Costa Mesa Speedway
Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

The 2010 Costa Mesa National

Speedway Motorcycle Championship

An Opinion by Dorcey Wingo©

September 25th rolled around at last, for those of us who longed for the annual non-AMA invitational race at the sun-kissed Costa Mesa County Fairgrounds. Not a cloud in sight, as if Promoter Brad Oxley manipulated the atmosphere at will. A former two-time National Champion, “Rad Brad” had to be satisfied with the attendance and enthusiasm of everyone at this very special event, celebrating its 42nd year.

For a photojournalist, the pits is the place to be - and as Howie Zechner advises, “Come early.” While the RAZ Video magnate was busy coordinating rider interview shots with his dedicated staff, I focused on all the family activity taking place – a couple of hours before the riders laced up their boots, got their race-faces on – and started thinking about going sideways. I’ve watched these kids grow up around Speedway, and I have to admit, they feel right at home wherever the Jawa's are parked.

It’s no secret that # 14n Billy Janniro of Benicia, CA is tonight’s heavy favorite. He has dominated race after race, whether it be Fast Fridays or IMS. He went undefeated at Industry Speedway to win the State Championship, September 1st. The only race I saw him come in second was a recent handicap event at IMS, but Janniro started from the “60.” No one else had been pushed that far back at IMS; a sign of respect for Billy’s overpowering speed.

With last year’s champion Ricky Wells away in England, Charlie Venegas would be considered by many to be the next Hot Shoe in order, having beaten Janniro previously at Fast Fridays. He - and a handful of talented First Division riders - were putting their reputations on the line for the prized National crown. How Charlie fared with things mechanical and lady luck tonight might get him soaked in champagne by night’s end.

Racing against Tommy Hedden, Bryan Yarrow, and Robbie Sauer in Event No. 2,  Charlie was in the mix and looking good until his engine quit. He came coasting slowly to a halt near turn three, looking down. “Goose eggs” are hard to carry in a Championship format, and Venegas was already in need of a basket.

Every rider with the exception of Janniro had suffered a defeat in the night’s format by the final race. Tyson Burmeister was hot all night and lost only one race, and that was to Billy in Event No. 6. McConnell made it to the final by winning a thriller of a run-off with Hedden, who nonetheless made it to the Main Event by winning the “Last Chance.” That left three top-ranking hopefuls some extra time to pack their bags: Josh Larsen, Mike Faria - and yes - Charlie Venegas, whose tire tangled with the tapes. Close, but no banana.

Fast Eddie Castro had his moment in the spotlight, leading Janniro in Event 20 for most of two laps. But Billy Janniro stayed on the gas right outside of Eddie’s rear tire, waiting for “The Little Guy from Ojai” to go wide in turn two - which he did - and Janniro pounced!  Roaring up the inside line and on into turn three, Janniro sealed his ride into the Main. Fast Eddie would finish tied for 7th, along with Jimmy Fishback and Buck Blair.  “Battling Buck” had about fifty-percent as much fun as he was hopin’ for.

Jumping up and down and yelling their “hoo-rahs” beside me outside the Turn 3 wall, Tom Burmeister and three other uniformed members of Team MX-RC were celebrating the fact that three of the four riders in the running for the National Championship wore the MX-RC race suit. McConnell alone represented Team Swollen, but he tries extra hard for the big bucks, and I have seen it!

With the usual drawn-out introductions and drama of staging the final event, veteran Costa Mesa Announcer Terry “Ike” Clanton soon had Janniro, Burmeister, McConnell and Hedden in the gates and gone – a clean start.

No surprise that Janniro in Gate 1 was quickly into the lead with Burmeister welded to second place and Shawn McConnell in hot pursuit. When Tommy Hedden fell and remounted, he earned 4th Place, an exhausting effort on his part.

Congratulations, Billy, you salvaged last year’s agonizing loss to Ricky Wells with another perfect round! Kudos to young Tyson Burmeister, who made it to the National podium in only two years of Speedway competition. And I couldn’t be more proud of Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell for proving he’s still one the best motorcycle riders in America, period.

Many thanks to Grand Master of Ceremonies Bruce Flanders for adding a few but-oh-so precious comments during the evening - and to the Costa Mesa Speedway track maintenance crew, who prepared a near-perfect surface for the night’s competition. Smooth as a baby’s behind, it looked from the bleachers.

For me, Speedway doesn’t get any better than this!

Photos by Dorcey Wingo

	On the far right, Shawn McConnell shows his superior flow compared to a rather anemic spew from 2010 Costa Mesa National Champ Billy Janniro. [That's Tyson "can't-open-the-champagne-bottle" Burmeister, our Second Place finisher, getting thirsty.]
	This one's for all the marbles! Billy shows his number "14" to two guys who are happy to share the podium with him minutes later: #26 Burmeister hangs on for second, with Shawn McConnell a solid third.
	Tied at ten points each, McConnell gates with Hedden in a two-man narly runoff race that would determine who went to the Final or who went to the Last Chance. ["Mad Dog" McConnell won this one.]
	In the Youth 250cc Final, heavily favored #9 Rocco Scopellite went down and is out of the picture as # 13 Gabe Price takes the lead, dogged by a gutsy #22 Sammy Ramirez in Turn Three.
	Heat 15 ended with Janniro comfortably ahead of Robbie Sauer, who beat "Battling Buck" Blair and "Flying Mike" Faria to the checkered flag.
	Fast Eddie Castro gets ready to rumble with sponsor "Sarge" to starboard.
	Gino Manzares gets reacquainted with Mr. Plywood as Doug "The Destroyer" Nicol goes merrily about his business.
	A goose egg on his first ride and a touch of the tapes during the "Last Chance" cost veteran Charlie Venegas a shot at the title. [There's always next year, Charlie!]
	Charlie's kids rip and tear while trucks and trailers unload in the pits.
	Here's Bryan Yarrow, listening to [floppy hat] Howie.