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Mark Crozier, on the Anny of Darkness Suzuki (99), passes Rapid Transit (281 and Team 301 (301). by one lap over Army of Darkness. A three-way battle developed for third overall among Info Tech/Valter Moto, Velocity Crew and Team Xtreme II, with Info Tech up front. JLR Racing turned up the wick to take their Pirelli/Pit Bull Honda to sixth overall. Northern Getaway was seventh. Team Chicago had a disastrous rear tire change and lost two minutes in the pits. Neighbor of the Beast moved to eighth. Reuben Frankenfield was on fire as he took the Team Velocity Racing Suzuki to ninth overall, making up the lost laps from an earlier crash. Deals Gap Racing III moved into the top 10. Rapid Transit continued to lead the Lightweight Superbike class, with Deals Gap Racing hot on their heels. In the final hour, JLR Racing ran off the track but did not crash. This allowed a hard-charging Phil Caudill, on the Team Chicago Yamaha, to move into ninth place. Jeff Walker got off the Army of Darkness Suzuki and jumped on the Neighbor of the Beast Yamaha to finish the race. Sam Fleming and Melissa Berkoff rode the first three hours on the Neighbor's Yamaha; this may be the first heterosexual couple riding the same bike. At the checkered flag, it was Vesrah Suzuki taking their fifth win of the season in this Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series. "I consider this my home track: Tray Batey said. "I learned to race at this track. It is a 'point-and-shoot' track and tough with a 1000. We had some good luck with the red flags, as Army was catching us during the first half of the race." Army of Darkness ran second again. "Mark ran down Vesrah and passed them, but the red flag stopped the race; without this red flag, it may have been a different race," Jeff Walker said. When asked about riding two different 600s in the race, Walker replied, "I probably like the AOD bike better - it handles a little better - but both of them are excellent. I just like the Superbike a little bit better." Northern Getaway was second in Heavyweight Superbike and sixth overall. "This race went really smooth for Robert Hutchinson, on the Rapid Transit Suzuki SY, charge. to the team'. first victory In the Lightweight Superblke class, in Talladega, Alabama. us," Jamie Miller said. "My teammate ran 2 1/2 hours, and I rode the rest of the time; he is an ironman and a great rider. This racetrack is tough, and you have to be in shape, but it wasn't too hot, and everything went great for us." Rapid Transit took their first win in the Lightweight Superbike class. "This is our second endurance race," said Michael Killingsworth. "We put a team together at Nashville. It was a flawless ride. Both of my teammates ran good lap times, and everything just went well." Deals Gap Racing finished second in class and 14th overall. "We had a great race," Brian Renn said. "Chuck D. rode hard. We were a little nervous at the end when we had to make an extra pit stop, but our crew got us in and out quickly. The Dunlop tires worked well for the entire four hours." Mark Edwards of Team Xtreme explained th.eir team's situation. "We have ran flawlessly this season," he said. "This will be our throwout round with the Suzuki 1000. We have two teams going, so we are concentrating on the number-22 bike and the Heavyweight Superstock championship. This is the first week with the Yamaha R I. Three weeks ago, this was a crash-repair bike, and we got it ready for this race and finished third overall and first in class. We are looking forward to the eighthour race at Grattan; we have never raced there, and we are looking for the challenge." eN Talladega 6ran Prix Raceway Talladega, Alabama Results: June 21, 2003 (Round 51 O/A: I. Vesrah Suzuki (Suz); 2. Army of Darkness (Suz): 3. Team Xtreme II (Yam); 4. Velocity Crew Racing (Suz); 5. Team Info Tech/Valter Moto (Yam); 6. Northern Getaway (Suz); 7. Neighbor of the Beast (Yam): 8. Team Velocity Racing (Suz); 9. Team Chicago (Yam): 10. JLR Racing (Han). H/W S/BK: 1 Vesrah Suzuki; 2. Northern Getaway: 3. Team Xtreme. H/W S/STK: I. Team Xtreme [I; 2. Jeff Wyler/Blue Moto; 3. Team HMR. M/W S/BK: I. Army of Darkness; 2. Velocity Crew: 3. Deals Gap Racing III. MIW S/STK: J. Team Info Tech/Valter Moto; 2. Neighbor of the Beast; 3. Team Velocity Racing. L/W S/BK: I. Rapid Transit; 2. Deals Gap Racing; 3. Tight Squeeze I. WERA NATIONAL ENDURANCE SERIES OVERALL POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 rounds): I. Vesrah Suzuki (529): 2. Army of Darkness (476); 3. Velocity Crew Racing (396); 4. Team Xtreme (365); 5. Team Info Tech/Valter Mota (357); 6. Team Xtreme II (345); 7. Team Velocity Racing (343); 8. Neighbor of the Beast (314); 9. Ricochet Racing (295); 10. Tight Squeeze II (285). eye I e n e _ s • JULv9.2003 47