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Coat. Mesa - San Bernardino - Venhlra - Anbarn - Napa - Coata M... - San Bernardino - V_hlra - Aabarn - Napa - Coate M... - San. SPEED~AY~EEK ~ § Faria three straight at Ventura 6 By Bm Locey ~ ~ \'ENTl RA. CA. APR. 21 ~ Mike Faria is in a rut mo t speedway rider dream about. taking the cratch main for the third straight week at Ventura (J) ~ it Buddy Robinson and Sterling Cogar circulate inside San Berdoo winner Alan Christian. Kelly Moran won his first Ventura Handicap main since 1977. Christian stops Faria IMS streak By Scott Daloisio SA BERNARDINO, CA, APR. 25 The streak is over. After winning the first three Scratch mains of the season, Mike Faria finished third and Alan "Crazy" 20 Christian took his first Inland MOLOrcycle Speedway victory of the season. Faria had the pole and had earlier taken wins in his semi, with the heat actually having a little extra curricular activity with Buddy Robinson after the checkered flag. The incident carried over to the main as they almost made it LO turn one before Christian and his bike went flying through the air, causing a red (lag. During the red flag period, referee Irwin Moon asked Robinspn Dot to chop down on his fellow competiLOrs before it was necessary. Christian (STPIHi-PointiWeaver Godd); now on a bike he borrowed from Mark Weaver, out-trapped the field and led into the first corner with Faria in hot pursuit. Faria was breathing down the leader's neck when he came into the first bend tOO hard on lap two and laid it down. He remounted as quickly as possible but was a distant fourth. Robinson attempted LO catch Christian for the lead and the possibility of a lillIe more elbow activity loomed very likely, but the "Big Fella " was gone and took the win by a comfortable margin. Faria came back toclaim third as Kelly Moran broke on lap three. Andy Northrup (J & M Trophies & Silk Screen Wes) out-bumped fellow IO-yard-line starter Dennis Briggs in turn two and went on to win the Handicap main. As usual, the 5,lory at IMS was Faria. Starting 20 yards Behind his closest competitor, Faria passed three riders before the end of the first circuit and found himself in third place. The white and blue "comet" then took second from Strommer coming out of four on the third revolution. At this time catching orthrup seemed academic. Faria pulled up LO the rear tire of the young Ontario charger, but he was unable LO get by and was forced LO take the checkers in second. For orthrup it was a hard-earned, first-ever IMS Division One win. trommer took third with Mazzacane fourth. Pat Cain (Imperial Spa/KaI-Gardl Jones Goggles Jaw) came off the 10yard line to win the Second Division main. Cain started with Ronnie Correy but was firmly entren hed in first by the second turn. Wayne LeuLZ moved from the 20 LO chop down Cain's lead and make a challenge on the final circuit. Leutl allempted to bump Cain outof the way in the final bend. Cain went wide a a result of the bump but he stayed on the throttle to take the win by inches. Sweden's Lennart Bengtsson finished third in his first-ever IMS appearance. Dennis Hall (McCoy's ptic Service/AME Wes) rode the ex-Lance King We lake LO a win in the Third Division main. Don Butler continued his fine riding but was forced to take a second in both his heat and the main to Hall. Rick Sweaney rode home third. Jessee Finch (Speeway Magazine) did it again as he took the Junior Speedway main from the40-yard line. Finch passed the much-improved Kelcey Gordon on lap three and ran away from the pack to score the win. Billy Felts slid home second with Ryan Evans taking third. Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Alan Christian (Goddl; 2. Buddy Robinson (Jawl; 3. Mike Faria (Wes); 4. Kelly Moran (Goddl. HANICAP MAIN: 1. Andy Northrup (Wesl; 2. Mike Faria (Wes); 3. Kurt Stromme, (Wes); 4, Mike Maz· zacane (Jawl: 5. Dennis Briggs (Godd); 6. Greg Ayars (Was). SEC DIV: 1. Pal Cain (Jaw): 2. Wayne LeUlZ (Was): 3. Lennan Bengtsson (Jaw); 4. Ronnie Correy (Jaw): 5. Mark Weaver (Goddl; 6. Steve Murray paw). THIRD DIV: 1. Dennis Hall (Was); 2. Don BUllar (Jaw): 3. Rick Sweaney (Jaw): 4. Oscar Salinas (Jawl; 5. Randy Beddow (Jaw); 6. Mark Rotondo (Jaw). JR MAIN: 1. Jauee Finch; 2. Billy Felts; 3. Ryan 4. Kelcey Goeden; 5. Jaymlt Finch e.ns; Racewav. O\'er the veal's. besides Faria last yea~. i\like Ba·l. Steve BasI. Jim Fishback, Alan Christian and Lance Ki ng ha\'e all won Ihrt'e in a row. The record for \'entura is five in a row by Christian in 1978 and Mike Bast in 1979. The way Faria has been riding, maybe he'lI have a shot at King's record 16 wins (Scratch and Handicap main) set in 1981. In Handicap racing. Kelly Moran not only u'ansferred for Ihe first time this season. but won the main. and will try life off Ihe 50 next week. It was Moran's first Handicap win since 1977. In the main Moran outgaled his two rivals off the 40. leaving only young Rocky Robinson who starled 40 yards ahead. On the third lap Robinson wilted. Moran blew bv and won easily. Brad Oxley, who m"oved inLO the third spot in track points. was second. In the Scntlch main. Oxley (who beat Faria in a heat race) got the gate, but Faria caught him in turn two and bulled his way underneath. pushing Oxley into the lead. Faria passed him around turn four. A lap later as Moran was aboul to make his mo\'e. his bike lost power for the third straight week. Iea"ing Faria no problems. John Mazzacane. a reserve gelling a ride on a no-show, led the Second Division main from start LO finish. proving that it's wonhwhile to show up as a reserve. Behind him. Walt Farnum who usually wins or crashes around turn four. changed his m.o. and crashed around turn one. Donny Faulkner. who was trailing. clipped Farnum's bike going by. and fell and broke his collarbone. Tired of seeing thei r sad lillie faces when told they ('ouldn't get on'lhe program. Velllura Raceway has added a third Third Division heat when Iwo were probably more than enough. Second Division didn't suffer because of it - they slill have three heatsbUI now 18 new guys get Ihe hance to go fasl or fall ovel'. This time. most of them went fasl. Rich Sweaney was fastest. winni ng his heat then passing Donny l\IcCusker on the final lap to take the main for the second straight week. Results SCRATCH MAIN: 1. Mike Faria: 2. Brad Oxley: 3. Andy Northrup; 4. Kelly Moran. HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Kelly Moran: 2. Brad Oxley: 3. Ed Castro: 4. Mike Faria; 5. Rocky Robinson; 6. Buddy Robinson. SECOND DIV: 1. John Manacane: 2. Doug Ben· Jamin; 3. Dennis Hall: 4. Donny Butler: 5. Donny Faulkner; 6. Walt Farnum. THIRD OIV: 1. Rich Sweaney; 2. Donny McCusker; 3. Wayne Selman; 4. Bill Conway; 5. Paul Lane; 6. Jim Peery. MATCH RAC: Brad Oxley del. Kelly Moran. Faria, Northrup enjoy Tuesday night By Bill Locey VENTURA, CA, APR. 10 "Flyin' Mike" Faria, points leader virtually everywhere the last two seasons, returned to familiar ground - the winner's circle - as he took the Scratch Main _ •• at th~ y,>mr;notion by the Ocean.