Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

. c.. ...._,.... '-It 1ft 111I_ .... ......r t y_ AlIA CIlu ilia , . . . t_ II.dd fluid .d..-d tID IIIwd In wedgie save after a great start, and Hamill, who missed the start out of lane four. Hamill moved into second place as Janniro wrestled his bike down the back straightaway. After three complete rounds Brant, HamiJI and Faria led the way with eight points apiece. The fourth round started with Hamill and Fisher meeting for the first time, in the program and also in lapone dust. Fisher was out first, with Hamill in hot pursuit, and they came together in turn three, bringing the red flag from referee Steve Lucero. "I knew he was coming," said Fisher of Hamill's obviously aggressive move, "and when my bike sputtered a bit, we came together. It was just racing really." On the restart, Fisher won the drag race to the corner and dealt Hamill his second consecutive second-place finish. Event 14 was costly for 2000 Junior Champion Bryan Yarrow, who collided with Cam Rafferty and Tommy Hedden in the first turns. Yarrow separated his shoulder and was replaced by Chris Kerr for the restart. Tommy won the second try, and Rafferty, who lives and rides in Binghamton, New York, finished second. The next heat found Hancock winning his third consecutive heat and in the process chopping another point off Janniro's projected total. Faria's title bid took the same blow when Brant made the best start and took his third win of the evening despite a couple of problems exiting turn two on several laps. With one W • INItIIe for turn _ RIIftwt,v _ . . I - . .... Yell'll: rtder ...... IntD _ AlIA ...11 ... ..,. ...... ........... tIIlnlln_D ........ round to go, Brant led the way with 11 points, followed by Faria, Fisher, Hamill and Hancock with 10 apiece. Coming into the first heat of the final round, Janniro was sitting on nine points and had to have a win to stay in contention for the A Main. He got it by beating Faria, who got the better start but was pushed wide in turn three. That left them deadlocked at 12 points apiece. Hamill won his last heat over Hancock, whose twopoint finish also dropped him into a 12-point tie with Faria and Janniro. Hamill finished with 13 and went directly to the A Main. Venegas posted his only win of the night in event 19. "I knew I had to get into the C Main to avoid the Elimination races in September, so I hung it out a bit," said Venegas who spent the entire event working on his Jawa. In the final heat race, Brant only needed a second-place finish to claim a transfer to the A Main. Fisher needed a win to get there, and he got it. Brant had to back off a bit to avoid Fisher in the second set of turns, and it cost him when Bobby Hedden took over the runner-up spot. Brant would be joining Faria, Janniro and Hancock in a four-man run-off for the final two A Main spots. In that run-off, Hancock out of lane two and Janniro from the pole earned the transfers, joining Fisher and Hamill for the night's biggest race. The final races began with Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz flashing the style that has made him one of Speedway's all-time greats as he ILeft to right) Coventry Bees teammates Fisher, winner Hamill and Janniro take to the podium. Fisher's second-place finish was a career best in AMA National competition. crashes with. The second restart saw Hamill get clear coming out of the first turns with Fisher in tow. Janniro ran close enough to Fisher to taste his lunch but couldn't find a way around and settled for third, just ahead of Hancock, whose mediocre start from gate four left him the last man on the track. With half the series concluded, Hamill holds the top spot in his quest for his third-straight AMA National Speedway title, with 21 points. Fisher is second, with 19, Janniro is third, with 16, and Hancock fourth, with 14. Hamill and Fisher both received a bonus point for leading the heats in scoring with 13. CN extended his D Main win streak that he started in 2002 to four. In the C Main, Venegas led the first three laps before catching a hole on the back straightaway and giving away the lead, and the eight points that came with the win, to Manchester; who was the only returning British League rider not in the A Main. Arguably the fastest man on the night, Brant owned the B Final when he beat Faria and the top Northern California points leaders Bobby Hedden and Bast to the flag. The A Main, for all its buildup, turned into a bit of an intense marathon. In the first try Janniro and Hamill couldn't get out of each other's way in the first turns, with Janniro slow to rise after bruising his foot. Hancock appeared to have a great line from gate four, but that was rendered moot by the restart. On the restart, Fisher got the start, Hamill was keeping Hancock wide, and Janniro was in close pursuit of Fisher. Suddenly Hamill blasted inside Janniro and into turn three, depositing himself and Fisher near the turn-four crashwall. It was the first lap, and a full restart was ordered. "Wow, sometimes it's hard to believe we all ride for the same team in England," Hamill joked after the event, referring to Fisher and Janniro, both of whom he was involved in Fast Fridloys Speedway Auburn, Califa':llia Results: July 25, 2003 (Round 1 af ZJ A MAIN: 1. Billy Hamill (GM); 2. Ryan Fisher (Jaw); 3. Billy Janniro (Jaw); 4. Greg Hancock (OM). B MAIN: 1. Scott Brant (GM); 2. Mike Faria (Jaw); 3. Bobby Hedden (Jaw): 4. Bart Bast (Jaw). C M.AIN: 1. Chris Manchester (OM); 2. Charlie Venegas (Jaw): 3. Tommy Hedden (Jaw); 4. Eddie Castro (Jaw). o M.AIN: t. Bobby Schwartz (GM); 2. Eric Carrillo (Jaw); 3. Cam Rafferty (Jaw); 4. Brian Yarrow (Jaw). AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SPEEDWAY SERIES STANDINGS (After 1 or 2 rounds): 1. Billy Hamill (21/1 win); 2. Ryan Fisher (19); 3. Billy Janniro (16); 4. Greg Hancock (14); 5. Scott Brant (12); 6. Mike Faria (11); 7. Bobby Hedden (10); 8. Bart Bast (9); 9. Chris Manchester (8); 10. Charlie Venegas (7); 11. Tommy Hedden (6); 12. Eddie Castro (5); 13. Bobby Schwartz (4): 14. Eric Carrillo (3);15. Cam Rafferty (2); 16. Brian Yarrow (1). Upcoming Round: Round 2 - Auburn, California. September 26 BRIEFLY••• Planning to come home?: Former World Speedway Champion Billy "The Bullet" Hamill has recently purchased a home near the ocean in Carlsbad. Califomia. Hamill, who began riding in Europe back in 1g90 and has had 10·year testimonials with Smedema in Sweden and Coventry in England, is looking to the future and his family. "My kids have mainly grown up in Sweden and haven't really even experienced a Southern California summer." Hamill said. "I can't wait to spend some time with them at the beach. The house is close to the water, and hopefully we'll be doing some boogie boarding together come August. " Former U.S. National Speedway Champion Chris Manchester, who has been riding for the Belle Vue Aces in the British Elite League and averaging 4.33 points a meeting, has been signed on loan for a one-month trial period to the Premier League Somerset Rebels in High Bridge. Considering the fact that Bobby "BOO9aloo" Schwartz began racing Speedway bikes back in 1974, this season marks the 30th year that he has been tuming left with no brakes. Schwartz's accomplishments alone could fill a good-sized notebook, including two U.S. National, two Califomia State, two World Best pairs, and three Brighton Pairs Championships as well as a 1982 World Team Cup Championship, a 1998 Jack Milne Cup and no fewer than four Costa Mesa Fair Derby Championships. One of the most amazing things about Schwartz is his uncanny ability to reach the first tum first. He may not dominate the way he once did, but his gates are as impressive as ever - just look at a RAZ Video tape from the past four AMA National Championship "D" Mains in 2002 and 2003. Schwartz has won every one. In early July former World Speedway Champion and three-time U.S. National Champion Greg Hancock signed to ride for Oxford of the Elite League. Hancock, who rides in Sweden and Poland as well as the Speedway Grand Prix series, last rode and captained at Coventry in 2001. cue I e n e vv s

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