COSTA MESA, CA

With the National one week away, Saturday night was the final tune-up on what is shaping up to be a star-studded championship. Billy Janniro (above), back from England, looked in top form and ready to defend his National title, as he won the final main event of the season. Chris Manchester hasn't raced all year, but he will be on hand for the National. Josh Larsen dusted off his bike for a trial run as he, too, will be on the program next week. Charlie "The Edge" Venegas, who spent the summer promoting speedway in Northern California, will be a rider to be reckoned with. Also, Ricky Wells will be back from England to contest for the National title.

It was an all-Scratch program with three rounds of racing and the top 10 in points transferring to two semis.

The first semi had Venegas on the pole, with "Battlin' Buck" Blair in gate two, Jimmy "Little Animal" Fishback in three, and Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz and Russell Green on the outside. Blair cut the best gate, but Venegas, riding the outside, took the long way around and got by on the white-flag lap to take the win. Both would transfer to the main, while Green and Fishback headed for the last-chance qualifier. The night was over for Schwartz.

The second semi had Janniro on the pole, with "Flyin' Mike" Faria in two, "Fast Eddie" Castro in three, and Gino Manzares and Josh Larsen on the outside. This time it was all Janniro, as he was out on top and going away. Manzares, a former Junior rider, was more than on his game, and he logged a solid second to ensure himself a spot in the main; this would be his first main event as a First Division rider. Larsen and Faria would get one more shot in the LCQ, and Castro was out.

The LCQ could be a main event anywhere, anytime. The pole went to Faria, with Schwartz in two, Larsen in three and Green in four. They loaded in, the light went green, and Faria exploded off the line. Schwartz was riding double along with him but could not find any opening on the small bullring to make a move, and the win went to Faria - he was headed to the main.

They rolled to the line to choose their start position. Janniro had first choice and, to the surprise of many, he opted for gate two. Venegas was more than happy to take the pole. Blair lined up in three, and Manzares took the outside. Faria was in four.

This is where the night got very bizarre.

The first try at a go saw Blair get into the tapes, to the breaking point. He was out, and they lined up again.

This time it was Faria who got into the tapes, and he was out.

They lined up again, and this time it was Janniro who got into the tapes. We were down to a match race between Manzares and Venegas. Manzares' father was leaving for Iraq in the morning, and he dedicated the night to his dad. He turned to the crowd and got the chant going: "Bring them all back." He wanted a race.

On closer inspection of the tapes, the officials determined they were not working properly, and they let Faria and Janniro back in but still eliminated Blair, as he'd gotten into the tapes before the light went green.

They lined up, and this time it was a clean start. Janniro exploded off the line, with Venegas on his tail. Manzares was running third and holding Faria at bay. This was the way it would be in the quick four-lapper, and Janniro served notice he was going to be the guy to beat next week.

Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen (above) showed everyone why they have the number-one plate on their sidecar as they topped Gerard Jackson & David German and the Driggers, Sean & Missy, to win the Sidecar main.

Drew Coats (195, left) and Chris Jones took the wins in the Support and Support B classes, respectively. The Junior winners were River McDougall and Hayley Perrault.

Results

SCR: 1. Billy Janniro (JAWA/CZ); 2. Charlie Venegas (JAWA/CZ); 3. Gino Manzares (JAWA/CZ); 4. Mike Faria (JAWA/CZ); 5. Buck Blair (JAWA/CZ).

SUP: 1. Drew Coats (JAWA/CZ); 2. Rick Farron (JAWA/CZ); 3. Kyle Hicks (JAWA/CZ); 4. Ryan Tovatt (JAWA/CZ); 5. Dylan Black (JAWA/CZ).

SUP B: 1. Chris Jones (JAWA/CZ); 2. T-Rod Requejo (JAWA/CZ); 3. Mike Wiley (JAWA/CZ); 4. Mike Boyle (JAWA/CZ); 5. Norman Graham (JAWA/CZ).

SDCR: 1. Joe Jones/Jimmy Olsen (Suzuki); 2. Gerard Jackson/David German (Yamaha); 3. Sean Driggers/Missy Driggers (Yamaha); 4. Brian Motis/Chris Leavitt (Yamaha).

JR D-1: 1. River McDougall (Honda); 2. Rocco Scopellite (JAWA/CZ); 3. Sam Ramirez (Honda); 4. Nicky Reimer (Honda).

JR D-2: 1. Hayley Perrault (JAWA/CZ); 2. Dylan Ruml (Honda); 3. Brian Pintar (Honda); 4. Jacob Wondolowski (Honda); 5. Michael Wells (Honda).