1999 Indoor ICE Speedway Racing

1999 WSRA ICE Speedway World Championship

El Paso and Belton, Texas

Third and Fourth Round of the Sixteen Round Series

Friday and Saturday January 1-2, 1999 El Paso County Coliseum 4100 E Paisano Dr. El Paso, Texas 79989-0916	Friday and Saturday January 8-9, 1999 Bell County Expo Center P O Box 206, Belton, Texas 76513

Anthony Barlow (England) has become the first speedway rider to win two meetings in a row whilst competing in the 1999 WSRA ICE Speedway World Championship in the USA. There are competitors from the USA, Canada, Australia, Scotland and England, all of which are proving to be strong competition.

Barlow's first meeting took place in Greenville South Carolina, where he finished 5th in the final (6 man final) after a meeting full of thrills and spills. Adrian Newman (Australia) took first place, Gary 'The Hitman' Hesmer (Canada) 2nd, and Brendan Fennessy (USA) 3rd. The show then moved south to El Paso Texas, on the border of Mexico. This meeting also proved to be full of excitement and held an international line up for the final. Barlow off the back row, forced his way through the field into 2nd position, riding Stuart Robson (England) hard into the corner. Robson took a tumble, leaving Barlow clear to win the race. Barlow 1st, Nick Fafard (Canada) 2nd, Gary Hesmer 3rd.

Robert Curry (USA), last year's World Champion, arrived in Belton Texas to line up in his first race against Barlow, Newman and Robson. The race was very close and hard fought, and was a fine example of how tough it was going to be for him. Barlow once again took the checkered flag, followed by Newman, Curry, and Robson. The heats were very close, and all riders looked as though they could reach the final. In the end it was Robson, James Birkinshaw (England) and Matt King (USA) to line up on the front row, followed by Barlow, David Meldrum (Scotland) and Gary Hesmer.

Robson lead from the start with Burkinshaw hot on his heels, Barlow coming through to third. With 30 yards to go, Robson unexpectedly lost control and hit the wall hard. Burkinshaw was left with nowhere to go, and collided with the fallen Robson, but managed to stay upright. Barlow took full advantage of his fellow countryman's mishap, and passed safely to take the checkered flag. Burkinshaw crossed the line in 2nd place, followed by King 3rd, Hesmer 4th, Meldrum 5th and Robson 6th.