Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Mike Sanchez took two wins at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit during the WERA National Challenge Series races on Sunday. The Shogun Motorsports/Motion Cyclesports rider was competing in his first WERA National event as an Expert.

Sanchez won 750cc Superstock on a Suzuki GSX-R750, passing Tray Batey for the lead on the fourth of eight laps. Batey remained close to Sanchez until he crashed on the final lap. A light rain during the race was too much for Batey’s intermediate tires.

Sanchez later won the Pirelli Formula One race on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. Batey, on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R750, crashed in turn two on the second lap, putting Sanchez in the lead until the checkered flag.

Between the 750cc Superstock and Formula One races, Batey won the Heavyweight Twins race on his Suzuki TL1000R.

Mark Junge won in Open Superstock on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000, leading twice during the race. Junge led off the start but dropped back to third when he slowed down to pass a lapped rider who was leaking fluids. He retook the lead with two laps remaining.

Robert Jensen won the 600cc Superstock race on a Yamaha YZF-R6. He moved into the lead on lap three and was able to hold off Junge on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600.

XT Racing’s David Weber won the 750cc Superbike race on a Suzuki GSX-R750 in a race that started on a wet track that got wetter as more rain began to fall on the first lap. Weber took the lead at the start and was never challenged.

Weber also was the first rider across the line in the Expert 600cc Superbike race on a Suzuki GSX-R600, although the combined Expert/Novice race saw Novice Matt Lynn win overall on a Suzuki GSX-R600. Lynn took the lead on lap five and was able to pull away. The race was run on a wet track, and slippery sealer patches throughout the course gave riders a tough choice in tires.

Bradley Champion took his eighth consecutive win in Lightweight Twins, winning by about 17 seconds on his Suzuki SV650.

Three Experts entered the Formula Two race. Martin Musil pulled in after the warm-up lap because he was on slick tires and rain was beginning to fall. Jason Pirtle pulled in after the first lap, and Jason Jenkins was left to win on his Suzuki SV650.

Rain throughout most of the weekend, and wet track conditions and sketchy traction during all of the practice sessions prompted many racers to leave early.