Qualifying Continues for Speedway Cycle Championship

Thirteen positions for the U.S. speedway motorcycle championship will be at stake at 8 tonight as qualifying continues at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

A field of 32 will compete in three scratch heat races, hoping to advance to the semifinals and then the four-rider finals.

Defending champion Alan Christian of Huntington Beach has been seeded into the championship on Oct. 11 at the Fairgrounds. Overseas riders Sam Ermolenko of Cypress and Lance King of Fountain Valley have also been seeded into the championship based on their performance in the American Final two months ago in Long Beach.

Another overseas rider, Bobby Schwartz of Costa Mesa, will return from the British Speedway League for tonight’s race. Schwartz was the final rider to earn a spot in the qualifiers.

John Sandona of Reche Canyon was won two consecutive scratch main events at Costa Mesa. Sandona, 31, is the oldest Division I rider in Southern California. Other top riders scheduled to compete include Mike Faria of Colton, Steve Lucero of Riverside, Brad Oxley of San Clemente, Robert Pfezting of Garden Grove and Ronnie Correy of Fullerton.