Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Vesrah Suzuki teammates Mark Junge, John Jacobi and Tray Batey each took one victory, while David Yaakov was the only rider to win two races at the WERA National Challenge Series race at Putnam Park Road Course in Mt. Meridian, Indiana on Sunday, May 5.

In Open Superstock, Junge got the holeshot on his Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000. Junge held the lead for the entire race as Team Xtreme’s Mike Smith and Arclight Racing’s Scott Harwell battled for second. Harwell took second on the white flag lap, with Smith finishing third, both on Suzuki GSX-R1000s. Junge set a new track record of 1:09.87 during the race.

Junge led the 600 Superstock Expert race during the early laps, but was challenged by Jacobi and Harwell. Junge fell back to third, but Jacobi and Harwell stayed close, and Harwell held off a passing attempt in the last turn of the last lap by Jacobi to take first. All three were on Sukuki GSX-R600s.

David Yaakov took the win in Lightweight Twins, leading the entire race on his Suzuki SV650. Bradley Champion closed the gap Yaakov had built to challenge him in the final laps, but had to settle for second. Bobby Miosek took third, also riding an SV650.

In 125cc GP, Jason Peters took the win after swapping positions with Brian Kcraget a couple times. Kcraget fell back when he began having some minor mechanical problems, finishing second. John Hjelm took third. All three were riding Honda RS125s.

In 750cc Superstock, Jacobi, Harwell Batey fought battle for the lead the entire race, all riding Suzuki GSX-R750s. Jacobi took the win, with Batey in second after holding off third-place finisher Harwell.

Matt Furtek took the win in 600cc Superbike on a Yamaha YZF-R6, after spending the entire race chasing down Suzuki GSX-R600 pilot Adam Coco. Coco finished second, with Jeff Muskopf, also on a GSX-R600, in third.

Batey won easily in Heavyweight Twins on his Suzuki TLR1000, with a long gap over second place. Mark Crozier took second. Bill St. John held third until he crashed on lap eight, handing the position over to Scott Brown. Crozier and Brown were also on TLR1000 machines.

In 750cc Superbike, Yaakov took his second win of the day, riding a Suzuki GSX-R750. Ken Snyder took second on his Suzuki and Doug Duane took the third position on the last lap, also riding a Suzuki.

Shane Stoyko won by a comfortable gap in Formula One on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Three riders battled for second, with Duane on his Suzuki GSX-R750 finally taking the second spot. Furtek finished third on his Yamaha YZF-R6.