Ermolenko Leads U.S. to Victory

Speedway motorcyclist Sam Ermolenko of Cypress won five consecutive heat races to lead the U.S. team to victory Friday night against a group of world-class racers in front of 2,200 at South Bay Stadium in Gardena.

Ermolenko finished third in his first race behind Jeremy Doncaster of Great Britain and Ronnie Correy of Fullerton and then won five heats in a row to lead the U.S. team in an event billed as the U.S. vs. the World.

The leading scorer for the World team was Phil Collins of Great Britain, who resides in Newport Beach. Collins scored 13 points, but it wasn’t enough to offset the early margin of the U.S. team which took a 24-18 lead at halftime. Ermolenko scored 16 points.

The two-day program will resume tonight on the half-mile track at Ascot Park, where the World team, which is accustomed to half-mile tracks, will be heavily favored. The winner of the series will be determined by a total of points from both nights of racing.

In a featured match race, former two-time world champion Bruce Penhall of Laguna Hills defeated Ivan Mauger of New Zealand, 2-1, in a two-out-of-three, four-lap match race at halftime.

Alan Christian of Murietta won the four-lap scratch main event Friday night in front of 3,312 in the weekly speedway program at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

Bobby Schwartz of Costa Mesa was second, Jim Sisemore of Woodland third and Steve Lucero of Riverside fourth.

Billy Hamill of Monrovia won the eight-lap handicap main event. Scott Brown of Chino was second, Christian was third and Brad Oxley of San Clemente fourth.

In the feature match race, Mike Faria of Colton defeated Oxley.