Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Vesrah Suzuki’s Mark Junge, Tray Batey and John Jacobi won the sixth round of the Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series race at Grattan Raceway on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. Vesrah Suzuki has won every round of the 2003 WERA National Endurance series.

The Grattan race was shortened from its original eight-hour length to seven-and-a-half hours due to time constraints, but Vesrah was still able to win with a seven-lap margin of victory.

Taylor Knapp/Ray C’s Racing’s Fritz Kling and Ray Yoder finished second overall and first in Mediumweight Superstock on a Yamaha YZF-R6. It is the first time the team has been on the overall endurance podium in 2003.

Firehawk’s Scotty Van Scoik and J.P. Tache teamed up to finish third overall on a Mediumweight Superstock Yamaha YZF-R6.

Army of Darkness’ Mark Crozier, Sam Fleming and Jeff Walker finished fifth overall and won Mediumweight Superbike on a Suzuki GSX-R600.

Team HMR’s Mark Kittel, Philip Isorias and James Kerker won Heavyweight Superstock on a Honda CBR954RR and finished eighth overall.

Deal’s Gap Racing’s Joe Schoch, Brian Renn, Corey Bowen and Steve Green rode a Suzuki SV650 to the victory in the Lightweight Superbike class. It was the team’s first class win of 2003.

There were no red flags during the race, and although a number of racers had minor crashes, only one bike required the crash truck to get back to the pits.

In other news, Batey took pole position for Sunday’s Suzuki GSX-R World Cup qualifying race with a time of 1:21.291

Only eight riders are entered in for the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup qualifying race at Grattan.

WERA National Endurance Race Results:

1. Vesrah Suzuki (Mark Junge/Tray Batey/John Jacobi), Suz GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superbike, 319 laps.
2. Taylor Knapp/Ray C’s Racing (Fritz Kling/Larry Denning/Ray Yoder), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 312 laps.
3. Firehawk (Scotty Van Scoik/JP Tache), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 310 laps.
4. Team InfoTech/Valter Moto (Bradley Champion/Nicky Wimbauer/Bobby Miosek/Brian Hanson), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 309 laps.
5. Army of Darkness (Mark Crozier/Sam Fleming/Jeff Walker), Suz GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 308 laps.
6. Team Velocity Racing (Chuck Ivey/Steven Breckenridge/Reuben Frankenfield), Suz GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superstock, 307 laps.
7. Team Xtreme II (Billy Ethridge/Mark Edwards/Greg Moore), Suz GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superbike, 305 laps.
8. Team HMR (Mark Kittel/Philip Isiaras/James Kerker), Hon CBR954R, Heavyweight Superstock, 302 laps.
9. Velocity Crew Racing (Kevin Perkins/Paul Youngman/Larry Goldstein), Suz GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 301 laps.
10. Ricochet Racing (Kevin Suffridge/Lee Fields/C.R. Gittere/Greg Myers), Suz GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superstock, 299 laps.