Moran Tops Field for Cycle Races

Two-time U.S. champion Kelly Moran of Huntington Beach heads the field of riders scheduled to compete tonight in the Coors Spring Classic at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Gates open at 6:30 with the first heat race scheduled to begin at 8 o’clock.

Moran will be challenged by British Speedway League stars Lance King, Sam Ermolenko, Rick Miller and Bobby Schwartz. Top local riders in the field include Mike Faria, Alan Christian, John Sandona and Gene Woods.

Schwartz and King figure to be Moran’s top challenger. Schwartz, who lives on Balboa Island during the offseason, has won two World Best Pairs titles, teaming with retired Bruce Penhall and then Dennis Sigalos to win the championships.

King, 21, finished second behind Denmark’s Erik Gundersson in the World Final last year in Sweden. Ermolenko was voted the top rookie in the British Speedway League and qualified for the league’s rider championship.

Kelly Moran’s younger brother Shawn, the World Long Track champion in 1983, is scheduled to return to Europe this weekend to have a plate surgically removed from a broken arm and will miss the series. Another local favorite, Dubb Ferrell, suffered a broken collarbone while riding an ATC and will also miss the races.

Racing continues Sunday in San Bernardino for a day meet beginning at 2 o’clock and then shifts to the quarter-mile track at Long Beach on March 9, where the British-based Americans are expected to make a strong showing.