By: Ryan Evans
Speedway returned to the Orange County Fairgrounds for the 35th year and it was Gary Hicks who began his season in grand style by capturing the Scratch Main Event in front of a large crowd Saturday night.
Hicks made a great start from gate two and held the lead ahead of Eddie Castro as the field came off turn two. Castro applied the pressure for a lap, but Hicks pulled comfortably ahead after the first lap. Castro's riding line became increasingly wider and at the end of the third lap "Flyin" Mike Faria snuck by on the inside to assume second, but he couldn't get close to Hicks, who cruised to the win. Faria was second, Scott Brant also passed Castro to get third, Castro settled for fourth, and Bobby Schwartz was fifth.
The Handicap Main had two of America's budding stars on the 20 yard line, Eric Carrillo and Chris Kerr, with another young star, Bryan Yarrow, and veteran Randy DiFrancesco on the 30. Behind them were four riders on the 40 yard line. Carrillo beat Kerr to turn one to assume the lead. Entering turn four Kerr went wide and fell, collecting Yarrow in the process. The race was allowed to continue and DiFrancesco moved in behind Carrillo. DiFrancesco kept the pressure on Carrillo for seven laps, but the 18 year old didn't flinch. Entering the last corner on the last lap, DiFrancesco went for broke and made a desperate inside attempt for the lead, but knocked Carrillo down. The red light went on and the race was declared finished with Carrillo awarded the victory. Shawn McConnell was second, Brant finished third, and Kerr remounted after his first lap crash to finish fourth.
Southern California has been waiting for another young star and many have predicted that 16 year old Justin Boyle is the one to assume that role. He didn't disappoint those prognosticators by winning the Support Main in superb fashion. Boyle was fast out of the gate and ran away with the victory. Steve Murray finished second, Doug Benjamin was third, Dave Delbridge was fourth, and Scott Tidwell finished fifth.
Greg Searle made his Costa Mesa debut and rode four smooth laps to capture the Support B Main Event. Michael Novratil finished second, Guy Jessup was third, Tom Rossano finished fourth, Brian Baichtal was fifth, and Keith Mullally finished sixth.
Although Saturday night marked the beginning of the 35th year of speedway at Costa Mesa, the season doesn't officially begin until May 3rd. There will be no racing the next two Saturdays. Costa Mesa also announced to the large crowd that they would be promoting speedway inside the Orange Show Speedway stock car stadium in San Bernardino, with the first race being held on May 23rd.
RESULTS Support B Consolation 332 - Brian Hunt 20 198 - Mike Boyle 20 193 - Billy Swaim 10 339 - Sam Stavros 10 169 - Dan Wensloff 20 244 - DeWayne Stark 10 (non starter) Support B Main Event 189 - Greg Searle 10 181 - Michael Novratil 20 190 - Guy Jessup 10 296 - Tom Rossano 20 112 - Brian Baichtal 20 (fell) 185 - Keith Mullally 10 (fell) Support Consolation 106 - Robert Fiesler 228 - Shane Kump 107 - Monte McKeon 113n - Rachalle Kerr Support Consolation 100 - Phil Harmatiuk 117 - Billy Braden 165 - Randy Kreps 180 - Malcolm Roe Support Last Chance 128 - Doug Benjamin 321n - Richard Christian 293 - Rick Valdez 178 - Eloy Medellin (fell) Support Main Event 197 - Justin Boyle 214 - Steve Murray 128 - Doug Benjamin 338 - Dave Delbridge 118 - Scott Tidwell Handicap Main Event 75n - Eric Carrillo 20 6 - Shawn McConnell 40 10 - Scott Brant 40 27n - Chris Kerr 20 (fell, remounted) 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 30 (penalized) 9 - Mike Faria 40 (retired) 3 - Gary Hicks 40 8n - Bryan Yarrow 30 (fell) Last Chance 3 - Gary Hicks 6 - Shawn McConnell 24 - Bobby Krips 12 - Randy DiFrancesco Scratch Main Event 3 - Gary Hicks 9 - Mike Faria 10 - Scott Brant 14 - Eddie Castro 11 - Bobby Schwartz
