Team Moe’s/TVR Win Heavyweight Superstock in Rainy Endurance
Race at Talladega
OXFORD, Ala. – Chuck Ivey, James Stroud and Joshua Day gave Team Moe’s/TVR another Heavyweight Superstock class win during Saturday’s WERA National Endurance Series race at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway.
TVR also took fourth overall on their Yamaha YZF-R1, despite rain in the fourth and final hour of the race and a crash that could have had devastating effects on the team’s results.
Stroud, who has plenty of seat time at Talladega, started the race and led the opening laps. Due to the extreme heat, Stroud was forced to end his stint early with mild dehydration. While he recovered, Ivey rode his stint before handing the Yamaha over to Day with two fresh Pirelli tires.
“I felt really good at the start,” said Stroud. “The R1 was exceptional and everybody did really well. That track is really tight, especially on a 1000. It’s fun, but there’s not time to rest whatsoever.”
Day also cut his stint short because of lingering problems in his hands and arms, but by then Stroud was recovered enough to climb back on the TVR Yamaha. “This was my first time at Talladega,” commented Day. “I won both the 600 Superstock and Superbike races on Sunday, so it was a pretty good first time at this track!”
With 50 minutes remaining in the race, rain began to fall and Stroud was forced to pit for rain tires. Ivey, who normally does not like the rain, rode the final stint and turned some good lap times to help bring TVR back up to the front. “I knew that it was up to me to make up ground and I just decided to go,” said Ivey. “The track dried a little and I tried to conserve the rear tire, but then the rain came back and there were a lot of new puddles.”
Ivey found a slippery spot when he turned onto the front straight, and after hydroplaning briefly he crashed. Luckily, Ivey was uninjured. Lightning in the area brought out the red flag at the same time, and per WERA rules the results reverted to the last complete lap of the race. The TVR Yamaha was on the ground, but the team had won Heavyweight Superstock.
“The Yamaha R1 performed flawlessly this weekend, especially paired with our tires. It’s a race like this one, with both heat and rain, that you really appreciate how effective the Pirelli tires are,” said Ivey. “And I’ve got to thank Arai for keeping my head protected in my crash.”
Ivey added that the TVR pit crew was a large contributor to the win. Chris Cutright, who usually helps in the pits, broke his collarbone on Friday so we had to find extra crew,” he said. “Mike, Michael and Doug did a great job and really made a difference.”
TVR has a three-week break before heading up to Nelson Ledges for the next endurance race of the season. Fans can keep up with TVR’s race for the championship at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com.
Moe’s Southwest Grill serves fresh, healthy Mexican food with an emphasis on fast service and a fun atmosphere. The group of restaurants began in the Southeast U.S. and explosive growth over the past few years has made Moe’s Southwest Grill a household name. Moe’s locations can be found online at www.Moes.com
Vesrah Wins Rainy Endurance, Batey Top Expert in WERA Nationals at Talladega
OXFORD, Ala. – This past weekend marked the first time that the WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series and the WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series have competed on the newly-reconfigured Talladega Gran Prix Raceway road course, but it was many of the same Talladega aces who won.
Saturday’s endurance race, originally scheduled for four hours, was cut slightly short due to lightning in the near vicinity. It rained for nearly an hour before the red flag came out, but the wet track was not enough to slow down Vesrah Suzuki. The Heavyweight Superbike team took the win with Tray Batey, John Jacobi and Mark Junge on a Suzuki GSX-R1000, and they had a comfortable five laps over the rest of the field.
Brand X got on the overall podium again, taking second overall and in Heavyweight Superbike. Riders Ben Walters and Brett Champagne shared the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Third overall and first in Mediumweight Superbike were Reuben Frankenfield, Mark Junge and Russell Wikle on the Suzuki Rider Development Suzuki GSX-R600, finishing on the same lap as Brand X.
Team Moe’s/TVR’s fourth-place finish gave Chuck Ivey, Joshua Day and James Stroud first in Heavyweight Superstock on their Yamaha YZF-R1. Dalke Motorsports had a three-lap margin of victory in the Mediumweight Superstock class thanks to Giovanni Rojas, Ryan Clay, Wrenn Smith and Brian Dalke, who shared a Suzuki GSX-R600.
Blue Ridge Performance earned their first Lightweight Superbike win of the season on a Kawasaki 650R. Daniel Parkerson, Lyles Sanders and Ben Probst also had a three-lap margin over the rest of their class field.
The National Challenge expert sprint races on Sunday were a chance for Tray Batey to earn three more trophies. He got his Suzuki GSX-R1000 through Talladega’s tight layout to win both Open Superstock and Formula One, and he was victorious in Heavyweight Twins Superstock.
Joshua Day’s performance was one of the surprises of the day. In his first visit to Talladega, he took the top spot in both 600 Superstock and 600 Superbike.
Opie Caylor proved that he can still get around the Alabama track at fast pace, winning 750 Superstock by just 0.38-second over Lee Acree in one of the closest races of the day.
Dane Westby won both Lightweight Twins Superstock and Formula 2, and Jimmy Wood won 750 Superbike.
In the novice division, Russell Wikle was back to his winning ways, taking top honors in 600 and 750 Superstock, as well as 600 and 750 Superbike.
Chad Clifton won Open Superstock novice, Josh Reed won Heavyweight Twins, Luke Echols finished first in Lightweight Twins and Jake Morman won Formula 2.
The next round of the WERA National Series is in three weeks at Nelson Ledges Road Course in Ohio. More information about WERA, including updated championship points, can be found at www.WERA.com
Talladega Gran Prix Raceway Hosting WERA National Series this Weekend
OXFORD, Ala. – The WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series and Bridgestone National Endurance Series arrive in Alabama this weekend for round seven at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway.
Last year’s event was interrupted on the eve of the endurance race by tornadoes, but the only challenge from the weather this year should be the extreme heat that has been plaguing the south recently.
Friday, August 17 will include practice and qualifying, and the racing begins on Saturday with the Bridgestone National Endurance Series. The four-hour race begins at 12:45 p.m., followed by the WERA Mini races.
Vesrah Suzuki has gone virtually unchallenged all year, losing only one round so far, and the Heavyweight Superbike team has a precedent of victory at Talladega. The team won there last year by four laps, though Heavyweight Superstock points leader Team Moe’s/TVR got the overall victory at Tally two years ago.
Another team that has been producing good results this year is Brand X. Team riders Ben Walters and Brett Champagne have been on the endurance podium at Talladega before, taking second overall there a year ago.
On Sunday, the Michelin National Challenge Series gets the first green flag at noon. The same riders who have been accruing top points at recent rounds also performed well at Talladega last season. In the expert ranks, Robert Jensen, Lee Acree and Tray Batey are among the top riders. Local ace Opie Caylor can also be expected to earn top results.
In the championship standings, 600 Superstock is one of the closest battles. Robert Jensen leads Lee Acree in that class by just three points. In 750 Superbike, Jimmy Wood leads Lyles Sanders by only four points.
There are 11 National Challenge races on Sunday, and each will be ten laps long. The WERA minis will again be competing.
Tickets for the WERA National Series weekend at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway will be $30 for all three days, $20 for Saturday and Sunday, and $15 for Sunday only. Driving directions to Talladega can be found online at www.tgprace.com.
More information about WERA can be found online at www.WERA.com
Jensen, Batey and Palmer Win During WERA Nationals at Summit Point
SUMMIT POINT, W. Va. – Robert Jensen and Tray Batey each won two expert races during Sunday’s WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series sprint races at Summit Point Raceway. Round six of the WERA National Series also featured a six-hour WERA/Bridgestone Endurance race on Saturday.
Both of Jensen’s victories came after a challenge from Lee Acree and were the closest races of the day. In the 750 Superstock race, Jensen had a narrow 0.044-second margin of victory over Acree. The 600 Superstock race was just as close, with a gap of only 0.014 separating the two riders.
Batey was able to get an edge over Jensen in Open Superstock. His second win came in the final race of the day, Formula 1.
In the other expert races, Jimmy Wood won 750 Superbike and Tommy Aquino took the 600 Superbike trophy. Dennys Passeto got his first Heavyweight Twins Superstock win of the season, while Dane Westby won Lightweight Twins Superstock and Arnold Hastings won Formula 2.
In the novice ranks, the National Challenge Series races belonged to Jason Palmer, who took home first place in 600 and 750 Superstock in addition to 600 and 750 Superbike. Palmer got the advantage over dominant novice Russell Wikle in most of his races.
Wikle took the Open Superstock victory in another close race, finishing 0.149 seconds ahead of Brian Laws.
Allan Edwards had nearly as many wins as Palmer, taking the top spot in Heavyweight and Lightweight Twins Superstock as well as Formula 2.
During Saturday’s six-hour endurance race, which had no red flags, Vesrah Suzuki took the overall victory and Heavyweight Superbike class win with a whopping eight-lap margin of victory. Mark Junge, Tray Batey and John Jacobi shared the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Team Moe’s/TVR finished second overall and first in Heavyweight Superstock with Chuck Ivey, Josh Day and Reuben Frankenfield. Team Maxxis Racing beat Brand X by just 0.01-second to take third overall with Billy Ethridge, Tripp Nobles and Tim Bemisderfer riding.
In Mediumweight Superbike, bp Concepts’ Brandon Parrish, Bo LeMastus and Andy Feuersthaler won by two laps. The Mediumweight Superstock win went to Team Westby, which featured Dane Westby and Dustin Meador.
On the Edge Powersports completed the class victors, taking top honors in Lightweight Superbike. Clint Brenizer, Dan Schmick and Steve Kleinfelter.
Round seven of the WERA National Series will be August 17-19 at Talladega Gran Prix Raceaway.
More information about WERA can be found at www.WERA.com
Team Moe’s/TVR on the WERA Endurance Podium Twice at Summit Point
SUMMIT POINT, W. Va. – Heat, humidity, an understaffed crew and a shortened rider roster were not enough to keep Team Moe’s/TVR from winning the Heavyweight Superstock class and finishing second overall in Saturday’s WERA National Endurance Series race at Summit Point.
Chuck Ivey and Joshua Day were joined by Reuben Frankenfield for the six-hour race on the TVR Yamaha YZF-R1. Ivey and Day intended to share the riding, but former TVR regular Frankenfield stepped in to ride a stint when Day began having trouble with numbness in his hands and arms.
Ivey started the race and rode three and a half stints before the checkered flag. Day put in two stints, and Frankenfield one. Ivey held down fourth overall in his opening stint, and from there the team moved up to the top of the Heavyweight Superstock class.
After six hours of racing, the competition was still close between TVR and the other entries in the race. The Yamaha crossed the finish line with only 31.4 seconds over both Team Maxxis and Brand X.
The close race for second overall was nearly lost in the final minutes of the race. The R1’s fuel tank capacity gave the team about 48 minutes between pit stops, but when Ivey got on the bike for the final stint there were 52 minutes left in the race.
The fuel light came on with ten minutes to go, but Ivey decided to risk making it to the end. He conserved fuel as much as he could without allowing the other teams to close the gap. The gamble paid off and Ivey held onto second.
For Ivey, taking another class win and standing on the overall podium was a rewarding end to the weekend. “I knew coming into the weekend we would have our work cut out for us,” said Ivey. “We just wanted to be consistent and run our pace; let everyone else wear themselves out and make mistakes. Josh and Reuben rode well and we got a new Pirelli front tire that let us save time on pit stops. We only had to change the front tire once. I would like to thank Keith, Chris, and Regina for their invaluable help in the pits.”
“I knew going in that it would be a tough weekend,” said Day. “My first stint was pretty uneventful, but about halfway through my second stint my hands started to tingle and get numb. I finally signaled to come in, but I had to keep lapping until the team could get ready for a pit stop.”
With the new Pirelli front, TVR hopes that no front tire changes will be required during upcoming four-hour races, significantly speeding up pit stops.
Moe’s Southwest Grill serves fresh, healthy Mexican food with an emphasis on fast service and a fun atmosphere. The group of restaurants began in the Southeast U.S. and explosive growth over the past few years has made Moe’s Southwest Grill a household name. Moe’s locations can be found online at www.Moes.com.
Fans can follow Team Moe’s/TVR’s quest for the Heavyweight Superstock title at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com
July 31st 2007
WERA National Series on the Way to Summit Point
SUMMIT POINT, W. Va. – Summit Point Raceway will host the WERA National Series this weekend for round six of the 2007 season. The weekend will have a lot to live up to after last year’s round, which included close racing, leaders crashing and a new track record.
Saturday’s schedule includes a six-hour WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series race. Vesrah Suzuki won by a long eight-lap margin of victory last year, with Team Velocity Racing behind them in second place.
Vesrah has been nearly unstoppable this year, winning all but one round this season. With four victories to their credit, they will again be pushing for the top spot on the podium. Brand X is the only other team to achieve an overall victory this year, and team principal Ben Walters finished third at Summit in 2006.
The WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series sprint races will be held on Sunday afternoon. Last year’s expert races were dominated by Robert Jensen, who won Open Superstock, 600 Superstock and Formula 1. The 750 Superstock race seemed to be his, as well, until a crash took him out of contention and Vesrah Suzuki teammates Mark Junge and Lee Acree fought for the win. In the end Junge had the advantage by only 0.011 seconds.
Jensen fought a hard battle with Tray Batey in Formula 1, and each rider lapped under the existing record before Jensen set the quickest lap of 1:13.059.
Jensen, Acree, Junge and Batey are all top contenders again this year, as well as Cory West and Opie Caylor. The 2007 season has featured close racing – and a close points battle – among the top experts at every round.
In the novice classes, Russell Wikle has been collecting trophies each weekend, though Philip Hart and Jason Palmer are other novices to keep an eye on.
The WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance race begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 4, and the WERA/Michelin National Challenge races start at noon on Sunday. Tickets for the weekend are $30 for the entire event, including Friday’s practice and qualifying, $25 for Saturday and Sunday only, or $15 for Sunday.
More information about WERA can be found at www.WERA.com
Jensen and Palmer Dominate in WERA Nationals at Grattan
July 17th, 2007
BELDING, Mich. – Robert Jensen and Jason Palmer were the riders who left Grattan Raceway with the most trophies following last weekend’s WERA National Series event, which included a water-logged Bridgestone National Endurance race and the Michelin National Challenge sprint races.
Round five of the endurance series was a battle against both competitors and Mother Nature, with rain falling for four of the six hours on Saturday. The nasty weather was no deterrent for Vesrah Suzuki, who won by six laps with Tray Batey, Chris Ulrich and John Jacobi on a Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Dane Westby and Dustin Meador rode a Kawasaki ZX-6R to a finish of second overall, giving Team Westby the Mediumweight Superstock win. Unfortunately, Westby crashed 40 minutes into the sixth hour, bringing out the red flag and an early end to the race.
Suzuki Rider Development’s Reuben Frankenfield, Mark Junge and Russell Wikle were third overall and first in Mediumweight Superbike on a Suzuki GSX-R600. The team was on the same lap as Team Westby and in contention for second overall.
The Heavyweight Superstock win went to 5150 Racing. Justim Marm and Phil Caudill rode an MV Agusta R312, holding off several other teams who were on the same lap at the end.
Bad Rad Racing II won the Lightweight Superbike class with Joe Schoch, Aaron Aaronson and Tristan Koeneker riding a Suzuki SV650.
Once Saturday’s rain was over, the sun came out and racing conditions were ideal for Sunday’s National Challenge Series sprints. Robert Jensen was the top expert of the day, winning Open, 600 and 750 Superstock.
Tray Batey and Dane Westby each took two expert wins. Batey’s came in Heavyweight Twins Superstock and a hard-fought Formula 1. Westby won Lightweight Twins Superstock and Formula 2.
Tommy Aquino won 600 Superbike expert, and Matt LaPham won 750 Superbike.
Jason Palmer upset Russell Wikle’s win streak in the novice division, winning 600 and 750 Superstock as well as 600 and 750 Superbike. Wikle got his turn to win in Open Superstock.
In the other novice races, Andy Taylor won both Lightweight Twins Superstock and Formula 2. Alja Hessami won Heavyweight Twins Superstock.
The WERA National Series begins the second half of the season with round six at Summit Point Raceway from August 3-5.
More information about WERA can be found online at www.WERA.com
Team Moe’s/TVR Second in Heavyweight Superstock Amid Storms at Grattan
BELDING, Mich. – Team Moe’s/TVR learned the true meaning of endurance racing during last weekend’s round five of the WERA National Endurance Series at Grattan Raceway. An abbreviated roster, only one dedicated pit crew member, rain and more set the tone for the six-hour race, but Team Moe’s still came away with second in Heavyweight Superstock.
Chuck Ivey and James Stroud had to share the riding duties on the team’s Yamaha YZF-R1, with Josh Day still recovering from his rough weekend two weeks ago at Road Atlanta.
There was little time for setting the bike up prior to the race, but with steady rain falling at the green flag, the strategy was more about survival than speed. Ivey started the race, and with the slowed pace on the slippery surface, his first stint lasted nearly two hours before the team brought him in.
Stroud took over after that, but shortly before the end of his stint the black flag came out for the Team Moe’s Yamaha. A rear brake line bracket had come loose, grinding against the wheel and creating smoke. After getting checked out by a course worker, Stroud was allowed to head to the pits for repairs and his scheduled pit stop. The team switched from the rain tires to DOTs and Ivey took over for his second stint.
The unlikely mishap set the team back, but when the track dried with two hours to go Ivey began making up time on Heavyweight Superstock leader 5150 Racing. Ivey made one more stop to give the bike back to Stroud who would finish the race. Stroud continued to make up ground but a red flag ended the race 40 minutes prematurely. Team Moe’s had closed to half a minute behind 5150.
“It was treacherous in the rain, but we started moving up when it began to dry,” said Stroud. “We would have liked to win, but it wasn’t our weekend. A restart would have given us a 40-minute heads up sprint race against 5150. It would have been close.”
Chris Cutright was the sole pit crew for the day, and Ivey and Stroud had to pitch in to assist with refueling and tire changes. Luckily, Dalke Motorsports was willing to lend a hand. “Dalke had a skeleton crew, too, and we were able to help each other with stops,” said Cutright. “I was never not doing something during the whole six hours. It was hectic, and the rain didn’t help things.”
Ivey was optimistic about the team’s second in class and seventh overall result. “Even with a shortage of help in the pits and only two riders, we still fared well,” he said. “This gives us the motivation to be well-prepared for the next round and ready to win.”
Moe’s Southwest Grill serves fresh, healthy Mexican food with an emphasis on fast service and a fun atmosphere. The group of restaurants began in the Southeast U.S. and explosive growth over the past few years has made Moe’s Southwest Grill a household name. Moe’s locations can be found online at www.Moes.com.
Fans can follow Team Moe’s quest for the Heavyweight Superstock title at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com
Team Moe’s/TVR Fights Back to Take First in
Heavyweight Superstock at Road Atlanta
BRASELTON, Ga. – Team Moe’s/TVR rider Chuck Ivey called the WERA National Endurance Series round at Road Atlanta an “eventful weekend,” and the team’s Heavyweight Superstock victory was definitely anything but easy.
After a nearly flawless race that resulted in the class victory at Miller Motorsports Park last month, Team Moe’s was again aiming for the consistency that has helped them win so many races and titles over the past several years. Instead, they were handed one challenge after another.
Even practice was marred by misfortune, as first Josh Day then James Stroud crashed their sprint bikes. It was an uncharacteristic incident for both riders, who both adhere to the number one rule of endurance racing: don’t crash.
Day started the race on the Team Moe’s Yamaha YZF-R1, getting the hole shot of the six-hour race. He soon settled into second overall, pulling away from the rest of the field.
Unfortunately, Day’s luck ran out about 15 laps after the green flag. His prescription anti-inflammatory medication for a knee problem caused an adverse reaction, and he was unable to control the bike, running off in turn six. While Day went to the ambulance, the Team Moe’s crew repaired the R1 and Ivey got back on track six laps down to the field.
“The corner worker in turn six had picked bike up and I rode it in,” said Day. “I knew if the crash truck had to go out there we would have lost more laps. James and Chuck rode a good race after that. They really made a comeback.”
About halfway through Ivey’s stint, the bike began to lose third gear. He and Stroud would have to race the remaining five hours of the race by themselves, and without third gear.
Still, the team pushed on. They lost time due to numerous red flags, but on each restart they were closer to the front. Ivey took a restart on the 17th row of the grid, then the seventh, and Stroud restarted from the fifth row.
Team Moe’s eventually crossed the finish line with the Heavyweight Superstock win, seventh overall, and two very tired riders. “Despite everything, we had a job to do and just wouldn’t quit,” said Ivey. “Everybody kept their head up and did their jobs, and that’s what allowed us to finish as well as we did. It’s another example of how strong our small team is.”
“The team really came together, and we just kept putting in laps and we didn’t let it get us down,” said Stroud. “We salvaged a lot and it turned out better than we expected. We’ve got to thank everyone who helped in the pits. Having them there was vital.”
Now, Team Moe’s will repair the R1 and set their sights on the next endurance round at Grattan Raceway. The team hopes to repeat their overall podium finishes at the Michigan track, where they earned the overall win in 2005.
Moe’s Southwest Grill serves fresh, healthy Mexican food with an emphasis on fast service and a fun atmosphere. The group of restaurants began in the Southeast U.S. and explosive growth over the past few years has made Moe’s Southwest Grill a household name. Moe’s locations can be found online at www.Moes.com.
Fans can follow Team Moe’s quest for the Heavyweight Superstock title at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com
WERA Cycle Jam Draws Large Turnout, Surprise Winners
BRASELTON, Ga. – The annual WERA Cycle Jam at Road Atlanta had all of the expected elements: large grids, close competition and fast lap times. Last weekend’s racing also included some surprise winners, as new faces appeared at the top of the podium.
Cycle Jam featured WERA’s Michelin National Endurance Series, Bridgestone National Challenge Series and most regions in the Pirelli Sportsman Series. During the busy three days of racing, there were 1082 sprint entries and 39 endurance teams.
It was the endurance racing that got things underway on Friday. Ben Walters and Brett Champagne battled the heat and avoided numerous on-track incidents during the six-hour race to give Brand X the overall and Heavweight Superbike win on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. It is the first win for the team, who made their series debut just four rounds ago.
Vesrah Suzuki, who led early on and has won each round prior to Cycle Jam, had a rear shock failure on their Suzuki GSX-R1000. Nevertheless, Tray Batey, Lee Acree and John Jacobi rallied to finish second overall.
Suzuki Rider Development took the Mediumweight Superbike win on a Suzuki GSX-R600. Martin Cardenas, Chad Lewin and Morgan Broadhead also claimed third overall.
The Mediumweight Superstock win went to fourth-place finisher Dalke Motorsports. The team’s Yamaha YZF-R6 was piloted by Brian Dalke, Wrenn Smith, Giovanni Rojas, Skip Salenius and Ryan Clay.
Team Moe’s/TVR overcame an early crash to win Heavyweight Superstock on a Yamaha YZF-R1. Chuck Ivey, James Stroud and Joshua Day were seventh overall. Touring Sport Ducati earned their first Lightweght Superbike win, with Pete Friedland, Frank Shockley and Brad Phillips riding a Ducati SS1000DS.
Sunday’s National Challenge Series also had some new names on the leader board. In the expert ranks, AMA privateer Cory West won 600 Superstock, while Jeff Walker became only the second winner in Heavyweight Twins Superstock this year. Tommy Aquino won 600 Superbike, and Chad Hermann led the 750 Superbike field.
Dane Westby and Robert Jensen each earned two wins: Westby won Lightweight Twins Superstock and Formula 2, while Jensen earned the top spot in Open Superstock and Formula 1. Lee Acree added a 750 Superstock win to his multiple podiums during the weekend.
In the novice division, Chris Vanover took his first Open Superstock win of the year. Russell Wikle continued to impress, winning 600 and 750 Superstock, and 600 and 750 Superbike.
Josh Reed won both Lightweight Twins and Formula 2 novice, and the Heavyweight Twins victory went to John Brasfield.
The next round for the WERA Michelin National Endurance Series and Bridgestone National Challenge Series will be at Michigan’s Grattan Raceway from July 13-15.
Complete results for the WERA Cycle Jam at Road Atlanta and more can be found at www.WERA.com
Team Moe’s/TVR Uses Teamwork and Experience to Win at Miller Motorsports Park
TOOELE, Utah – Chuck Ivey, James Stroud and Josh Day were more than just the Team Moe’s/TVR riders during Saturday’s WERA National Endurance Series round at Miller Motorsports Park – they were also the pit crew. Solid teamwork helped the skeleton crew take another Heavyweight Superstock victory and second overall.
Ivey made the trek across the country with the Team Moe’s Yamaha YZF-R1 and equipment, driving from the team’s base in Augusta, Georgia. The bike was setup early in the weekend and the team was ready for the six-hour race.
Day took the start for Team Moe’s, taking the lead even though it was his first time on Miller’s 3.06-mile track configuration. “I led for four or five laps, then Danny Eslick came by me on the front straight. I wasn’t worried about him because that team isn’t looking for a championship. I just kept riding my own race and tried to put pressure on Vesrah’s Tray Batey.”
The real challenge began on the first pit stop. With only two crew members, the entire team had to pitch in: often, the rider getting off the bike had to change one wheel while the rider about to begin a stint had to change the other.
“Our goal for the weekend was to be responsible and to do everything right, from riding to crewing,” said Ivey. “We have to thank Chris Cutright and Ray Turman for their invaluable help in the pits. Everyone really did double duty this weekend.”
Although several local fast riders came out to challenge the endurance series at Miller, they were no match for an established team like Team Moe’s. “I think we have one of the best teams in the paddock,” said Ivey. “We might be small, but everyone works together and pitches in wherever they’re needed.”
Stroud echoed the sentiment, saying, “We just took back the points lead during the last round and we want to hang onto it. We all felt confident on the bike, and the pit stops were amazing. There was really a lot of teamwork involved in our success this weekend, and our experience as an endurance team was vital.”
Moe’s Southwest Grill serves fresh, healthy Mexican food with an emphasis on fast service and a fun atmosphere. The group of restaurants began in the Southeast U.S. and explosive growth over the past few years has made Moe’s Southwest Grill a household name. Moe’s locations can be found online at www.Moes.com.
Fans can follow Team Moe’s quest for the Heavyweight Superstock title at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com
AMA Privateers Shine in WERA National at Miller
TOOELE, Utah – AMA privateers showed the fast way around Miller Motorsports Park’s 3.06-mile track during last weekend’s WERA National and Sportsman Series races, winning many of the National Challenge Series expert races.
Saturday’s racing featured the WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series. Vesrah Suzuki’s Mark Junge, Chris Ulrich, John Jacobi and Tray Batey won their third consecutive race on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. After an early battle, Vesrah pulled ahead to take the overall and Heavyweight Superbike win by four laps.
Team Velocity Racing/Team Moe’s took second overall, earning another Heavyweight Superstock class win. Chuck Ivey, Josh Day and James Stroud rode the Yamaha YZF-R1.
Third overall and first in Mediumweight Superbike went to bp Concepts, with Ben Thompson, Brandon Parrish, Bo Lemastus and Andy Feuersthaler on a Suzuki GSX-R600. After six hours of racing, bp Concepts beat fourth-place finishers Suzuki Rider Development by just 47 seconds.
Millnic Media Honda rounded out the top five, taking the Mediumweight Superstock win with Melissa Paris, Steven Breckenridge and Josh Hayes on a Honda CBR600RR. The Lightweight Superbike win went to Bad Rad Racing’s Joe Schoch and Aaron Aaronson on a Suzuki SV650.
During Sunday’s WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series and WERA West Pirelli Sportsman Series sprint races, the expert classes were dominated by AMA privateers preparing for this weekend’s AMA Pro Racing round at Miller.
Danny Eslick started the day with a win in Open Superstock, and Cory West won 600 Superstock with a slim 0.044-second lead over Chris Peris. In 750 Superbike, Peris was the one at the front of the pack when the checkered flag came out.
Jason Perez had a narrow win in 600 Superbike, with only one-tenth of a second between himself and Josh Day. Blake Young won Formula 1, Dane Westby took the Lightweight Twins Superstock victory, and young hot shoe Cam Beaubier was the Formula 2 victor.
Among the regular National Series riders, Lee Acree won 750 Superstock and Tray Batey dominated Heavyweight Twins Superstock.
In the novice division, Russell Wikle continued to earn the first-place trophies, winning five events: 600 Superstock and Superbike, 750 Superstock and Superbike, and Open Superstock.
Aaron Hartshorn won Formula 1 novice, Patrick McCord was at the front of Lightweight Twins, and Kevin Heiss earned the Formula 2 win.
Round four of the WERA National Series will be during Cycle Jam at Road Atlanta, June 28-July 1.
More information about WERA can be found online at www.wera.com
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