Motorcycle Racing at Long Beach : Ermolenko to Try for Fourth Win in Qualifier

The first round of qualifying for American speedway motorcycle riders that ultimately leads to the World Championship event is scheduled for 8 tonight on the quarter-mile track at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.

The race, the Nissan American Final, pits riders competing overseas in the British Speedway League against nine local riders plus two Canadians in 20 heats. Each rider will race in five heats, with four points awarded for a win, three points for second, two points for third and one point for fourth.

The top four scoring riders will advance to the Overseas Final June 25 at Belle Vue, England. The World Final is scheduled Sept. 9 at Munich, West Germany.

Sam Ermolenko of Cypress, who has won at Long Beach three straight years, was a full second faster than any other rider in a practice session Tuesday. Ermolenko has qualified for three straight appearances in the World Championship.

Shawn Moran of Huntington Beach is the leading rider in the British Speedway League and is among the favorites but he has been suspended from all World Championship competition by the American Motorcyclist Assn. after testing positive for alcohol at a race in Denmark last month.

Moran’s brother, Kelly, was also scheduled to compete but withdrew after breaking the little finger on his right hand in a crash last Saturday and will be replaced by reserve Eddie Castro.