Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Round nine of the WERA National Challenge Series at Barber Motorsports Park drew a few bounty-hunting AMA riders, but it was the series regulars who still came away with the wins. Tray Batey got three victories, while Robert Jensen and Bo Morgan each got two.

Vesrah Suzuki’s Mark Junge and Tray Batey were at the front of Open Superstock in a race-long battle. Junge, riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000, barely held off Batey on a Suzuki GSX-R750 to take the win, while XT Racing’s David Weber was the only rider who could keep up with the leaders. He finished a close third on his Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In 600cc Superstock, Robert Jensen took the lead on the first lap. He pulled away on his Butler Machinery Yamaha YZF-R6 to win by over four seconds, while Mike Smith barely held off Junge to finish second. Smith and Junge were both on Suzuki GSX-R600s.

Batey won the Heavyweight Twins race, which had to be restarted twice because of crashes. The long delays also prompted officials to shorten the remaining races from 10 laps to eight. Batey’s win also gave him the Superstock class win on his Suzuki SV1000. Bill St. John rode his BCM Ducati 996 to second overall, taking the Superbike class victory for what he said was his retirement race.

Batey’s second win was in the 750cc Superstock race, again on his Suzuki GSX-R750 as he led from the start. Jensen was unable to to get close to Batey.

Bo Morgan rode his Superbike-spec Suzuki SV650 to the win in the Lightweight Twins race after working his way past Chris Rossi on the second lap. Kris Wall won in the Superstock division, also riding a Suzuki SV650.

Jensen rode his Yamaha YZF-R6 to the 600cc Superbike win, crossing the finish line over eight seconds ahead of Giovanni Rojas, who held off Derek Keyes, both also on YZF-R6 Yamahas.

In the Formula 2 race, Morgan got another win, this time leading all eight laps on his Suzuki SV650. Novice Ross Ryals finished second, also riding a Suzuki SV650.

Keith Marshall pulled away to win the 750cc Superbike race by 16.379 seconds over the rest of the Expert field on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Novice Ryan Gordon took second overall in the combined Expert/Novice race on his GSX-R750.

Batey took his third victory of the day in the Formula 1 race, getting a quick start on his Suzuki GSX-R750 and building a gap early on. Behind him, Geoff May and Jensen battled for second, with Jensen edging his Yamaha YZF-R6 past May just before the checkered flag.