By: Ryan Evans
Josh Larsen's superb Scratch Main Event victory capped a wild night of racing as the 34th season of speedway at the world famous Costa Mesa oval began on Saturday night.
Defending National Champion Chris Manchester, winner of last month's Spring Classic, drew the pole for the Scratch Main after having to qualify via the Last Chance. Randy DiFrancesco, who was certainly happy to have shaken the mechanical gremlins that have plagued his bikes recently, drew gate two. Shawn McConnell drew gate three. Larsen, who was undefeated at this point of the evening, drew gate four. Former National Champion Bart Bast lined up on the outside.
Manchester and Larsen left the line together and as they entered turn one Manchester's inside position appeared to work in his favor. However, Larsen made a big run around the outside and his momentum carried him around Manchester on the back straight before dropping to the pole, and into the lead, in turn three. Larsen could not afford the slightest of errors as Manchester applied the pressure. The battle remained close for two laps before Larsen steadily pulled away from Manchester to earn the victory. DiFrancesco finished third, Bast was fourth, and McConnell finished fifth.
Eighteen year old Shaun Harmatiuk lined up on the 10 yard line and some fierce competition behind him in the Handicap Main. DiFrancesco, Bast, McConnell, and Eddie Castro were lined up on the 40, while Larsen, looking for a sweep of the program, and Mike Faria were on the 50. Gary Hicks was unable to start after a fall earlier in the evening.
At the start the pack closed quickly on Harmatiuk as Bast went for the lead in the first corner. There was contact which left bikes and riders on the ground or taking evasive action. The referee ordered a complete restart.
On the restart Bast again caught Harmatiuk quickly and began to turn up the heat. The battle became physical and Bast tried to force his way past Harmatiuk. With Bast frozen behind Harmatiuk, Castro went to the outside line and took the lead at the end of the second lap. As they entered turn one the riders bumped and Harmatiuk slid off. Despite a very animated protest, there was no red flag. The race was over for all practical purposes, though, as Castro was long gone and cruised to the victory. Bast held on to second, McConnell finished third, Larsen was fourth, and DiFrancesco finished fifth.
In the Denim Doctor Challenge, the 5-man field was whittled down to Faria and Castro. Castro jumped into the lead in turn one, but Faria didn't give up easily. Faria went to the outside and pulled alongside Castro at the end of the first lap. Castro had the advantage on the back straight, but the three-time National Champion made one last move on the outside. As they came off turn four Faria just squeezed past Castro to win by inches. The tremendous effort was rewarded with a rousing ovation from the crowd.
Rudy Laurer took the lead out of gate four at the start of the Support Main Event. Laurer opened a comfortable lead and appeared to have the race won when he went down on the third lap. John Stunkard assumed the lead from that point and went on to record the victory. Philip Williams was second, Rick Valdez finished third, Paul Hitchcock was third, and a disappointed Laurer was fifth.
Dan Wensloff took the early lead in the Support B Main Event. Wensloff was pursued for two laps before Michael Novratil took the lead. Novratil, who won the main at the Spring Classic, made it two in a row as he went on to victory. Mike Boyle finished second, Brian Hunt was third, Wensloff finished fourth, Carl Gazafy was fifth, and Tom Hamilton was sixth.
The evening was filled with great racing and an unusually high number of crashes, especially in the early stages of the program. Many riders were finding traction where they didn't expect to and got acquainted with the turn two wall. All riders were able to walk away from their respective incidents, but several bikes weren't so lucky. Next week will be Costa Mesa's Mother's Day Skirt Night, and EVERY fan who wears a skirt will be admitted free.
RESULTS Support B Consolation 133 - Craig Collier 10 163 - Rohn Zellner 20 112 - Bryan Baichtal 20 155 - Kevin Templeton 10 102 - Jim Lavender 20 (fell) 167 - James Herr 10 (non starter) Support B Main Event 181 - Michael Novratil 20 198 - Mike Boyle 20 332 - Brian Hunt 10 169 - Dan Wensloff 10 176 - Carl Gazafy 10 (fell) 144 - Tom Hamilton 10 (fell) Support Consolation 338 - Dave Delbridge 20 100 - Phil Harmatiuk 10 196 - Rod Lenz 20 180 - Malcolm Roe 10 125 - Johnny Lupo 10 103 - Brent Smith 10 178 - Eloy Medellin 20 (fell) 128 - Doug Benjamin 20 (non starter) Support Last Chance 182 - Rudy Laurer 106 - Robert Fiesler 296 - Tom Rossano 269 - Ed Martinez (fell, remounted) Support Main Event 249 - John Stunkard 239 - Philip Williams 293 - Rick Valdez (fell, remounted) 114 - Paul Hitchcock (fell, remounted) 182 - Rudy Laurer (fell) Denim Doctor Challenge 9 - Mike Faria 14 - Eddie Castro 11 - Bobby Schwartz 1 - Chris Manchester 87n - Bart Bast Handicap Main Event 14 - Eddie Castro 40 87n - Bart Bast 40 6 - Shawn McConnell 40 2 - Josh Larsen 50 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 40 9 - Mike Faria 50 (retired) 139 - Shaun Harmatiuk 10 (fell) 3 - Gary Hicks 50 (non starter) Last Chance 1 - Chris Manchester 9 - Mike Faria 57 - Brian Thompson 14 - Eddie Castro (fell) Scratch Main Event 2 - Josh Larsen 1 - Chris Manchester 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 87n - Bart Bast 6 - Shawn McConnell
