Speedway Championship of Argentina - Round Four

THE 44th INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARGENTINA
Round Four, Sunday January 10, 1999
From: Chris Hesmer (Canadian Chris Hesmer competes and reports the Championship)

* * Round One - Round 2 - Round 3 - Round 4 * *

Hi, here we go again. Another week done below the equator. I thank you for posting the reports. The people here think it is the cats ass. I just did an interview with the Provincial News newspaper today, and they are all googly eyed over how I report back to the rest of the world and putting Argentine Speedway on the world map. They even took pictures of me in front of the computer and stuff, and I'll be looking for it in the paper to bring home for you to see. Anyways here goes the next report for round 4.

Buenos Dias from the land of moto scooters, and the Capital City of Motorsports- Bahia Blanca, Argentina. What a week this has been, with temperatures falling, and many rising concerns about the racing surface. Meanwhile to tell the you the truth, I spent time relaxing and figuring out the city streets. As my sponsor revoked the privileges of the Honda XR 200 for a sale to a customer, my thirst was replenished with a new Suzuki RG150 two stroke rice rocket, with full fairings and a FMF silencer. As the need for speed has developed, so did my knowledge of my surroundings and by finally the fourth week, I can say I am starting to settle into this atmosphere.

The same goes for the Sunday night Speedway races in Dublin Park. Well over 2000 paying adults participated in what proved to be one of the most exciting nights of racing yet. The track was again inadequately prepared, but I think people are beginning to not expect that to change anytime soon. With all three classes of Speedway, of 50cc, 200cc, and 500cc, the pits were jammed with over 75 speedway bikes, and riders.

The Canadian (that's me) has begun his climb up the ladder from his suffering opening three rounds. Aboard my own complete bike now, I am starting to adapt to the conditions and bike setups needed for South American speedway. With a good qualifying time in my qualifier, I secure and immediate spot behind Castagna in the semi-finals. As the night went on, the track began to break up something wild in turn one and turn three, which just happens to be the entrance to the corners and the spots where your speed is greatest. This made the racing harder and slowed down the times in the semi-finals. With over 30 rider sign-ins, I managed to make it through the semi-final with one of the top six times. Proceeding to the main, I knew it was going to be tough. Heck, it was tough just getting there. Simone Teranzini missed out and settled for a win in the consolation final. Coming from gate five of the six with some of the top riders inside you, it is time to count your blessings. With that I managed to work my way into fourth position behind what seems to be the roadblock. The roadblock in this case is the three men who have all finished 1-2-3 in all four rounds of the series. Sanchez, Castagna, and Vallejos control the scene down here with their European and World Final experience. Sanchez from the World Junior finals and German Jr. Championship, Castagna from so many I can't count World Speedway Finals, and Vallejos from numerous World Long Track Finals. Needless to say I am content for now with my finish behind the roadblock. The following are the Final results for round four.

Pos.  No. Rider   Place

1  40 Poty Sanchez        Capital Federal, Arg.
2  38 Armando Castagna    Italy
3  1  Luis Vallejos       Bahia Blanca, Arg.
4  37 Christian  Hesmer   Canada
5  43 Diego Zinni         Bahia Blanca, Arg.
6  3  Julio Galdos        Henderson, Arg.

And as I promised last week, here is the complete breakdown of series points after four rounds. Please don't ask how these points are derived, cause it may take me another week to get the low down. Now take a deep breath, and here we go!

RANKING   500cc  CUARTA  FECHA

POSICION No. PILOTO        PUNTOS LOCALIDAD 

1   40 EMILIANO SANCHEZ      64 CAP. FEDERAL
2   38 ARMANDO CASTAGNA      62 ITALIA
3    1 LUIS VALLEJOS         54 BAHIA BLANCA
4   43 DIEGO ZINNI           34 BAHIA BLANCA
5    3 JULIO GALDOS          28 HENDERSON
6   37 CHRISTIAN HESMER      22 CANADA
7   39 SIMONE TERENZANI      22 ITALIA
8   13 GUSTAVO CURZIO        20 BAHIA BLANCA
9    2 DANIEL KEEGAN         16 PUAN
10   9 CARLOS SILVA          14 PUNTA ALTA
11   6 FERNANDO DONAY        13 CARLOS CASARES
12  23 PABLO MENDEZ           9 BAHIA BLANCA
13   4 DANIEL MORENO          8 GRAL. PICO
14  11 FLAVIO HUSMAN          8 BONIFACIO
15  46 RICARDO LANA           8 STA. ROSA
16  36 JUAN JOSE BELONGINI    7 BAHIA BLANCA
17  12 CLAUDIO SMITH          6 PUNTA ALTA
18  31 ENRIQUE SALAS          5 BAHIA BLANCA
19  10 ROBERTO Della GIUSTINA 4 BAHIA BLANCA
20  14 DARIO IGLESIAS         4 DAIREAUX
21  16 NESTOR ROTH            4 CARHUE
22  20 LEANDRO TORRES         4 PUNTA ALTA
23  32 GUILLERMO GONZALEZ     4 HENDERSON
24  35 OMAR COLA              4 BAHIA BLANCA
25   7 LEANDRO PRIETO         3 HENDERSON
26  19 CARLOS CONZALEZ        3 GRAL. PICO
27  27 FABIAN ORLANDO         3 BAHIA BLANCA
28  28 WALTER VELAZQUEZ       3 SANTA ROSA
29  29 ALFREDO ASCORTI        3 CNEL. PRINGLES
30  30 ABDON MORIS            3 GRAL LAMADRID
31  42 RODOLFO PEREYRA        3 PUNTA ALTA
32  24 FRANCO BELAZCO         2 PUAN
33  45 KLAIN MARIANO          2 BAHIA BLANCA
34  47 DANIEL FINOCHIARO (H)  2 BAHIA BLANCA
35  18 MARIO OLIVERA          1 SANTA ROSA
36  25 RICARDO MORENO         1 GRAL. PICO
37  26 LEONARDO GONZALEZ      1 PUAN
38  33 GUILLERMO SAHAGUN      1 BAHIA BLANCA
39  34 LUIS PATIES HENDERSON  1
40  47 PABLO HOURS            1

Please excuse me, as I find it difficult writing these Spanish names, and thus I will not post the standings for the 200cc and 500cc classes which contain the same content of riders. Lets just say it is fair to say your favorite Argentinean is in First position or last, whatever his name happens to be.

Well, it is time to go. Please keep sending those terrific emails from around the world. Stay tuned for next week, as two rounds will take place. The fifth round will take place on Saturday in Huanguelen in Buenos Aires, which is 230km north of Bahia Blanca. Rumour has it that it is the same size, but a much harder and smoother. To me it sounds like a Wellend surface, and I hope to do well there. Sunday we return to Bahia Blanca for round six.

Asta la wago!

Chris Hesmer
1998 Canadian Speedway Champion.
E-mail in Argentina in care of: gsahagun@impsat1.com.ar