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Winter Olympique
Perris Raceway February 26, 2022
By: Steve Evans dreamteamspeedway@sbcglobal.net
MARTIN TAKES FIRST PROFESSIONAL SPEEDWAY VICTORY, JONES AND SUMMERS WIN US SIDECAR MASTERS
It was a speedway event with a difference at Perris Raceway for the Winter Olympique. A schedule conflict with an out of State event meant that the speedway rider count took a hit. However, with around half a dozen regulars away in Tennessee, track promoters forged ahead with their long-scheduled event in a creative manner.
It was essentially a Quadruple header race featuring Speedway, a big entry of 11 Sidecars, and a unique and well supported Team Challenge for both the Flat Track and Hooligan divisions.
In Speedway, it was 17-year-old Alex Martin who took the opportunity to win his first Main Event of his young adult career. Martin has been putting in some impressive displays but its far to say he has reached another level. After dropping a point to veteran Randy DiFrancesco in is opening ride, Martin scorched through the rest of the night unbeaten. Martin has 8 points after his heats, with DiFrancesco also an automatic qualifier for the Final.
The next four in line made the Last Chance Qualifier, which was won by Russell Green ahead of Michael Wells. Wells was initially caught by surprise by the improved but deeper new track surface but got into the groove as the night wore on. Wilbur Hancock was unlucky to miss out of the final after a superb first heat win over Green and some solid rides all night. Lawrence McNutt also was eliminated at this stage.
Martin boldly chose Gate 4 for the Main but made an absolutely flyer of a gate. He was ahead as the riders hit turn 1 and did not look back. Green settled into second place with Wells continuing his rise and good evening by keeping DiFrancesco at the back. Martin’s win was hugely popular, and it is no doubt the first of many.
A huge turn out of Sidecars raced in the Inaugural US Masters Championship. Joe Jones and Tom Summers, who have more Sidecar titles than likely all other riders combined, qualified for the Final with a 9-point heat maximum. It was the team of Robert and Laurie Curry who made the best start, but the Jones / Summers team unleashed the power and drive as they entered the back straight, launching by and blasting into the lead. 2020 National Champions Dillon Osborne and Jamie Morabito entered into an epic battle with the Curry’s for second. After two close laps Osborne and Morabito executed a fantastic outside pass to get the silver medal place.
Rudy Laurer continued his Division 2 domination with two heat wins and Main Event victory. Brad Moreau and Lawrence McNutt were also heat winners, whilst Isaiah Canales took the Consolation. Canales overcame a 20-yard handicap to win a heat and the Division Three Main, 69-year-old Tom Bryant took the other heat. Juniors were combined with 250 and 150 bikes due to low entries but were scored separately. Kage Tadman won the 250cc class, Ryder Schultz was the 150 winner.
A total of 13 riders entered the Rod Lake Kids 50cc class. Rod Lake, an iconic figure on the US Speedway and Flat Track scene, sponsors the entries for all kids aged 8 and under. The Division 1 Final was won by Jedediah Schade with Division 2 going to four year old Rey Resendez.
Though many regulars were missing, both with the Tennessee race and European based rides traveling overseas for their big-league seasons, the event was very entertaining albeit on very cold evening by spoilt California weather standards. The Perris season resumes on March 19tth with round 1 of the 2022 Team racing league season.
Results
Division 1 Main Event
30 Alex Martin
321 Russell Green
214 Michael Wells
12 Randy DiFrancesco
Last Chance
321 Russell Green
214 Michael Wells
117 Wilbur Hancock
275 Lawrence McNutt
Heat Points: Martin 8, DiFrancesco 7, Green 7, Hancock 6, Wells 5, McNutt 2, Joey Donaldson 1, Sammy Tetrault 0
Sidecar US Masters Main
1 Joe Jones / Tom Summers
64 Dillon Osborne / Jamie Morabito
31 Robert Curry / Laurie Curry
74 James Kinne / Sammy Tetrault
Last Chance
64 Dillon Osborne / Jamie Morabito
07 Kevin Kale / Tracey Gallagher
88 Wade Boyd / Eric Lindauer
357 Ace Kale / Thomas Yergler
Heat Points: Jones / Summers 12, Curry / Curry 11, Kinne / Tetrault 9, Osborne / Morabito 8, K Kale / Gallagher 8, A kale / Yergler 8, Boyd / Lindauer 7, Lawrence McNutt / Dana Miller 6, Kenny Greco / Mike North 6, Kevin Holman / Demetri Class 3, Jason Fritze / ? 0
Division Two Main
182 Rudy Laurer
275 Lawrence McNutt
242 Sammy Tetrault
153 Brad Moreau (fell, non-starter in rerun)
Consolation
106 Isaiah Canales
220 Tom Bryant
111 David Newsham (non-starter)
103 Brent Smith (non-starter)
Division Three Main
106 Isaiah Canales (20)
220 Tom Bryant
395 Nelson Soto (retired)
303 Dennis Osmer (non-starter)
250 Junior Main
28 Kage Tadman
150 Mini Speedway Main
22 Ryder Schultz
5 Brandon Soto
Rod Lake Kids 50cc Division 1
216 Jedediah Schlade
15 Hudson Jones
215
912
28 Thomas Chavira
Rod Lake Kids 50cc Division 2
69 Rey Resendez
14 Hudson Lopeman
582 Maxwell Celac
3x Owen Ferris
950 Ezekiel Schlade
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