MOTORCYCLES / U.S. NATIONAL SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS : Manchester Mistake Leads to Ermolenko Title

Six former national champions and a couple of the hottest riders in the world helped make up the best national championship field in the 25- year history of modern speedway racing Saturday night at Costa Mesa.

But for all the competition, the battle for the title came down to the two riders who were favored coming in: world champion Sam Ermolenko of Cypress and defending U.S. champion Chris Manchester of Hesperia.

And it was decided when Manchester let the front wheel of his motorcycle touch the tape of the starting gate before the start and was disqualified from his fourth race.

“I was just a little jumpy; I was pretty excited tonight,” said Manchester, who shaved his head and eyebrows for the event.

Ermolenko had never won a U.S. championship because he spends most of his time racing on the mile tracks in Europe and doesn’t get much practice on short ovals such as the one at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

He completed a great month of racing by winning the national title. Ermolenko, 34, became the third American to win a world individual title last month in Germany and also was a member of winning U.S. team in World Speedway Cup two weeks ago in England.

“This was so big, just the icing on the cake,” Ermolenko said. “We had a big party to celebrate the world championship last night and I told everybody I couldn’t drink. Tonight will be a different story.”

Ermolenko won every race--and took about four victory laps after clinching the victory--but it was hardly easy.

Manchester’s mistake prevented the crowd of 5,412 at the Fairgrounds from seeing his showdown with Ermolenko, but there was plenty of action on night when spectacular accidents and restarts were commonplace.

Ermolenko and Manchester, who was the first rider to win a U.S. title in his first attempt last year, both won their first three races.