Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Mike Smith and Tray Batey each earned two wins during the WERA National Challenge Series races at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, and Josh Hayes showed up to enter and win one race.

In Open Superstock, Smith was chasing Vesrah Suzuki’s Mark Junge when Junge developed a problem with his bike on the fifth lap. Smith took the lead and pulled away to win, while Junge finished second and Greg Moore finished third. All three riders were on Suzuki GSX-R1000s.

Smith’s second win came on his Suzuki GSX-R600 in the 600cc Superstock race. He took the lead on the fourth lap, followed by John Jacobi and David Weber. Jacobi had to check up in the final turn of the last lap when Bradley Champion ran up behind him and went off the track. Weber got past to finish second on his XT Racing Suzuki GSX-R600, while his teammate Greg Myers passed Jacobi to take third on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

Batey took his usual win in Heavyweight Twins on his Suzuki TL1000R. He was followed by Bill St. John in second on a Ducati 996 and Bradley Champion in third on a Suzuki SV650.

Only three bikes entered Pirelli Formula 1. Batey took the lead on a Suzuki GSX-R750, pulling away while Scott Carpenter, also on a GSX-R750 and C.R. Gittere on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 raced for second. Carpenter got past Gittere in the final half of the race for second, and Gittere finished third.

Hayes brought his Attack Suzuki GSX-R6750 out to race in 750cc Superstock. Batey had the lead on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R750, and Hayes caught up to him and attempted several passes before finally succeeding in the final turn on lap four. Batey stayed close behind to finish second.

Weber earned two wins, both times pulling away from the field. His first victory was in 600cc Superbike on a Suzuki GSX-R600.

Weber’s second win was in 750cc Superbike on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Chuck Ivey and Gittere were racing for second when Gittere ran off track after contact with another rider. Ivey remained in second on his Team Velocity Racing Suzuki GSX-R750, and 15-year-old Wimbauer got his second third-place finish on the Yamaha YZF-R6.

Bradley Champion won in Lightweight Twins on a Suzuki SV650. Chris Normand finished second on a Suzuki SV650 and Calvin Brown was third on a Ducati 699.

Ryan Andrews won the 125cc GP race on an Aprilia RS125, holding off Brian Kcraget on the NESBA.com Honda RS125. Kcraget was able to get past Andrews once, but was repassed. Kcraget finished third and John Hjelm was third on a Honda RS125.

Kcraget later won Formula 2, again on his Honda RS125. Normand was second on his Suzuki SV650, barely keeping Andrews on the Aprilia RS125 behind him.