Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127569
GROAD RACE WERA Power-MistlPerformance Machine National Endurance Series: Round 2 By Clair Franks Photos by Tiny Franks TALLADEGA,AL,MAR27 other Nature provided the threa t ening skies for the Talladega round of the WERA Endurance Series, but HNS Racing provided the biggest threat to perennial series champs Team Suzuki Endurance. The threat was just that, however, as Team Suzuki Endurance won its 85th career endurance despite a race-stoppage due to a light rain. HNS Racing came to the 1.3-mile Talladega Grand Prix Raceway road course with a hybrid Yamaha YZF750SP that featured a Yamaha FZR1000 engine. Six hours would tell if this would be a match made in heaven or just another misfit atternpt at knocking off the champions. In the end, it was Team Suzuki Endurance's Kurt Hall and Chuck Graves winning the six-hour race, but HNS's Tom Wilson and Tray Batey did present quite a challenge, finishing 40 seconds behind after 434 miles of racing. Third place went to Virginia Breeze Racing's Yamaha with RA Racing's Suzuki and Indy Cycle 'N Ski's Honda rounding out the top five finishers. Team Suzuki Endurance's win kept their perfect two-race season intact. Consequently, they lead the championship point standings over Team Pearls Suzuki, sixth today, 223.30-175.50. Royale Racing, 11th today, holds down third in the standings with 165.70 points. When the green flag dropped, the drag race to turn one saw Royal Racing and Team Suzuki Endurance flying in formation - nose to tail. Royale continued to lead a patient Hall through the first turn, but the cagey veteran made his move shortly after as they went through the tight· infield 90s for the first time. Royale's stint in second place was short-lived as HNS blew past on the back straight. And the race was on. Talladega local Tray Batey was piloting the low flying Yamaha on its first outing, and he used all his local track knowledge to reel-in the Valvolinesponsored Suzuki. Spectators stood as Batey closed under braking on Hall through the infield, pushing and prodding at the champ just to let him know he was there. Batey used what he had available to keep in touch with the Keith Perry-tuned monster Suzuki, but Hall would motor effortlessly away from the Yamaha down the straights. ... With only 10 laps down, the lead duo had separated themselves from the race for third and started picking off backmarkers. Hall, also no stranger to this track, was slicing his way through the slower riders while Batey was having to weave his way around. Batey kept the pressure on until he pitted just after the one-hour mark for a rider change and fuel. The team opted not to take the time for a tire change and sent Ohio-based rider Tom Wilson out on the used rubber. Batey was concerned about the rear tire, but Wilson went out and M Tea~ Suzuki Endurance (1) and HNS Racing (5) battled for most of the six-hour endurance race at Talladega Grand Prix Raceway. HNS Racing rode a Yamaha YZF750SP fitted with a l000cc motor to finish third with riders Tray Batey and Tom Wilson. 14