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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127805
SPEEDWAY AMA U:S. National Speedway Championship. Orange County ,Fairgrounds Steve Lucero had his game face on and was not making with the jokes, which is his style most Friday nights during the regular season. ''I'm ready for everybody, and the biggest challenge is all 15 riders," Lucero said. "J just want to be a little bit in front of them." Lucero was definitely riding a wave as he had successfully defended his California State Championship title in Auburn, California. Going into the National, he was the Costa Mesa points leader. Could he put it all together tonight and improve upon his thirdplace finish from .last year by standing on top of the podium? Time would tell. Two-time U.s. National Champion Bobby Schwartz, who had finished seco~d last year in a very .controversial runoff, was short and to the point. "J think I'm going to win," he said. The race format to determine the National Championship is very simple and has been worldwide since 1930. It is a round robin with every rider meeting each one of his competitors once during five rounds of racing. They have to start from each one of the four starting positions with the luck of the draw determining which position he will get to start from twice during the night. Points are scored 3-2-1-0 in each heat with a maximum score of 15 points possible if a racer scores a win in all five rounds. The competit'or must complete all four laps to receive points. The other rule is touch the tapes and you're out. By Elaine Jones Photos by Stan Hansen Photography COSTAMESA, CA, SEPT. 28 couple of questions had to be answered Saturday night at the United States National Speedway Championship at -... - - I the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Foremost on the minds of the 16 best riders in the country was whether or not' the number-one plate would stay in the United States or spend another year in Europe on an American rider campaigning overseas. American speedway's most prestigious title had not been held by a U.S.-based rider since Chris Manchester won it in 1992. "A true champion can win two times in a row," said reigning' U.S. National Champion Greg Hancock, who had just finished third in the world and had come back earlier in the week to prepare for the National. At the practice session Thursday, Hancock had sorted things out, getting reacquainted with the shorter tracks of the United States. Motorcycle owner Lee Cohen had supplied a chassis for Hancock, who had brought his own motor from England. (Above) Number one again: Steve Lucero became the first U.S.based rider to win the U.S. NatIonal Championship In three years after defeating two-time winner and current overseas rider Mike Faria In a runoff. It was his second such title as Lucero also took t.he event in 1988. (Above right) Faria (left) returned from Scotland to make an attempt at a third tl1l8, Two-time National Champion Bobby Schwartz (middle) scored 10 points to tie for fourth. (Right) Northern California's Louis Kossuth (left) was the surprise of the U.S. National. Kossuth put together consistent finishes to score 11 points and finish third. ROUND 1 Lucero had the pole for the Grellosponsored first event with Schwartz in two, Northern California's Louis Kossuth in three and Andy Northrup in four. The nerves were showing as they got as far as turn three with Lucero leading when Schwartz, Kossuth and Northrup tangled and the red flag came out. On the second try, Lucero again got by Schwartz as they hit turn one, but this time Kossuth went down as he tangled with Schwartz. Because the track was so damp, the referee allowed everyone to ,restart. On the third try, Schwartz won .the race to the first corner and held Lucero to seco'nd with Kossuth third. . Stanley Exhaust Tech's heat two featured 1993 event runner-up Gary Hicks on the pole with '87 U.S. National Champion Brad Oxley in two, Don adorn in three and Jim Sisemore in four. Again the first corner caused problems as Hicks clipped adorn and sent him to the wall, and Sisemore then clipped Hicks, which sent Hicks over the bars. The red was out. It was a sad ending to the night for adorn, who left the event with an injured elbow, as this was to be his final night of racing; he had already announced his plans to retire and get serious with golf. adorn was replaced by reserve rider Pat Linn. On the restart, Hicks hit the tape and was replaced by reserve Jake Zemke. Oxley got the call on the third try and went wire to wire