This was the battle for the lead at the Topeka round of the WERA Pro Formula USA Series in July of 1990. Mike Smith leads Tatsuro Arata. Smith led for most of the race on his Valvoline Suzuki GSXR1100. Arata, riding a Moto-Liberty sponsored Yamaha OW01 powered by a FZR1000 motor, pulled ahead with three laps to go. Arata went on to win by 4.39 seconds, averaging 81.896 miles per hour on the 2.5 mile course. Smith held on for second and Marlboro Roberts rider Rich Oliver rode his Yamaha TZ 250 to a solid third place finish. Arata won the battle, but Smith won the war, earning the F-USA title later that season.

This was the battle for the lead at the Topeka round of the WERA Pro Formula USA Series in July of 1990. Valvoline Suzuki rider Mike Smith leads Tatsuro Arata. Arata took the lead late in the race and won. Smith later took the series title. (Larry Lawrence photo)