Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series Round I: Jennings GP Roadcourse PHOTO BY BRIAN DURSOIPHOTO 1 Hail, Vesrah! Frankenfield, on the Team Velocity R I and running on a dry track, took the lead when Vesrah pitted for slicks. Yamaha R6-mounted By DAN SCHMITT JENNINGS, FL, MAR. 26 T he weather presented the greatest challenge to the 49 teams at the first round of Red Star charged to the front, with Team Eclipse in tow. When the second hour ended, Vesrah Suzuki had regained the lead, with Army Of Darkness second. During the third hour, a rain cloud appeared over the track, first dousing the back side of the the DunloplWERA National Endurance Series, held at this beautiful. motorcycle-only roadcourse in northern Florida. After rain flooded the track in the morning, the sun finally came out to dry it. but 20 minutes before the official start, the sky opened up again with golfballsized hail and more rain. As scheduled, the green flag flew at 11:30 a.m., and Tray Batey took the early lead on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R I000. Dixie Mafia's Derek Keyes charged to second on the Suzuki 600. with Army Of Darkness' Ben Walter and Team Xtreme/Maxxis' Billy Etheridge battling for track and then wetting the front. Some teams returned to the pits for rain tires; some stayed out with their DOTs. The Superbike teamS made the needed pit stops and began to pull away. At the end of the third hour, Vesrah Suzuki took a two-lap advantage over Army, and Red Star was a lap over Four Feathers Racing, the leading Middleweight Superstock team. Bell's Suzuki took fifth, with Team Velocity sixth. Chuck Ivey was on the move during the fourth hour on the Team Velocity RI, grabbing second. Dixie Mafia, on the Suzuki GSX-R600, third. These teams were on rain tires, as were eight other teams. The action came to an end when Backmarker Racing dropped their SV in tum 10 and brought out the red flag and the medical removal team. moved to fifth, as Need A Sponsor snatched eighth from Velocity Crew Racing. Vesrah Suzuki continued to lead with a three.lap advantage. With some quick pit stops, Army regained During the down time, the sun dried the track. When the green flag flew again, Rubin Glenn. with 1-2 finishes. 1-5 MX rider Joe Sutter put in consistent 3-3 finishes for second overall, and Mark Thies took third with 2-4 finishes. RESULTS MINI BEG: I. Teren Salinas; 2. Chance Seely; J. John Kinney; 4. Jason Colvin; S. Cody Montour. MINI NOV: I. Cody Young; 2. Cole Young; J. Tristan Post; 4. Chase Novelich; 5. Blake Taylor. MINI INT. I. Max Anstie; 2. Billy Musgrave. FIT VET BEG: I. Dan Randel; 2. Tim Lachow; J. Jason Palmese; 4. Mason Schmidt: 5. Shawn Hayes. 18-35 BEG: I. Mike Burkhart; 2. Orville Power: 3. Sean Kamborian; -4. Steve Herrmann; S. Gene Houston. 28-35 NOV: I. Jay Rabiohn; 2. Warren Johnson; J. Tim Burandt; -4. Bill Devine; 5. Jeff Evans. 28-35 INT: 1. Jonathan Rhodes; 2. Mark Dwyer. 3. Mike Battista; 4. Joe Prais; 5. Jeremy Giroir. 28-35 EX: I. Loren Pochirowski; 2. Bob Johnson: 3. Keith Sunderlin. 28-35 PRO: I. Chris Young; 2. Willy Musgrave; J. Craig McCall: 4. David McCown; S. Dean Welsh. 36-42 BEG: I. Marc Halaby; 2. Vince Laker; J. Mike Kennedy; -4. Brad Kinney; 5. Doug Anderson. 36-42 NOV: I. Kevin Glenn; 2. Joe Sutter; J. Mark Theis: 4. Robert Kong; 5. Ron Caldwell. 36-42 INT: I. Steve Uedberg; 2. Steve Pfaff; J. Larry Lengner; 4. Owen Finsimon; S. Ken Erb. 36-42 EX: I. Kevin Montgomery; 2. Alessandro Assanti. 36-42 PRO: I. Chris Young; 2. Willy Musgrave; J. Craig Davis; -4. Craig McCall; S. Dean Welsh. 43-49 BEG: I. Leon Baird: 2. Jim Beardsley; J. John Pearson; -4. Ed Merati; 5. Steve Newcomer. 43-49 NOV: I. Frank Mierau; 2. Joe Pena; 3. Barry Brooks; -4. Jon Haddad: S. Philip Cruz. 43+ INT: I. Steve Piattoni; 2. Bob Casper; 3. Jim Hanson; 4. Milton Mize: S. Dave Shelton. 43+ EX: I. Mark Dwyer; 2. Steve Pfaff; J. Andy Northrup; -4. David Fontes. 50+ BEG: I. Dave Rabiohn; 2. Michelle Marshall; 3. Joe Gih; -4. Heather Brown; 5. Perry Black. 50+ OPEN: I. Bill Maxim; 2. Dave Jacobus: 3. Lyle Sweeter; -4. Karl Kogler. OPEN BEG: I. Dylan Bouchet; 2. Jesse Vargas: J. Tony Valdez; -4. Billy Musgrave; S. Britt Taylor. OPEN NOV: I. Jack Brunei; 2. David Klaassen Vanoorschot; J. Casey Casper; -4. Craig Cheever; S. Thomas Haddad. OPEN INT: I. Cole Seely; 2. Scott Haddad; 3. Bill Bliven; -4. David Fontes; S. Bill Marshall. OPEN PRO: I. Chris Young: 2. Willy Musgrave; J. Craig Davis; -4. Craig McCall; 5. Jason Dubin. Tray Batey helped Vesrah Suzuki (1) take the overall victory at the DunloplWERA National Endurance Series opener at Jennings GP. second, and their teammates, Dixie Mafia. moved to fourth during the fifth hour. The battle in the Lightweight Superbike class heated up as Ghetto Customs moved to within one lap of the class leader, Collegiate Bool

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