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/126757
Kelly Moran put on quite a show for spectator~ at Inland M~torcycl~ Speedway with a second-place come-frombehind ride. but in event six. Moran took a sod sample which put him out for the rest of the day. Defending National Junior Champion Jessee Finch (Speedway Magazine) survived two restarts to win the main over Jordan Duncan. Cameron Evans was the initial leader with Duncan going by on lap one and holding the lead until Finch breezed by on lap three. At intermission, George Rich of the American Motorcyclist Association presented Sigalos, Schwartz, King, Moran and Rick Miller with the bronze medals they won for finishing third in last year's World Team Cup Championship in Denmark. At that time, it was also announced by promoter Harry Oxley that the 1985 World Team Cup Championship will be held in Long Beach in August of that year. Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Alan Christian (Good); Sam Ermolenko (Jaw); 3. Bobby Schwartz (Jaw): John Cook (Wes). HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Denny Scopellite (Wesl; Mike Mauacane (Mae); 3. Brad Oxley (Wes): Buddy Robinson (Jaw); 5. Gene Woods (Wes); Leni Faas (Wes). JA MAIN: 1. Jessee Finch; 2. Jordan Duncan; Scan COffey: 4. Cameron Evans: 5. Bobby Cody; Greg Hancock. 2. 4. 2. 4. 6. 3. 6. 'Classic mess' at Ventura By Bill Locey VENTURA, CA, MAR. 3 Well, all the hOL guys finally made iL LO Ventura, unfortunately, Lhey didn'L sLay very long as speedway crashed and 12 burned even before it began when the second round of the 1984 Spring Classic was cancelled when a number of the riders declined to ride because they fel t the track was unsafe. The stars were out, even Dennis Sigalos, wbo hadn't ridden Ventura since 1978. Siggy still basn't ridden Ventura since 1978. It was obvious soemthing was amiss by seven p.m. when all the riders, still dressed in street clothes, milled around in groups grumbling about the conditions of the track which they felt was too wet and had too much clay. With the track so gri ppy, pi us tbe prospect of a close encounter with the cement crash wall, the majority were less than enthused about racing. ''I've been coming up here 16 years, and it's still the same - I don't want to risk my neck. We're professional speedway racers and we're entitled to a professional track to ride on," said seven-time National champion Mike Bast who won the first-ever speedway race here back in 1971. Bast then asked American Motorcyclist Association rider rep Rob Pfetzing to draft a statement to the effect that the track was un afe. A number of star riders such as John Cook, Sigalos, Kelly Moran, Rick Miller, John Sandona and Mike Curoso quickly signed. Except for Steve Lucero, all the signees were riders who eldom ride Ventura. The final half-hour before race time was spent in small discussion groups as the riders discussed riding or not. Basically, the regulars uch a Mike Faria and Buddy Robinson and even Alan Christian opted to ride. At about eight, the AMA official, referee Andy Cadotte, told the assembled riders, "I think the track is safe enough to ride; it's certainly been wor e in the past. I want you guys to put on a how." "If I break my neck, what will you do, ay you're sorry?" asked Bast. "I think it's safe enough, but I'm not going to give you a bunch of excuses; I don't think we should disappoint all these fans. AliI can say is that we'll have the track dialed in with the sand for opening night, April 3," said promoter Jim aylor pointing to the largest crowd in years. When pressed, Cadotte said he would not impose fines on any riders who declined to ride, and with that, the stars began to melt away and head south. It is tempting to suggest that some riders will do anythng to get out of riding Ventura, but this idea fails to explain away the night of non-racing, particularly after a regular like Sam Ermolenko took a few practice laps and decided the track was "dangerous." It's also true that everyone has ridden worse tracks. With the 14th season opener less _t~~J? .": .1:J?~~t.h away~ ~~~ future of speedway in Ventura is in doubt. A season of Tuesday nights with '"The 'A' Team" sounds real depressing. Sigalos, Christian shine in Spring Classic at IMS By Scott Daloisio SAN BERNARDI 0, CA, MAR. 4 American Speedway "heros" Dennis Sigalos and Alan "Crazy" Christian were the big winners on a chamber of commerce postcard-type day at John LaDouceur's Inland Motorcycle Speedway at the Like Cola/7-UpSpring Classic Sunday afternoon. After the walkout at Ventura, all of the riders were keen to return to action under the unshine and 80degree temperature. The first race of the afternoon pitted Friday's Costa Mesa victor, Christian and the man be pa sed to take the lead that night, "Boogaloo" Bobby Schwartz. It was to be a big showdown, but unfortunately someone forgot to tell Schwartz as he ran away from the pack to win over John Cook and Chri tian, who came in a distant third. Mike Faria got tbe gate of hi life and rode the cushion to victory in event two. Event three pitted Sigalos (Orange County Food Srvice/Pepsi West) against the always-exciting "Wizard of Balance" Kelly Moran, Rick Miller and England-bound Steve Lucero.' Sigalos got the gate while Moran got the shaft as he was pinched off to the outside and dropped to the back. However, you can never count Moran out and this race proved no different as he worked both the inside and the outside. First he raced by Lucero and then he shot down Miller. Riding like a man possesed, he then went after Sigalos where he closed the gap, butiime ran out before Moran could get the job done. He still received a huge ovation from the large crowd for his effort. Moran returned in event six and became embroiled in battle for the lead "San Berdoo" style with Faria for the point position. Unfortunately, third-place rider Christian, went down bringing out a red nag and forcing a restart. Christian got 86'ed bv referee Irwin Moon and Jimmy Lawson came in as a reserve. Faria look the gate on the restart over Lawson and Moran. Moran tried to blast around the outside to pass Lawson but he ended up taking a soil sample and wa eliminated on lap two. Faria took the win over an impressive Lawson. Schwartz outdueled Sigalos for the lead on lap one of event nine and was forced to watch from the sidelines as Cook held off a fierce challenge from Faria and Sigalos. Christian, in hi first must win situation of the day, hammered home a very devastating victory over Rick Miller in event 10 while Lucero scored an upset win by defeating chwartz in II. The prel ims on Iy left one problem. Ferrell, Sandona and Christian were all tied in points for the final spot in the semi, rorcing a runoff. Ferrell drew the outside which is exactly where he did not want to be, but he got a terrific gate and led into the first bend. Christian had his mind set on taking home some of the International Motor Speedway money and he quickly relieved Ferrell of the lead. At this point the race seemed to be history. Suddenly, Sandona went to the extreme outside and began a wild charge. He came close but ran out of time and fell short by one length. Lance King won the first semi over Schwartz with an impressive outside ride while Christian put on another dazzling display annihilating the field to win over Sigalos in the second semi. The Scratch main saw Schwartz burst into the early lead from the pole over Christian, Sigalos and King, who was riding Mike Bast's bike after he tweeked his own in the Handicap main. Christian displayed his usual insane style and was manhandling his machine in an effort to catch Schwartz. It was then tbat Sigalos quietly slipped alongside Christian on the back chute and put him away at the end of the first go-round for second. Sigalos then took Schwartz in turn two on lap two for the lead. Schwartz put up a momentary battle but "Siggy" pulled away to eventually win by 10 lengths. Christian took a close third while King got credit for the wrap up after pulling in on lap three. . Christian ( TP/Hi-Point/Bell Godd) took an extremely popular win off the 40 in the Handicap main. While Mike Mazzacane was putting theall-new Maely motor into the lead from the short yardage at the start, King went down, that forced Schwartz to slow and effectively eliminated both of them. Christian meanwhile, took Buddy Robinson for second at the start of lap two and then got a tubborn Mazzacane at the end of the third revolution for the lead. Sigalos seemed to come from nowhere to challenge Christian on the last circuit and tried to pull even on the back chute, but he was forced to settle for second at the Sid Sutton checkered. After the race Sigatos vehemently complained to referee Moon that he was moving backwards as the gate went up thus causing him to eventually lose the race. Bobby Cody took his second Junior main in four days by placing the Cody Products/F.O.M./Team Swollen Machine into the victory circle over Scott Correy and Billy Felts. • Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Dennis Sigalos (Wes); 2. Bobby Schwartz (Jaw); 3. Alan Christian (Godd); 4. Lance King (Wes). HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Alan Christian (Godd); 2. Dennis Sigaloa (Wes); 3. Mike Mazucane(Mae); 4. Buddy Robinoon (Kaw); 5. Bobby Schwartz (Jaw); 6. La nee King (Wes). JR MAIN: 1. Bobby Cody; 2. Scan Correy; 3. Billy Faits; 4. Grog Hanc:ocl<; 5. Ryan Evans; 6. C• ..-on Evans.