Steve Virgen
COSTA MESA - Truth be told, Brad Oxley is the promoter of the Costa
Mesa Speedway, yet the slogan he shot off to a reporter at the 33rd
Annual National Motorcycle Speedway Championship was supported by the
action that unfolded Saturday night at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
"If you've never been to Costa Mesa Speedway, you've never been to the
races," said Oxley, who also raced in the 20-heat format culminating in
an intense semifinal, a consolation-type heat and the "sudden-death"
final.
The races, which Oxley spoke of, featured a huge upset in the final.
Monrovia's Josh Larsen, who had won every race, lost in the final and
was bitter because the underdog Chris Manchester won the national
championship.
Manchester, who took third in two races before winning the last two,
was at a disadvantage in the final. Positioned in the No. 5 slot, he had
to take the outside lane. But he found glory.
"It's just unbelievable," Manchester said. "The odds were stacked
against me. Who would've thought? I did. I kept a positive attitude and
came out on top."
Manchester from Reno, Nev. was near tears as he wiped champagne from
his eyes and hugged his father, Wayne.
Meanwhile, Larsen, second at the nationals for the fourth straight
year, stormed off the track, describing his feeling as numb.
"This the fourth straight year I've won every race but the (final),"
said a disgusted Larsen. "I think (the nationals format) is absolutely
horrible."
To the winner went, about $5,000 in prize money, Oxley said. "It's
more about bragging rights than anything. The winner receives the
sponsors for the next year and that's where the real money comes in."
The sudden-death final also featured Costa Mesa's Scott Brant, who
made his return from five years of retirement. He won the "last chance"
race, the aforementioned consolation event that sends its winner to the
final.
The majority of the estimated 5,500 spectators supported their local
favorite until the end. Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz also received loud
cheers. The 45-year-old Costa Mesa resident battled through the night and
qualified for the semifinals. After losing there, he could not break out
of the last chance heat.
In heat 17, the two Costa Mesa racers went at it, contending for an
all-important win, and a better starting spot in the semifinals. From the
start, Brant raced straight out and cut off Schwartz, who spilled, and
finished last. Brant took the checkered flag and an advantage into the
semifinal.
