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From: Steve Evans dreamteamspeedway@sbcglobal.net Once more British racing invaded the USA on another gloriously hot spring day in Southern California. A total of three team events were held and the 46 race program was completed in just under three and half hours. The individual matches are reported below: Also must give credit to Aces boss Peter Davenport for being the winning team manager for the 2nd event in a row - Aces edging the Vikings 94-89 on aggregate! MATCH 1 - DIVISION 1 & 2 RIDERS VIKINGS 48 1. Austin Novratil .............3 6 3 3 2.....17 2. Steve Bowen ...............1 2' 1 1 2'.......7+2 3. Paul Sanburn ..............F 2 2 3 3......10 4. Kayle LeoGrande ..........R / R 5. Max Ruml ..................EF 3 3 2' 1'.......9+2 6. Mike Salyer ................1 0 F 0 F.......1 7. Danny Baker ..............0 1 1' 0 2'.......4+1 ACES 45 1. Russell Green ............2 3 2 1 3........11 2. Ryan Tovatt ............... 0 F 2' 1'............3+2 3. Joey Donaldson ..........3 2 X 1............6 4. Rudy Laurer ...............2' 1' 1 T...........4+2 5. Troy McConnell ..........2' 1 3 0 0........6+1 6. Nick Dion ..................2' 0 1 0 1 4+1 7. Mitch Pierson ............3 3 3 2............11 The Vikings came back from an early big deficit to reel in and defeat the Aces by 3 in match number 1. After an opening 4-2 with a win from Austin Novratil, the Vikings suffered 3 consecutive 5-1 defeats to trail 17-7 after 4 races - a fall from Danny Baker and a Max Ruml mechanical failure costing dearly. After a tied heat 5 Vikings manager Steve Graham put Austin Novratil on a double point joker ride in heat 6. Not only was Novratil victorious but team mate Steve Bowen defeated Troy McConnell to score a big 8-1 advantage and the lead was cut to just three. The Aces however after a tied 3-3 heat 7, hit back with a 5-1 in heat 8 - Mitch Pierson scoring an impressive third win and team mate Ryan Tovatt following him home. Heat 9 saw the lead stretch to 9 with a 4-2. But just when it looked like the Vikings were dead and buried, Novratil and Bowen scored another maximum in heat 10. After a tied heat 11 Paul Sanburn and Danny Baker scored a big 5-1 over Joey Donaldson and Nick Dion in heat 12. Vikings trained by one, but in heat 13 their big guns of Novratil and Ruml gave a great demonstration of team riding, scoring the 5-1 and taking a 3 point lead. Sanburn's heat 14 win ensured that the Vikings held their lead going into heat 15. This time Russell Green out gated the big pairing of Novratil and Ruml and his win denied Novratil of an 18 point maximum. The 3-3 score line however meant the Vikings were the victors by 48-45. MATCH 2 - Divisions 2 and 3. ACES 49 1. Jonni Jade .........F 1 3 2'.............6+1 2. Ron Davis .........2 3 2 1 2'..........10+1 3. Kevin Fife .........1 0 1 3...............5 4. Mitch Pierson ......3 3 3 1'.............10+1 5. Bander Alexander....X 3 3 3 3............12 6. Steve Brown .......0 1 1 2...............4 7. Jeremy Dunn .......1 1 0 F...............2 VIKINGS 41 1. Damon Barry .......1 1' 2 1.............5+1 2. Lewis Hughes ......3 2 3 0 1...........9 3. Lars Kotrick.........0 0 0 2.............2 4. Mike Achilles .......2 2 2 3..............9 5. Nick Dion ..........3 2 2 0..............7 6. Dave Troutt .......2' 0 0 1'.............3+2 7. Wade Whitcomb ....3 2 1 0 0...........6 The second team match served up some very energetic and entertaining racing as the Clubman level of riders enjoyed a rare opportunity to race in the team format. Once again it was a come from behind victory, this time it was the Aces coming out on top. After 4 heats the Vikings were a comfortable 16-8 ahead. However, five 4-2 heat advantages for the Aces gradually chipped away at the 8 point lead with the score tied at 33 after 11 races. After a 3-3 in heat 12 the Aces scored a big 5-1 in heat 13 and repeated so in heat 15 to win by 8. For the Aces three riders hit double figures. Bander Alexander led the way with 4 straight heat wins after a first race exclusion for a mechanical violation. Mitch Pierson, on double duty, scored 3 wins to finish on 10+1 and Ron Davis, who was part of the heat 15 5-1 also recorded the same score. The Aces had no rider in double figures and only recorded 5 heat winners and that was the difference. Lewis Hughes and Mike Achilles were the stand out riders on 9 each. The match was contested in a great spirit of fun, led by team captains Jonni Jade and Damon Barry. MATCH 3 - JUNIORS EAGLES 45 1. Broc Nicol .........3 3 2' 2...........10+1 2. Braydan Galvin .....2' 3 3 2............10+1 3. Hayley Perrault .,..1 1 1' 1'.............4+2 4. Sara Cords .......1' 1 1' 1 1 0......5+2 5. Maverick Molloy ..2 3 2 3 3 3......16 PIRATES 27 1. Dillon Ruml .......1 2 3 3.............9 2. Dalton Leedy .....0 2 1 1............4 3. Dryden Gayle ....0 0 R 0.............0 4. Michael Wells ....3 2 3 2 2 2......14 5. Tristan Britt .....0 0 0 0 0 1'.....1+1 Though the score line was one sided, the racing in the junior match was what we have come to expect from the new generation and more. The teams each had 3 riders in the 250cc class and 2 each on the 150cc bikes. The 250s served up some excellent racing. Top scorers were Eagles pair Broc Nicol and Braydan Galvin. Nicol showed excellent form as he prepares for the 250cc World Championship in Germany, whilst Galvin showed amazing leaps in the early stages of his 250 career. Both riders were on a paid maximum after 3 rides but Dillon Ruml hit some late form and defeated both. In the 150cc class Maverick Molloy led the way with a massive 16 points and 4 wins! PEE WEE RACES Next race at Pirate Speedway is the final round of the winter series on 30th March. Next action in SoCal is the Victorville opener on March 23rd. |
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