By: Ryan Evans
Former U.S. National Champion Chris Manchester captured the Scratch
Main for the third week in a row at Costa Mesa Saturday Night.
Manchester, starting from the pole, took the lead at the start and was
challenged by Josh Larsen. Manchester stayed on the low line as they entered
turn three while Larsen tried the outside. It was Manchester who had the
faster line as he took command of the lead at the end of lap one with Larsen
having to battle Gary Hicks for second. Manchester was never challenged
again and maintained a comfortable lead all the way to the checkered flag.
Behind him, the battle for second place continued with Larsen holding the
position ahead of Hicks. On the last lap Larsen drifted wide in turn two and
Hicks shot underneath to take the position away and held it to the finish.
Bobby Schwartz finished in fourth and Mike Faria finished in fifth.
The Handicap Main began with only seven riders due to an injury
suffered by Bobby Simons during his Scratch Heat. Simons' absence meant that
all the participants would start at least 40 yards back with four riders on
the 40 yard line and three on the 50. The positions would soon change as
40-yard rider Randy DiFrancesco was banished to the 60 yard line for rolling
at the start.
Ryan Fisher led the pack into turn one and held the lead after one lap
with Shawn McConnell in tow. As they entered turn one the second time Fisher
and McConnell came together leaving both riders on the ground. McConnell was
deemed the cause of the crash and was put on the 60 yard line for the
restart. On the restart, "Fast" Eddie Castro beat Fisher to turn one and
held the lead into turn three. Larsen and Hicks made contact with Hicks
going down and forcing the red light to come on again. The blame was
assigned to Larsen and he would now start from the back as well.
On the third start, Fisher and Castro entered turn one together, but
riding distinctively different lines. Fisher settled down on the pole while
Castro went to the dirt on the outside. They stayed even for one lap before
Castro found the necessary drive in turn two to pull ahead of the 17 year old
former Junior National Champion. Usually, the leader will get to the inside
when comfortably ahead, but Castro insisted on riding the outside and
continued to make it work, but not enough to completely shake off Fisher. On
the seventh lap, Castro finally went low and held the lead the rest of the
way for his first main event victory of the season. Fisher was second, Hicks
was a distant third, DiFrancesco was fourth, and Larsen was fifth.
David Lynch made a great start to take the lead in the Support Main
Event. He was immediately put under pressure by 17 year old Shaun Harmatiuk.
Lynch kept leaving room on the inside, but not quite enough for Harmatiuk to
take the lead. On the third lap, Lynch left too much room and Harmatiuk
blasted underneath to take the lead and then pulled away for the win. Lynch
held on to second, John DeFries was third, Gerry Duttweiler was fourth, and
Bobby Krips was fifth.
Rod Lenz quickly worked through the traffic to take the lead, and then
rode a smooth four laps to earn the victory in the Support B Main Event.
Chris Metoyer finished second, last week's winner, Robert Fiesler, finished
third, Scott Tidwell was fourth, Bily Braden was fifth, and Bryan Baichtal
was sixth.
Skyler Greyson held off Ricky Wells to capture the top honors in
junior speedway action. Justin Boyle was third, Krystal Cramer was fourth,
and newcomer Destin Cantrell was fifth.
RESULTS Juniors
2 - Skyler Greyson 10
142 - Ricky Wells 10
3 - Justin Boyle 40
27 - Krystal Cramer 20
34 - Destin Cantrell 0
Support B Main Event
196 - Rod Lenz 20
148 - Chris Metoyer 10
106 - Robert Fiesler 20
118 - Scott Tidwell 10
117 - Billy Braden 10
112 - Bryan Baichtal 10
Support Main Event
139 - Shaun Harmatiuk
131 - David Lynch
316 - John DeFries
200 - Gerry Duttweiler
223 - Bobby Krips
Handicap Main Event
14 - Eddie Castro 40
36 - Ryan Fisher 40
3 - Gary Hicks 50
12 - Randy DiFrancesco 40 (penalty line)
4 - Josh Larsen 50 (penalty line)
6 - Shawn McConnell 40 (penalty line)
130 - Chris Manchester 50
253 - Bobby Simons 10 (non starter - injury)
Scratch Main Event
130 - Chris Manchester
3 - Gary Hicks
4 - Josh Larsen
11 - Bobby Schwartz
9 - Mike Faria
Ryan Evans
