Round 5 of the ASRA Pro Team Challenge Series took place this past weekend, August 24-25, at Summit Point Raceway in Summit Point, West Virginia. The series organizers tried a slightly new format for this event, extending the length of the race from the usual 75-lap race/2-hour time limit to a 100-lap race with a 3-hour time limit. This format would challenge the teams with at least one additional pit-stop and, perhaps, require an extra rider. TOBC Racing came equipped to challenge for wins in all three classes with local ace Tim Bemisderfer and Jon Couch riding the TOBC 1000, Curtis Murray and new recruit Seth Starnes on the TOBC 600, and Lightweight specialists Brian Kcraget and 16-year-old Chris Crosslin teamed up on the TOBC 650. Tim Bemisderfer put the TOBC 1000 into the overall lead in the first hour of the race with Curtis Murray not far behind on the team’s GSX-R600 and Brian Kcraget had the SV650 entry in a comfortable lead in the Lightweight class. As endurance racing goes however, about 50 minutes into the race, mechanical issues forced the retirement of the 650cc racebike and shortly after that, the 1000cc entry also experienced terminal problems. The team refocused their attention on the last remaining TOBC entrant, on the GSX-R600. The fast layout of the Summit Point racetrack burned a lot of fuel and the 600 could only circulate for about 45 minutes before requiring a pitstop. Seth Starnes rode the second stint, matching Curtis Murray’s fast and consistent pace, and handed the bike back to Curtis on the second and final TOBC 600 pitstop. Curtis was able to put the TOBC 600 into the overall lead with only a handful of laps remaining in the race and took the checkered flag in 1st place Overall and 1st place in the Middleweight class. Congratulation to Curtis, Seth, and the whole TOBC crew for another exceptional result. TOBC Racing wants to thank ASRA/CCS for trying the long format and all the teams that entered the race. The next round is right around the corner in 2 weeks at New Jersey Motorsports Park and TOBC Racing is determined to challenge for podium positions again. The NJMP round will also provide valuable track time in preparation for TOBC Racing’s return to AMA Pro Roadracing at NJMP the following weekend. TOBC Racing is a privately-funded team focused on the support of Amateur Road Racing and the development of younger racers through the National Endurance, Team Challenge, and Sprint Series hosted by CCS, WERA, CMRA, ASRA, and now AMA Pro. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/tobc.racing or on the web at www.tobcracing.com. More, from a press release issued by Team B&M Racing: Team B & M racing was proud to join the ranks of the more seasoned teams at Round 5 of the ASRA Pro Team Challenge Series August 24-25, at Summit Point Raceway. The team, formed of endurance rookies, spent many minutes preparing for the exciting 100 lap or 3 hour event, competing on a stock engine Suzuki SV-650. Riders Brian LaSalle and Leonard Roy enjoyed highly consistent performance from the Pirelli shod machine, while down on power compared to many of the built-to-the-rules machines the low state of tune proved highly reliable. B & M’s pre-race strategy focused on keeping lap times down while managing rider fatigue, thus shorter stints with a lighter fuel load was planned. Following the first two stints Team B&M was challenging for a podium position at half race distance. Amazingly, the SV was consuming less fuel than anticipated, leading to the final stop being only a rider change, with Leonard Roy riding anchor. The strategy paid off with Team B&M finishing second in class and seventh overall in their maiden voyage. Team B&M Racing would like to thank their volunteer pit crew comprised of fellow racers taking time from their own sprint race preparations – Ben Loyle, Tony Rosati and Chai Yasothonsrikul and crew chief extraordinaire Karen. Finally, Team B&M would like to congratulate Clayton Fiske and Todd Alberico on their victory in the GTL Class!