Jensen Wins Three In WERA National Challenge Opener At Jennings GP

Jensen Wins Three In WERA National Challenge Opener At Jennings GP

© 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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By Beth Wyse The WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series opened the 2005 season at Jennings GP in Florida Sunday, with three wins in the 10-lap sprint races going to Robert Jensen and two to Tray Batey. Jensen, riding his kneedraggers.com Suzuki GSX-R750, took the lead in Open Superstock on lap three, finishing a second ahead of Mike Smith after a late-race battle. Jensen’s win in 600cc Superstock was a little easier, as Jensen pulled away from Smith to win by 7.763 seconds on his Yamaha YZF-R6. The third win of the day for Jensen was in Formula 1, again on his Suzuki GSX-R750. For the third time, Jensen found himself battling with Smith. Jensen had to hold off a charge from Smith, who tried to pass with two laps to go but was unable to make it stick. At the checkered flag, Jensen was still just ahead of Smith, who was on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Despite the forecast of thunderstorms all day, the only rain came at the start of the 750cc Superstock race. A lot of riders pulled in after the first lap, and some felt that WERA officials should have stopped the race to allow riders to mount rain tires. The rain, however, lasted only a few minutes and winner Tray Batey said that his DOT-labeled Pirelli tires had plenty of grip on the wet track. Batey led from the start on his Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R750, pulling away from Reuben Frankenfield, who was in second on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Batey also took his usual win in Heavyweight Twins Superstock, taking off on his Suzuki SV1000 to win by more than 20 seconds. Keith Marshall and Larry Denning traded the lead in the 600cc Superbike race a number of times, with Marshall on his Suzuki GSX-R600 and Denning riding a Kawasaki 636. At the finish line, Marshall was only half-a-wheel ahead of Denning for a margin of victory of just 0.061-second. The 750cc Superbike race was just the opposite as Ben Thompson rode away from the other entrants on the racersupply.com Suzuki GSX-R750. He led Marshall, in second on his GSX-R600, by almost 10 seconds at the end. Ross Ryals won the Lightweight Twins Superstock race on his Suzuki SV650, leaving Kris Wall and Steve Brunton to battle for second on their SV650s. Wall finally took the second spot after a race-long battle. In Formula 2, Joshua Day immediately took the lead on his Yamaha TZ250 and extended his lead every lap. The rest of the field ran about half-a-minute behind him.

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