Motor Racing : Moran Is Leader of U.S. Team

Speedway motorcyclist Shawn Moran of Huntington Beach feared the worst after his practice session last weekend in Sweden for the InterContinental Final, the last qualifying round for the world championship.

The 23-year-old experienced mechanical problems all afternoon as his bike continually misfired during his two practice sessions. He figured he would have to be content just to qualify for the World Final later this month in Bradford, England.

“My best bike missed the whole time, and I thought I was in trouble,” Moran said. “My tuner, Trevor Hedge, and I worked on the bike all night for the next day’s race. It was strictly potluck. I jumped on the bike on race day and it flew. I was easily faster than anybody else.”

Moran scored 14 points in winning the InterContinental Final Saturday night and established himself as the favorite for the 48th World Final, the championship race of speedway motorcycle racing.

Moran should feel right at home in the World Final. He set a track record at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium last month en route to the Overseas Final title, the first qualifying round for the world title. He also won the semifinal round for the world long track championship scheduled next month in Denmark.

Saturday night, he will return to Southern California to ride for the American team in the World Team Cup at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. The American team also includes Bobby Schwartz, Lance King, John Cook and reserve Sam Ermolenko. King, Cook and Ermolenko have also qualified for the World Final.

The Americans will face two-time defending champion Denmark, England and Sweden in the only world championship motorsport event scheduled in this country in 1985.

Moran said he enjoys being in the favorite’s role for the grand slam of speedway--the individual, long-track and team titles. He became the first U.S. rider to win the world long-track title in 1983.

“This is a chance that I might never get again,” Moran said. “It doesn’t bother me that I’ve been picked as the favorite. I don’t feel any more pressure.”

Last year, Moran was one of the favorites in the World Final in Sweden, but he finished a disappointing sixth as Erik Gundersen of Denmark became the world champion. Gundersen will captain the Danish team at Long Beach.

While Shawn Moran is enjoying his finest season, his older brother, Kelly, is having a forgettable year. Kelly, two-time U.S. champion, hasn’t ridden in six weeks after cracking two ribs and then breaking his left foot. He is expected to return next Wednesday night at San Bernardino.

ROAD RACING--Funeral services for veteran racer Jim Cook of Cypress, who died of a heart attack last Saturday while qualifying for a race at Sears Point in Sonoma, will be held today at 2:30 p.m. at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier. Contributions may be made to the Jim Cook Memorial Fund at 3855 Avocado Blvd., Suite 140-233, La Mesa, Calif., 92041. . . . Mario Andretti has withdrawn from Saturday’s International Race of Champions because of injuries he suffered July 28 at the Michigan 500 Indy car race.

OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLES--Seven Californians are among the 36 riders named by the American Motorcyclist Assn. to represent the United States in the 1985 International Six Days Enduro Sept. 30-Oct. 5 in Alp, Spain. They are David Bertram of Rodeo, Larry Roeseler of El Cajon, Ron Naylor of Central Valley, Bill Fulmer Jr. of Quartz Hill, John Haaker of Los Altos, Jeff Irwin of Rancho Cordova and Jim Norris of Los Altos Hills.

STOCK CARS--Grand National star Joe Ruttman will drive in an open competition race Saturday night on the half-mile paved oval of Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield. Qualifying will be at 7, and the first race at 8. Ruttman will also race at Mesa Marin Aug. 17 before returning to the NASCAR circuit. . . . Frank Adamo of Taft used a second-place finish last week to take over the No. 2 spot in the Pro-Mod point standings at Bakersfield Speedway. Racing will continue Saturday at the quarter-mile clay oval. . . . Sportsman, mini stock, street stock and figure-eight drivers will compete in 40- 30- 25- and 15-lap main events Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

SPEEDWAY BIKES--Lance King and Sam Ermolenko, who both have qualified for the World Final Aug. 31 in Bradford, England, will be racing Friday night at the Orange County Fairgrounds.. . . The AMA cycles will be racing tonight at 8 p.m. at Ascot South Bay Stadium.

MIDGETS--Ascot Park will have U.S. Auto Club Jolly Rancher regional midget racing Sunday night at 7 with 50-year-old George Benson, the Turkey Night winner from 1969, among the drivers. On the same card, the three-quarter midgets of Ascot’s National Midget Racing Assn. and Ventura’s California Midget Assn. will conclude their four-race “civil war.”

SPORTS CARS--The Porsche Owners Club will hold event No. 4 in its 30th anniversary championship time trial series at Willow Springs International Raceway Saturday and Sunday.

SPRINT CARS--Hermosa Beach’s Eddie Wirth (1,366 points), Mike Sweeney of Carson (1,337) and Brad Noffsinger from Huntington Beach (1,312) are atop the season standings as the Kraco/CRA Championship Series continues Saturday at Ascot at 8 p.m.

DRAG RACING--Yesteryear drags, 1958 and older, will be running at noon Sunday at the L.A. County Raceway in Palmdale.

MOTOCROSS--The CMC Motocross event will be Friday night at 8 at Ascot.