Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Tray Batey won the most WERA National Challenge Series races during round five at Grattan Raceway Park in Grattan, Michigan, finishing first in Heavyweight Twins, 750cc Superstock and Formula One.

Batey has been nearly impossible to beat on his Vesrah Suzuki SV1000 in the Heavyweight Twins Superstock class, and the scenario at Grattan was no different as Batey won both the Superstock division and overall. Brian Gibson finished second overall on his Suzuki SV1000 but took home the Superbike division win.

In 750cc Superstock, Batey put his Suzuki GSX-R750 into the lead on the first lap and pulled away to win by 8.753 seconds over John Jacobi, who was also on a Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R750. Formula One was much the same as Batey, again on his GSX-R750, beat Jacobi by 8.748 seconds.

Grattan marked Joe Gill’s return to the WERA National Challenge Series after a two-year absence, and he started things off by winning both 600cc Superstock and 600cc Superbike on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Gill took the lead away from Larry Pegram, who was on a Yamaha YZF-R6, on the final lap of 600cc Superstock for the win. Mark Junge crashed out of an early lead in 600cc Superstock when he hit a damp patch of the track.

Gill won the 600cc Superbike race by over eight seconds.

Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Pegram was able to win Open Superstock on his Yamaha YZF-R1, edging past Batey on a Suzuki GSX-R750 at the start of lap four. Pegram held Batey off until a red flag ended the race early, on lap eight.

Derek Keyes rode his Suzuki SV650 to the win in both Formula Two and Lightweight Twins Superbike. Keyes got the overall win in Lightweight Twins, as well, while Eddie Kraft earned the Superstock division win on his Suzuki SV650.

Eric Spector crossed the finish line first in 750cc Superbike, but the Suzuki GSX-R750 rider was not credited with the win until he agreed to pay a $100 fine for not having a transponder on the bike. Spector’s other option was to be disqualified.

Water seeping onto the track from rain late last week caused a number of riders to crash, resulting in more crashes than usual in the Expert ranks.