SPEEDWAY MOTORCYCLES : Schwartz Faces Penalty for Striking Fan

Bobby Schwartz of Costa Mesa, a two-time U.S. speedway motorcycle champion, is expected to draw a two-week suspension and be fined between $100 and $250 for unsportsmanlike conduct last week at Glen Helen Regional Park.

Referee Jim Fishback said he would recommend the suspension and fine because Schwartz reportedly fought with a fan before the start of the handicap main event and then bumped promoter Brian Church after the event.

“The suspension will be for all tracks and will begin Wednesday (today),” Fishback said. “Bobby went after a fan who had been taunting him and head-butted him with his helmet. I excluded him from the race, and later he got ‘hot’ in the pit area.

“He wanted an explanation from Brian Church immediately after the race, and Brian told him to cool off. Bobby kept insisting on an explanation and started bumping Brian. That’s an automatic fine and suspension for striking an official.

“Our biggest concern is that he went after a fan. We can’t have our riders going after fans no matter what they (fans) do. If Mike Bast (a seven-time U.S. champion) had gone after every fan who taunted him, he would have been out of the sport before he ever got started.”

Schwartz, the winningest rider in Southern California the past three seasons, is not expected to attend tonight’s disciplinary hearing. He has signed a three-week contract to ride for Eastbourne in the British Speedway League and was scheduled to leave for England this morning. He expects to return July 5.

“I feel comfortable that Jim Fishback will make a decision that is fair,” Schwartz said. “I regret what I did, but the incident with the fan had been building for three or four weeks.

“The guy throws a rock at me that hits me in the head while I’m lining up for a main event. What am I supposed to do? I went over to the fence to talk to the guy and ask him what’s his problem.

“The next thing I know, he’s coming after me and we got into a fight. The guy would have been ejected at any other sporting event for throwing something at somebody on the field or track.”