By: Gary Roberts.
Another great evening of racing at Fast Fridays.
Following his success here in the 1998 AMA National, Greg Hancock
returned, but his first 1999 visit to Auburn
was not among his most successful. A valve spring broke while was
warming his bike up and Rick Shafer kindly
came to the rescue with the loan of his Jawa laydown. After his
first race, Greg took the carburettor off his own
bike and put it on Rick's.
1. Mike Faria
2. Greg Hancock
3. Charlie Venegas
4. Bobby Hedden
Mike Faria demonstrated the same form that earned him the US National
title in 1997, when he beat both Billy
and Greg, each no less than four times. He gated well and stayed ahead
for four laps. Greg had won his scratch
heat and beat Mike in the semifinal.
In Mike's scratch heat, he was beaten by Ryan Fisher. Ryan continues
to improve every week. Next Friday he is
riding for the North in the Civil War, and his team partner is
Mike Faria.
1. Bart Bast
2. Billy Janniro
3. Ryan Fisher
4. Robert Curry
1. Robert Curry
2. Ian Essary
3. Ian Ferris
4. Mike Faria
5. Jim Sisemore
6. Bart Bast
1. Greg Hancock
2. Charlie Venegas
3. Bobby Hedden
4. Chad Felicio
5. Ryan Fisher
6. Matt King
In the first run of the Handicap Consolation Chad Felicio was deemed the
cause of an accident in which Ryan Fisher and
Greg Hancock went down. Chad was moved to the back for the
restart.
In his handicap semifinal Greg showed that he hasn't been doing too many
handicap races recently when he
rolled at the start. No-nonsense referee Harlan Bast Jnr. moved him back
from the 40 yard line to the 60 yard
line, behind 50 yard men, Hedden and Venegas. Greg was unable to make up
the ground, so failed to qualify for
the main.
1. Donny Robinson
2. Rachalle Kerr
3. Tom Adams
4. Josh West
5. Ivan Sevart
6. Mike Browne
Donny Robinson left it to turn four of the last lap to take the win from
Rachalle Kerr, with a fast burst to overtake
her on the outside. Donny has been riding at Costa Mesa each week this
year, after riding as a junior at Auburn
last year.
1. Don Webster
2. Tom Odekirk
3. Eric Veale
4. Scott Olney
5. Terry McCurdy
6. Harlan Bast
1. Robert Mellor
2. John Knapp
3. Jamie Hughes
4. Vince Bertolucci
5. Greg Hooten
6. Chris Hall
7. Brian Leventon
8. Clark Caravella
This was a great race. The front three continued to swap places until the
exit of the last turn.
1. Ron Woodsford
2. Mark Blasey
3. Mike Achilles
4. Chris Orlandi
5. Bill Dixon
6. Les Veale
7. Bill Warnock
8. Kevin Fereira
1. Eric Carrillo
2. Bryan Yarrow
3. JJ Martynse
4. Chris Kerr
5. Robert Curry
1. Brenton Bast
2. JT Mabry
3. Greg Hooten
4. Alex Marcucci
1. Danny Easley
2. Chris Olney
3. Mark Carrillo
4. Paul Johnson
5. Jeff Butler
Next week Fast Fridays holds the Civil War.
See http://www.speedwaybikes.com for the teams. It is traditionally
one of the biggest events of the year in California.
Gary Roberts groberts@iee.org
