Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Vesrah Suzuki and Vesrah Suzuki II finished first and second in the wet final round of the WERA National Endurance Series, a 4-hour race, Friday at Road Atlanta.
Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey and John Jacobi used Pirelli rain tires on their GSX-R1000 to complete 101 laps of the rain-soaked Georgia track and to win by one lap over Vesrah Suzuki II.
Vesrah Suzuki clinched its second consecutive WERA National Endurance Championship prior to the final round of the series.
Vesrah Suzuki II’s Mark Junge, Brian Stokes and David Yaakov swapped from a Middleweight Superbike Class GSX-R600 to a Heavyweight Superbike GSX-R1000 in search of a 1-2 finish but gambled on Pirelli intermediate tires and had to pit early to change to rain tires. Vesrah Suzuki II was in third late in the race, before putting team owner/rain specialist Junge back on the GSX-R1000 to run down and pass Team Xtreme for second overall in the closing moments of the race.
Team Xtreme’s Billy Ethridge, Mark Edwards and Robert Jensen finished 32 seconds behind Vesrah Suzuki II on their GSX-R1000. Team Xtreme ran a two-pit-stop strategy with Michelin rain tires to go the distance.
The top three teams were on Heavyweight Superbike class machines.
Velocity Crew’s Kevin Perkins and Paul Youngman finished fourth overall and first in the Middleweight Superbike class with 98 laps on their Michelin-equipped Suzuki GSX-R600.
The Middleweight Superbike class Championship had already been wrapped up by Army of Darkness (Sam Fleming, Jim Williams), seventh overall in Friday’s race.
Ridge Racing’s Steve Smith, Tim Carroll and Doug Rose thought the track would dry and started the long race with Pirelli DOT-labeled tires on their Heavyweight Superstock Suzuki GSX-R750. The rain did not stop, but Ridge Racing persevered rather than risk a lengthy stop to change to rain tires. Ridge Racing’s decision paid off and the team won the Heavyweight Superstock class at 12th overall.
J&J Racing’s Jerry Russell and Brian Healea, 14th on Friday, won the WERA Heavyweight Superstock Endurance Championship earlier in the season with help from now-injured teammate Jesse Basile.
Team Chicago’s Dan Schmitt, Steve Karson and Phil Caudill closed out the Middleweight Supersport Championship with a class win, at ninth overall, in the final round. Team Chicago rode a Dunlop-sponsored Yamaha YZF-R6 for 96 laps of Road Atlanta.
Axxionarm.com’s Kyle and Kasey Ray overcame a slow fuel dump can and a one-lap penalty to finish 15th overall and take the Lightweight Superbike win on their Suzuki SV650.
Team Info Tech finished one position behind Axxionarm.com in the overall race standings but took home the Lightweight Superbike Championship.
WERA National Endurance Series
Round 9
Overall Race Results:
1. Vesrah Suzuki, Heavyweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 101 laps
2. Vesrah Suzuki II, Heavyweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 100 laps
3. Team Xtreme, Heavyweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 100 laps
4. Velocity Crew Racing, Middleweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R600, 98 laps
5. Loudoun Motorsports, Heavyweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 97 laps
6. Team Xtreme II, Middleweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R600, 97 laps
7. Army of Darkness, Middleweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R600, 96 laps
8. Northern Getaway, Heavyweight Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R750, 96 laps
9. Team Chicago, Middleweight Superstock, Yamaha YZF-R6, 96 laps
10. Neighbor of the Beast, Middleweight Superstock, Suzuki GSX-R600, 95 laps