the field with Myron Bell, Roger Bell and Dean Mizdal on a Suzuki SV650. Dixie Mafia finished just 25 seconds behind, giving Bells Suzuki II a rare challenge.

There were no red flags during the race.

RESULTS

1. Vesrah Suzuki (Mark Junge/Tray Batey/John Jacobi), Suz GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superbike, 247 laps.

2. Team Velocity Racing (Chuck Ivey/Bradley Champion/Steven Breckenridge/Reuben Frankenfield), Yam YZF-R1, Heavyweight Superstock, 245 laps.

3. CherokeeChallenge.net (Scotty VanScoik/JP Tache/Chris Normand), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 245 laps.

4. Army of Darkness (Sam Fleming/Scott Brown/Ben Walters), Suz GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 244 laps.

5. Neighbor of the Beast (Melissa Berkoff/Scott Fisher/Chris Pyles), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 239 laps.

6. Deals Gap Resort (Dale Burroughs/Corey Bowen/Steve Green/Ryan Gordon), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 238 laps.

7. Bells Suzuki II (Myron Bell/Roger Bell/Dean Mizdal), Suz SV650, Lightweight Superbike, 238 laps.

8. Dixie Mafia (Bruce Stanford/Derek Keyes), Suz SV650, Lightweight Superbike, 238 laps.

9. Arnchu Racing (Randy Sherman/Rick Knuckles), Suz GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 237 laps.

10. Team Xtreme/Maxxis (Jeff Walker/Billy Ethridge/Mark Edwards), Yam YZF-R1, Heavyweight Superstock, 237 laps.