PULLED OVER : Moran’s World Title Drive on Hold: Tests Say He Raced Under Influence of Alcohol

This was supposed to be Shawn Moran’s year. After spending 10 years competing in the British Speedway League, it seemed as if the transplanted Southern Californian would finally realize a childhood dream and win the world championship of speedway motorcycle racing.

All the signs leading to the world title were there.

Moran, who grew up in Huntington Beach and is now captain of the team at the Belle Vue track in England, has been the leading rider in the league since the season opened in April.

“Everything was going so well, I knew it was going to be my year,” Moran said. “Everything was going great . . . “

Moran’s voice trailed off as he thought about a Sunday afternoon last month in Korskro, Denmark. He was scheduled to compete in the first qualifying round for the World Long Track championship on May 14. Instead, he was disqualified after two heat races in which when officials determined that his blood-alcohol level was excessive.

Moran was given two Breathalyzer tests by officials of the governing Federation of International Motorcyclists (FIM). Moran tested well above the allowable levels set by the FIM.

Moran was disqualified from the race, but he faced more serious action. The American Motorcycle Assn. (AMA), the U.S. counterpart to the FIM, decided to take further action when it received a report of the incident, and suspended Moran from all world championship events for the 1989 season. He was banned from competing in the World Best Pairs, World Team Cup and World Final events.

A year with so much potential has ended before it began for Moran, who is driving in American Final tonight at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. The suspension means that even if Moran wins tonight’s race or is among the top four finishers, he will not advance to the next qualifying round in Great Britain.

In an interview, Moran talked about the incidents that led to his suspension and said he will appeal the suspension at a hearing this month.

Moran admits he made a mistake, and said he is willing to follow the suspension ordered by the AMA if he loses his appeal.

He blamed the incident on a riding accident two days before the qualifying race from which he was disqualified and later suspended.

Moran said he injured his elbow in a race in England before leaving for Denmark, and that he had gone drinking with friends. The night before the race in which he was disqualified, Moran said, he was unable to sleep because of pain in his elbow, and he drink “a few more beers.”

He had hardly slept when friends arrived to take him to the track in the morning. There were still three hours before the race began, so he decided to go back to sleep and take a taxi to the track.

“I felt rough when I woke up, but I figured I had plenty of time to get to the track,” Moran said. “I arrived just before the first race, and I was in the first race. I barely got into my leathers and made to the line for the start.

“I was hung over . . . my eyes were red,” Moran said. “But I felt good enough to ride.”

His demeanor during the race made officials suspicious.

“I came into the pits after the race and an FIM official asked me to take a Breathalyzer test,” Moran said. “I didn’t think twice about it. I was hung over, but I never took a drink that morning. They told me that I measured too high to be racing, and so I asked to take the test again.”

His blood-alcohol level on the second test 10 minutes later was identical to the first.

“It was an unfortunate incident,” Moran said. “I made a mistake. It happened and I got caught. I feel bad about it. I know I have to face the music, and I’ll do whatever the AMA rules.”

Moran has the right to an appeal hearing before a three-man board, said Bill Boyce, director of competition for the AMA. Once the appeal board makes a decision, the decision will be final.

“Shawn is being allowed to ride at Long Beach because he has filed an appeal,” Boyce said. “The whole thing is a shame. He’s never gotten into any trouble before and has been a model rider.

“This is the best year Shawn has had in his career. (His record) is no fluke. He’s led the league averages all year.”

Speedway Notes

Tonight’s program pits nine local riders against nine riders competing in the British Speedway League, plus two Canadian riders. Each rider will compete in five scratch races with the top four scorers advancing to the Overseas Final June 25 at Belle Vue. . . . Kelly Moran has been replaced by reserve Eddie Castro after Moran broke his finger reading in a testimonial race for his older brother, Shawn, last Saturday. A testimonial is an race in honor of a rider who has been in the league 10 years, and the rider being honored is awarded the money from the gate. Shawn Moran received all the gate receipts from the race that drew 3,500 fans. . . . Shawn Moran became the first American to be honored with a testimonial race after competing 10 years in the league. Among the Americans who traveled to Great Britain for the race were Bobby Schwartz, Dennis Sigalos and John Cook. Sam Ermolenko, the only American to qualify for the past three world championship races, is the heavy favorite to win at Long Beach for the fourth straight year. Ermolenko was a full second faster than any other rider at practice on Wednesday.