Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126467
I SPEEDWAY WEEK - ---- - - -=--- ----- - = = - - - - - - - --==--- --==---= --==-----=---===--==-=-----_-=..=-=._- ~ - ~ = - - =- - ~ - It was not a survivor·take-all race but a good all·out one and unquestionably, Derek took it all. In Division Three, John Foster took first ahead of Bob Peel and Dan Bovee. The feature race of the evening matched Alan Chiistian against Bobby Schwanz. The riders came into tum one together, Alan just slightly ahea$l. On the next lap in tum two, Bobby tried the inside. the bikes tangled and both riders went down. Fot Bobby, it was the end of a disappointing night. However, it's only fair to say that Bobby did just arrive in on a plane from England and had not had time to sleep or check out the track. Even the best have bad nights. He will return again later in the season and you can believe that when Bobby Schwartz is on the track. everyone must ride their best just to stay even with Iiim. There will be some good racing next Friday night as Mike Bast has one more week to heal, Kelly Moran has one more week of riding U.S. tracks, and Alan "Crazy" Christian attempts to win his third Scratch Main event in a row. E Results Christian again at Costa Mesa By Ken Kellogg COSTA MESA, CA, APRIL 18,1980 There was no place else to be on Friday night except the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa - the night was warm, the fans were ready and the racing was hot. (Top) Mike Bast and Alan Christian in Costa Mesa's Scratch Main. lAbove) Dave Sims conc:eilbal8S intantIy on his one'with Denny Pyeatt behind. (Below) John Sandonna leads a heet race. In the First Division Scratch Semi, young Kelly Moran got his act together as he and Alan Christian battled it out for first place. For the first three laps they traded places for the lead and though it was just a semi, neither Kelly nor Alan would give. With the entire crowd screaming, the emotional tension was incredible. In the fourth tum of the last lap, Kelly took the lead and beat Alan to the checkers. As exciting as this race was, it was only a preview of things to come. In the Handicap Main event, another young rider - Lance King was not to be defeated. Riding from the 30-yard line Lance took control and worked past Sterling Cogar and Phil Gagnon to take the lead. Lance was not given the win. though. Craig Schaefer, also riding from the 30·yard line, put some heavy pressure on and nearly won the race. Finishing third from the 4O-yard line was Brad Oxley. The Scratch Main brought Christian and Moran back for a rematch of the earlier meeting. How· ever, there were two other factors in this race. One was Dave Sims; the other was National Champion Mike Bast. To say the race was exciting would be a gross understatement. The race was incredible and with these four names on the starting line, that's the only thing it could have been. This time the circumstances were not in young Kelly's favor as the experience of Alan, Mike and Dave riding the short track paid off. Christian won the Scratch Main for the second week in a row. Bast, who still is not fully reo covered from his last injury. finished second. Sims took third and Kelly, a disappointing fourth. The Second Division Main showed a future First Division rider take all. Derek Gage looked impressive in his. win over.jdT. Todi& aDd .(;(.eg, Ayets. SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Alen ~; 2. Mike B8st; 3. Dave Sima; 4. Kelly Moran. HANOICAP MAIN: 1. Lance King; 2. Craig Schaefer; 3. Bred O>cley; 4. SItIrting Coger; 5. Phil GIgnon; 6. Gene Woods. SECOND DIV. MAIN: 1. Deroil ~; 2. Jell Tomlin; 3. Greg Ayers; 4. SI-.. McConnell; S. Shane HlIwIey. THIRD D1V. MAIN: 1. John _ ; 2. Bob Peer; 3. Oan _ ; 4. Ray On"llll; 5. Jeff Hevaco; 6. Mike Burgett. Schwartz speedy at San Bernardino By Scott Daloisio SAN BERNARDINO, CA. APR. 16 Bobby Schwartz was in top form at Inland Motorcycle Speedway Wednesday night. In the Scratch Main, Schwartz, starting in the number two position, took the lead at the start followed by Dave Sims, Dub Ferrell and Alan Christian. Christian fell in tum three on the first lap and retired to the infield. Schwartz and Sims began to open a lead on Ferrell on the second lap with Sims trying every trick in the book to get around Schwartz. Schwartz managed to hold off Sims the fmal two laps for the victory with Ferrell coming in third. Louis Lindwall fought off Jack Kee on the first lap of the Handicap main and went on to record a convincing victory. Lance King and Ferrell moved into the number two and three positions but were unable to cut down Lindwall's early lead. Finishing behind Lindwall. King and Ferrell were Mike Bast, John Sandona and Kee. Dennis Bransford won the exciting Second Division Main by inches over Tom Hughes. Marty Spellman - on a back up bike - took the lead at the stan and held it for the fint three laps. Hughes took the lead from Spellman on the back chute on lap four as Spellman's bike slowed drastically. Bransford moved into second behind Hughes and tried to pass the leader going low into turn one on the fmal lap. Hughes fought off Bransford down the back chute with Bransford pulling alongside again in tum three. The pair crossed the line side by side with Bransford winning by inches. Following Bransford and Hughes were Robin Bourgeois, Spellman. Mark Milazzo and Kym Mauger. John Foster had an easy time of it in the Third Division, l ~ ~ blr ;