Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Warren Russell Cup Costa Mesa SpEEdway PHOTO BV MIKE BASSO The Kid Uses the Cup as a Tune-Up By third heat. Both would advance, but now the two tied in points were Faria and Manchester. It was all Billy Hiles in the final round, and another Northern Cal rider was headed to the semis. There were three spots left in the semis, and four riders tied in points: "Fast Ed" Castro, Chris Kerr, Shawn Harmatiuk and Jimmy Fishback. This was the race in which nobody wanted to be last. it was quick but not sweet for Fishback, as he got passed by Kerr on the whit....flag lap, and his night was over. After the first semi, Manchester and Schwartz were on their way to the main, with Kerr and Blair headed to the last-chance quaHfier. The second semi was all Faria and Hannatiuk, while Bast and Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell would get one more shot In the LCQ. The LCQ had Bast on the pole, with McConnell in two. Blair chose three, and Kert opted for four. Bast got the gate and was out on top, using the outside line. McConnell was second. using the low line. A remarkable move by McConnell carne on the white-flag lap when he got under Bast in three and came out running on top. That was all he needed to be the final man in the Scratch main. The flip of the coin saw Manchester get first choice for the main; the pole was his. Faria loaded into two, Harmatiuk into three, and McConnell and Schwartz were on the outside. They loaded in, the light came on and the tape came up. Manchester exploded out of one, with Faria going with him and Schwartz running close in third. It was tight for one lap, and then everyone ELAINE JONES COSTA MESA, CA, SEPT. 10 hris "The Kid" Manchester, a two-time National Champion and the youngest (at 18) to win the title, used the Warren Russell Cup on Saturday night at Costa Mesa Speedway as a final tuneup for the National. It was an all-Scratch format, with three C rounds of racing. Points determined the top 10 riders to advance to the semis; scoring was 4-3-2-1-0. The first heat got off to a rocky stan when Ryan Fisher lost his chain in the first turn. He was able to make the fIX in the twominute hold. On the restan, he was out on top and running hard. He was within 20 feet of the finish when the chain came off again and the bike stood up. Charlie Venegas was running a close second and he got caught in the backlash and was sent hard into the wall. He was awarded the win, but a shoulder injury sidelined him for the rest of the night. "Flyin' Mike" Faria, Manchester and Bobby "BoogaIoo" Schwartz all carne away with wins. "Cowboy" Bobby Krips started things off in the second round, and after a poor showing in the first go~around, those four points were precious. Faria, Manchester and Schwartz were still on track and all had perfect scores. The third round would be make-or-break for a lot of riders. Faria came away with a perfect score and was ensured a spot in the semis. Northern California's Bart Bast finally got his first win, backing up his two seconds, and he, too, could sit back and watch. Manchester was the spoiler, as he beat Schwartz in the Chris Manchester won the Warren Russell Cup at Costa Mesa Speedway. was content to follow Manchester home, and the win was his. On back it was Faria, Schwartz, McConnell and Harmatiuk. 01 COSTA MESA SPEEDWAY COSTA MESA, CAUfORNlA RESULTS: SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 sa, I. Chris Mand>eoter (Jaw): 2- Mike Faria (Jaw); J. Bobby Schwartz 0_); 4. Shown McConnell (GM): s. Shown H.....-k (Jaw). SUP: I. Rudy lAu 0_); 2. Chris M....,... (Jaw); J. _ Valdez (Jaw); 4. Bryan Buffmgton (Jaw); S. S Murray (Jaw). SUP B, I. Marl< u.ne 0-); 2. John Zuber (Jaw); J. M;ke Boyle (Jaw): 4. I(;m 0_): S. Marl< Skeels (Jaw). JR D-I, I.p,on Ram;"" (Hon); 2. Ricky Valdez (Hon); J. Gino Manures (Hon); -4. Austin Navratil (Hon). JR 0-2: I. Cory wm;am,on (Hon); 2. Joey Holt (Hon): J. Chad Hoyt (She); 4. Dybn Black (Hon). P/W 50 D-I: I. Domin;c Man= 2. AusUn Bea"d; J. Shone 1eny. P/W 50 D-2: I. Ryan Delong; 2. Jesse lee Nash: J. Spencer Hunter·~ ... Ben McConnefI. x....... Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Amateur Series Round 10: Yadkin Valley Stomp Aaron Wegner, and they battled the entire race, with Watkins taking the lead on the first lap. Robinson getting it on the fourth lap, and Wegner holding on to it for almost the rest of the race. Robinson Rules! Together. they set a good pace. Andrews Cycles/Pro CircuitJDunlop-supported Watkins got the holeshot and quickly got around many of the Pros - which was no easy feat, By DEBBIE AllEN YADKIN VAWY, NC, SEPT. 11 f the Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series changed its venue to your neck of the woods, you'd be pumped, right? Riding on his own stomping grounds tends to make any man grin, so when GNCC officials moved the 10th round of the series to Yadkinville, North Carolina, Jesse Robinson was on cloud nine. The Yadkin Valley Stomp was too close to his home to claim anything but top amateur status. Racing in the 250cc A class, there was no stopping the Team Green/Moose/IMS/Maxxis/Maxima-backed Robinson. He battled with the best on a very tough course, getting his first win after a four-year stretch of racing in GNCC amateur competitions. After accomplishing this win, he charged his way into eighth place overall. Off the start, Robinson maneuvered into sixth and picked off three riders when they fell going into the first turn. From that point on, he hooked up with front-runners Scott Watkins and considering aU the dust and some very difficult spots such as the I z ~ ;i ':SliZJJ~ iii lB e m ~ it Jesse Robinson topped the 250

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