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/126497
o CO 0') ICIockwIM from top left) Shnm Moren won .. five ridea to capture the c:h8mplonehlp. NetIoMl Ch8mpIon Bruce PenheI muatered 8 fourth on the long trIICk. tat week'. winner John Cook W8S runner-up. Cook tries V8InIy to hold off Moren. Cook'. only"" W8S to PwIhe1. Shawn Moran sweeps Ascot Long Track Speedway Championship By Gary Hoffman GARDENA. CA. NOV. 14 It happened last year and it happened again this year - Shawn Moran emerged victorious in the Seven Up Long Track Speedway Cham16 pionship at Ascot Park. Winner in each of his. five events to score a perfect 30 points, 18-year-old Moran proved that he is absolutely untouchable on the half-mile. Shawn, from Huntington Beach but currently riding for the Sheffield Tigers in England. powered his two-valve Jawa over the likes of such heavies as National Champ Bruce Penhall, last w~k's winner John Cook, "The r~.· "~BobbY Schwanz, Dennis SiJtllI05, and our own Lance King, Denny Pyeatt and Keith Chrisco to name a few. It was a cool night in Gardena, but the motors were hot down on the track for the last chance this year for a title or at least some pocket money to help put together the speedway bikes of next year. All the top riders showed up except for Ke1Iy Moran and the high flying rookie Jeff Tomlin. A good crowd turned out and everyone was ready for some speedway racing. The favorites were Penhall, Moran and Cook, and up to event 18, Penhall won all his evenu as expected, even defeating Cook (which turned out to be Cook's only loss). It was really event 18 that would determine the outcome of the night since up to that point, neither Penhall nor Moran had been defeated and they were both in this race. The gate flew up and Dennis Sigalos appeared to be the first one out when all of 50 feet later his shifter broke. Now it was Moran out front with Penhall right on his tail. Shawn stretched his lead on lap two as Penhall, his bike apparently slowed with mechanical problems. dropped back through the field. When the checkered flag dropped, Moran was out front by at least half the track followed by Wayne Rainey. Randy Monroe, Steve Wolk, Penhall and Sigalos (who wasn't about to give up even if he could only go 20 miles an hour). John Cook won the last event giving him an impressive 29 points. His only defeat, of course, was to Penhall where he gave him a run for his money, earning Cook second place for the night. Taking a well·deserved third place was Ascot's high point leader this year the "Little Ghost" Lance King with an impressive 27 poinu. King, who proved himself to be a master on the quarter· mile this year. will be venturing to England next year to do his racing on an English quarter-mile track. In fourth place with 26 poinu after an almost perfect night was Penhall. Though somewhat discouraged, his National Championship will pull him through his misery. Next for most of these riders is rebuild time over these off·season months. Some will be out hunting down sponsors, some riding other events like Wayne Rainey, who rides the AMA/Winston Pro circuit, or Randy Monroe who likes to compete in all kinds of motorcycle events. Some of the riders said they're just going to let their wounds heal, such as Charlie Morse who broke his hand several weeks agao, or Jack Kee who took a bad spill early this year. Penhall will get his shoulder injury worked on next week. Then there are some riders who will be off to Australia by the time you read this. Sigalos, Cook and Schwartz will all be on their way along with Ascot's own Denny Pyeatt who turned 25 this Saturday. Happy birthday, Denny. Next year promises to be a season with all kinds of surprises with some of the top riders venturing out overseas, giving way to some of the younger talent of which there is plenty. Speedway is a relatively new sport in the United States and is still suffering some growing pains, which is fine as long as it continues to grow. Thanks to all the riders who put their heart and soul into each and every night of racing and their sponsors who help them so much. And they thank you, the dedicated fans who come to watch them every week without whom none of this would be possible. • Results 1. _ Mar.. 130 poa.}; 2. John Coole 129 ..... t 3. laIC8 King C%7 ..... 1: 4. _ _ all poa.).