Jay Bartlow (No. 44) races his Virginia Breeze Yamaha into turn one during a WERA Formula USA race at Road Atlanta in May of 1993. Bartlow leads a talented group of riders that includes Kevin Rentzell (No. 48), Chuck Graves (No. 24), Takahito Mori (No. 42), Tray Batey (No. 33), Chris Taylor (No. 28) and Chuck Sorensen (No. 90). Bartlow’s Yamaha was a fairly typical F-USA machine of the era – a Yamaha OW01 chassis with an FZR1000 motor installed, giving Bartlow the power of the 1000cc motor and the compactness and handling characteristics of the OW01, famous for its sure footedness. Bartlow was peaking as a rider and showing the ability to run wheel to wheel with some of the fastest road racers in the country. Unfortunately his racing career was about to be cut short. One week after this race Bartlow crashed and was paralyzed in a WERA National Endurance race at Putnam Park Road Course in Indiana.

Jay Bartlow (No. 44) races his Virginia Breeze Yamaha into turn one during a WERA Formula USA race at Road Atlanta in May of 1993. Bartlow leads a talented group of riders that includes Kevin Rentzell (No. 48), Chuck Graves (No. 24), Takahito Mori (No. 42), Tray Batey (No. 33), Chris Taylor (No. 28) and Chuck Sorensen (No. 90). (Larry Lawrence photo)