Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Spring Classic Costa Mesa Speedway PHOTO BY MIKE BASSO Flyin' Mike's Flawless Five BY ELAINE JONES COSTA MESA, CA, APR. 30 I t was touch and go for Brad Oxley and crew as they pumped in water and brought in d.g. to get the track in shape for the Spring Classic at the famous Bullring at the Orange County Fairgrounds. When all was said and done, they did a superb job, and the riders were greeted, as always, with a well-groomed track. "Flyin' Mike" Faria made the trip (rom Reno well worth his while. as he won the Scratch main with a perfect score of five rides and five wins. The Spring Classic was an all-Scratch program - three rounds of heads-up racing. with the top I0 transferring to the semis and five maldng it to the main event. Points were earned by finish: 4-3-2-1-0. The opening heat of the night saw Ryan Fisher's return (rom England. He has some very fast equipment and a big hunger to win, as the rest of the field discovered when he made heat one his own wire-lo-wire romp. Shawn "Mad Dog McConnell" was second, with Danny Scopellite, Justin Boyle and Skyler Greyson rounding out the fleld. The second heat went to veteran Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz, who's always a player. He cut the best gate, and nobocly could touch him. Nate Perkins, Bryan Yarrow, Dario Galvin and John Stunkard followed him home. It was all Faria in the third heat. Northern California's Chris Kerr tried to give him some competition, but Faria was not to ~ denied. Kerr settled for second, followed by Randy "The Rocket" DiFrancesco, George Fox and Danny Perkins. Chris "The Kid" Manchester was on his game, sporting new hot-pink leathers and going very, very fast. Just ask "Cowboy" Bobby Krips, Tommy Hedden and "Fast Ed" Castro, all of whom followed him home. The second round saw McConnell lead off with a win, and Fisher, Faria and Manchester kept their perfect scores alive by winning their respective heats. The final round of heats started with Kerr taking the win, over McConnell, who pressured him but had to settle for second. Hedden held off Castro and Schwartz to win the next heat. Faria and Fisher met in the next heat. Faria broke Fisher's perfect score, and now he was three for three, and getting better as the night wore on. The final heat was all Manchester's. As they headed to the semis. two riders had perfect scores: Faria and Manchester. The first semi had Manchester on the pole, with Fisher in two, Krips in three and Yarrow and DiFrancesco in four and flYe. The gate went to Manchester. but the red came out as Fisher Mike Faria _s perfect at the Spring Classic at Califomia's Costa Mesa Speedway, winning five out of five rides on the night. and Krips got up close and personal with the front wall. It was an ugly crash, but both riders were able to restart. Again, Manchester cut the best gate, with Yarrow behind him. They went one-two and transferred to the main; Fisher and Krips would regroup for the last-chance qualifler. The second semi had Faria on the pole, McConnell in two, Kerr in three, and Schwartz and Hedden in four and frYe. It was gate, race and on to the main for Faria. Schwartz was second and also headed for the main. Kerr and McConnell were on their way to the LCQ. In the LCQ. Fisher exploded out of the gate and was gone! They rolled out for the main. Tied in points, MX Spring Series Round 9; Stead Raceway Manchester and Faria flipped a coin to see who would get first choice. The nod went to Faria, and he chose the pole. Manchester was in two, with Yarrow in three. Schwartz and Fisher were in four and flYe. It was a clean start, and ~ was all Faria, with Manchester a close second. Yarrow, Schwartz and Fisher rounded out the field. eN COSTA MlSA SPEEDWAY COSTA MESA, CAuFOllNlA RESULTS: APttIL 30, 2005 SCR: I. Mike Faria Oaw); 2. Chris Mancl'lester Oaw); 3. Bryan Yarrow Oaw): ... Bobby Schwartz Oaw); S. Ryan Fisher Uaw). SUP: I. Neil Fucchini Uaw}. SUP B: I. Troy McConnell (GM); L Ste

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