Paris Speedway Results - July 21, 2000

Craig Estelle Wins the MAIN and the HANDICAP

By Duncan Luke
luke99@idirect.com

The ever present threat of more rain throughout the day kept a number of riders away. But after a sprinkle around 7.30, the weather cleared and the track was in excellent shape on what ended as a pleasant evening. Due to rider numbers D1 and D2 were combined for the evening.

For the third week in a row a rider took both the scratch and handicap main events. This time it was American Craig Estelle who lived up to his Owego reputation on his first outing in Canada. He was clearly the best rider on the night and won several of his races from behind while showing the ability to make both the inside and outside race lines work for him. His main opposition came from Andy Harris who outgated him each time they met. In their first meeting it took three laps of hard charging around the outside before Estelle finally managed to get around Harris and earn the win.

They met again in the handicap main with both starting off the 40 yard line. It took them a couple of laps to move through the field and they were shoulder to shoulder across the line on the third lap. Estelle moved ahead and started the last lap level with leader Joe Heye. He took the lead diving into turn one and went on to win from Harris as Heye hit the fence.

The two met again in the scratch main with Harris again in the lead. However this contest was to be short-lived. Entering turn three Estelle misjudged his line as he dove inside Joe Heye and hit Harris hard and only Aaron Hesmer escaped the "crash scene". Fortunately no bones were broken but unfortunately Harris, an innocent party to the event, was unable to come to the line for the restart. Another strong effort by Estelle saw him overcome his 10 yard penalty on the restart. After riding the outside line round turns one and two on the last lap he took the inside line on the back straight and dove inside Heye going into turn three. He was ahead coming out of four and held off Heye's final challenge to win.

D2 regulars Jeremy Musson and Frank Dittmer held their own and did not look out of place in the D1 action with Musson managing a win and barely missing a place in the main event.

Kyle Legault continued to dominate D3 racing and is clearly ready to move up a class. Another five win evening has brought his win total to 24 well ahead of anyone else. Behind him Rob Dixson and Todd Musson were in good form and finished behind Legault and ahead of veteran Paul Martin in the final.

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