WERA Cycle Jam Marred By Death Of Racer Chris Stevenson

WERA Cycle Jam Marred By Death Of Racer Chris Stevenson

© 2006, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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By Beth Dolgner The WERA National Challenge Series wrapped up the three-day Cycle Jam at Road Atlanta on Sunday, and four different riders won in the featured Formula One race and in the Open, 600cc and 750cc Superstock races. The day was marred by the announcement that longtime WERA racer Chris Stevenson, 32, from Atlanta, Georgia, passed away en route to the hospital following a crash in 600cc Superstock. Tray Batey got the day started with a win in Open Superstock on his Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000. Robert Jensen had the lead before crashing on lap three, and Matt Lynn took over the spot before he fell on lap six. Batey got past Lee Acree to take the lead with two laps to go in the eight-lap race. The 600cc Superstock race was red-flagged on lap two for a three-bike crash in turn five. Officials had to wait for one of the on-site ambulances to return to the track after transporting riders. The racing did not resume for another 90 minutes, and the remaining races were shortened to six laps. At the restart, Brian Stokes took the lead on his Team Lipton & Dupont Kawasaki ZX-6R. Acree took the lead on lap two on a Suzuki GSX-R600, but Stokes moved to the front again and held on until the finish. Jensen got another run at the front in 750cc Superstock, and this time he led from start to finish on his Butler Machinery Suzuki GSX-R750. Acree trailed in second on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Jensen seemed to also have the Formula 1 win wrapped up, but Acree worked his way up to second by lap four, and hounded Jensen for for the next three laps. Acree finally got by on the last lap to win on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Jensen was second with Mike Smith close behind, both on their Suzuki GSX-R1000s. Batey won again in Heavyweight Twins Superstock, with a victory margine of 13 seconds on his Suzuki SV1000. Batey and Taylor Knapp, who finished second and was also riding a Suzuki SV1000, pulled away from the field early in the race. Daniel Parkerson and Garrett Carter had a back-and-forth battle in 600cc Superbike, but Carter took the lead on lap five and went on to win on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Parkerson crossed the line a few bikelengths behind on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Parkerson led all six laps of the 750cc Superbike race on his Suzuki GSX-R600, holding off a charging Ryan Clay, who closed in on his Yamaha YZF-R6 as the race neared its end. Chris Parrish and Jeff Walker battled in Lightweight Twins Superstock, and when Walker crashed out of the lead in turn 10 on the final lap, Parrish inherited the top spot. Max Norton followed almost nine seconds behind; all three were on Suzuki SV650s. Dane Westby led the way in Formula 2, keeping plenty of space between himself and Norton, who was second. Both riders were on their Suzuki SV650s.

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