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From Ryan Evans sideways31@aol.com
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Get your Videos from
For a complete video of this night's racing, or other events of the last twenty years, contact RAZ Video.
There is never a bad seat with a RAZ Video (626) 449-1175
|
Charlie "The Edge" Venegas benefited from Josh Larsen's misfortune to win his second consecutive Scratch Main at Costa Mesa in front of a large crowd at the annual Orange County Harley Davidson/Buell Blowout.
Larsen, just one week removed from his qualification into the Overseas Final, took the lead from the pole. Larsen had Venegas planted on his back tire for the first lap. As he exited turn two, Larsen found too much grip and the front wheel lifted the entire length of the back straight. Larsen managed to save it, but Venegas went underneath as they entered turn three. Larsen went down in turn four as the rest of the pack went by. Venegas was then chased by 16 year old former Junior National Champion Ryan Fisher, but he couldn't close the gap as Venegas was victorious for the third time at Costa Mesa this year. Fisher finished second in his first Scratch Main appearance of 2000, Chris Manchester, who is beginning to rediscover his form at Costa Mesa, finished third, Dukie Ermolenko was fourth, and Larsen was fifth.
Robbie Sauer led the charge into turn one of the eight-man Handicap Main from his position on the 20 yard line. However, Shawn McConnell and Brad Oxley came together in turn one forcing a red flag. Before the rest of the riders could see the red flag, though, there was a four rider pileup in turn three involving Larsen, Fisher, Randy DiFrancesco, Eddie Castro, with Venegas barely avoiding the mishap. Venegas was so excited about getting around the crash that he got off his bike and playfully did a cartwheel, much to the delight of the turn one crowd. McConnell was banished to the penalty line, but was so displeased with the decision that he didn't take part in the restart.
On the restart, Sauer took the lead and Larsen was hot after him. As they exited turn four on the second lap, Larsen lifted and Castro was able to get by for second. Sauer held Castro at bay for two laps before "Fast Eddie" as able to get underneath for the lead. Castro held Larsen off until the seventh lap when DiFrancesco knocked down Sauer as they entered turn three. This brought out a red flag and the race was declared complete and the referee made a bad decision by deeming Sauer as the cause of the incident. Castro was credited with his first Handicap Main Event victory of the season, Larsen second, Venegas third, and Oxley fourth.
The Support Class reverted back to a system that was used for several meetings last season in which the Support riders competed in scratch races with the winner qualifying for a spot in a First Division Handicap Heat, while second and third qualify for a Support Scratch Semi, where first and second qualify for the Support Main. Gerry Duttweiler took the start of the Support Main and never looked back to get the victory. Mark Hitchcock took second, Billy Lyons finished third, and Frank Pecce finished fourth.
Pat Dwyer grabbed the lead at the start of the Support B Main and rode a very smooth four laps to win his first-ever main event in his first year of speedway. Hector Quevado finished second, and Johnny Lupo finished third. There was a very large crowd at Costa Mesa no doubt helped by the fact that it was Harley Night which features people racing on their street legal Harleys as well as some flattrack bikes. This year the main event featured 10 riders on Harleys of different varieties. The crowd was thoroughly entertained as a couple of riders highsided their beloved machines. In the main event, former speedway rider Jimmy Raymond, who has reached Harley Night icon status, thrilled the crowd with another victory aboard his Harley chopper. Support B rider Mike Boyle, who was victorious last year, finished second.
RESULTS Support B Consolation 160 - Jeremy Toepfer 10 178 - Eloy Medellin 20 143n - Kevin Fereira 10 269 - Ed Martinez 20 293 - Rick Valdez 10 148 - Chris Metoyer 20 Support B Main 231 - Pat Dwyer 10 161 - Hector Quevado 20 125 - Johnny Lupo 10 336 - Bill Green 20 147 - Winston Williams 20 123 - Chad Newlee 20 (fell, remounted) Support Main 200 - Gerry Duttweiler 177 - Mark Hitchcock 321 - Billy Lyons 234 - Frank Pecce (fell) Handicap Main 14 - Eddie Castro 40 4 - Josh Larsen 40 43 - Charlie Venegas 60 1 - Brad Oxley 60 36 - Ryan Fisher 40 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 50 23 - Robbie Sauer 20 (fell, excluded) 6 - Shawn McConnell 60 (non-starter) Scratch Main 43 - Charlie Venegas 36 - Ryan Fisher 130 - Chris Manchester 15 - Dukie Ermolenko 4 - Josh Larsen (fell) Ryan Evans sideways31@aol.com
