SPEEDWAY LONG TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1

Orosz still on Top after Round I
By Scotty Brown
Canton, OH May 29, 2010

Jeff Orosz came out on top at the Speedway Long Track National Championship Round I, Saturday May 29, 2010 at the Stark County Fairgrounds in Canton, Ohio.

The Long Track National was organized by Scotty Brown and the Bike Days Motorcycle Club www.bikedays.com and is sponsored by Freedom Harley Davidson, Miller Lite Racing, Kames Sports, PJ’s Fabricating, Wiseco Piston, Applied Innovations, Barnett Clutch, Dixie International, K-K Motorcycle Supply, Moose Racing and Oury Grip. The Speedway National ran in conjunction with the Classic Flat Track National Championship Series at the BIKE DAYS 7th annual meet.

It was a warm and sunny 84 degree Memorial Weekend, with perfect conditions on the half mile limestone cushion track. North America’s finest Long Track Riders assembled in Canton after traveling in from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Canada to compete in the first round of the National Championship. Brian Fowler of the Brian and Joe radio show and Bob Sigler from Outlaw Motorsports were the announcers on hand to call the action.

The National Long Track format consisted of three rounds of point gathering Heats, two Last Chance Qualifiers, two Semi Finals and an “A and B” Main.

Kyle Legault who rides for the Newport Wasps in the British Speedway’s Premier League rode flawless through the heats earning him the maximum 26 points. Reigning Champion and three time winner of the LT National Jeff Orosz scored 24 points. Warren Diem 7 time NY State Champion scored 21 points. Chad Rall 2 time Ohio State Champion (son of Hall of Fame Rider Ronnie Rall) and Jesse Diem tied with 20 points. Indiana’s Joe Garrison made the cut by scoring 17 points. The heat race points were tabulated, transferring these top six riders into two Semi Finals, leaving six positions open for the top three finishers from each of the Last Chance Qualifiers.

Kyle Legault who rides for the Newport Wasps in the British Speedway’s Premier League shown leading #1 Jeff Orosz (CAN), #30 Dan Weicht (IN), #52x Chad Rall (OH), and #4 Warren Diem (PA) in the second round of heat races for the Speedway Long Track National Championship Round I in Canton, Ohio. Photo courtesy of Fox Photography

Top three finishers of the heats were:

Round 1
Heat 1 – 1st) #4 Warren Diem, 2nd) #52x Chad Rall, 3rd) #110 Mike Hammond
Heat 2 – 1st) #1 Jeff Orosz, 2nd) #30 Dan Weicht, 3rd) #14 Jesse Diem
Heat 3 – 1st) #11x Kyle Legault, 2nd) #777 Joe Garrison, 3rd) #119 Alan Rush

Round 2
Heat 4 – 1st) #82 Chris Hathaway, 2nd) #11 Jim Terchila, 3rd) #52 Ronnie Rall
Heat 5 – 1st) #14 Jesse Diem, 2nd) #110 Mike Hammond, 3rd) #777 Joe Garrison
Heat 6 – 1st) #11x Kyle Legault, 2nd) #1 Jeff Orosz, 3rd) #52x Chad Rall

Round 3
Heat 7 – 1st) #30 Dan Weicht, 2nd) #119 Alan Rush, 3rd) #26 Dave Weicht
Heat 8 – 1st) #4 Warren Diem, 2nd) #52x Chad Rall, 3rd) #777 Joe Garrison
Heat 9 – 1st) #11x Kyle Legault, 2nd) #1 Jeff Orosz, 3rd) #14 Jesse Diem

Dan Weicht won the first LCQ with “AMA Hall of Fame rider” Ronnie Rall in second and Michael Callen also making the cut by finishing third. Alan Rush coming back from a shoulder injury won the second LCQ, with Jim Terchila taking second and the third and final transfer position going to Kevin Sexton.

LCQ 1
1st) #30 Dan Weicht, 2nd) #52 Ronnie Rall, 3rd) #33E Michael Callen
LCQ 2
1st) #119 Alan Rush, 2nd) #11 Jim Terchila, 3rd) #60F Kevin Sexton

#4 Warren Diem (PA) passed #52x Chad Rall (OH) to secured second in the “A” Main of the Speedway Long Track National Championship Round I in Canton, Ohio Photo courtesy of Art Leasure

In the first Semi Final, Kyle Legault won wire to wire, followed by Chad Rall and Jesse Diem, transferring them directly to the A Main.

In the second Semi Final, Jeff Orosz took the top position, with Warren Diem second and Joe Garrison third, also transferring them directly to the A Main.

The remaining six riders from the Semi Finals (4th through 6th), transferred to the B Main.

Semi Final 1
1st) #11x Kyle Legault
2nd) #52x Chad Rall
3rd) #14 Jesse Diem
Semi Final 2
1st) #1 Jeff Orosz
2nd) #4 Warren Diem
3rd) #777 Joe Garrison

#1 Jeff Orosz (CAN), takes the lead as Kyle Legault’s bike sputters and dies. Orosz continued on to win the Speedway Long Track National Championship Round I in Canton, Ohio. Photo courtesy of Art Leasure

In the A final – Kyle Legault took the early advantage with a great start. Jeff Orosz trailed in second and Chad Rall in third. Legault’s bike sputtered and died (from lack of fuel) after the first lap, allowing Orosz to take the lead. Diem made a great charge to pass Rall for second, Orosz was the first to cross the finish line and win the first round of the Championship. Orosz has won the Speedway Long Track National Championship for the last three years, and is in an excellent position to make it four in a row.

Round II of the Speedway Long Track National Championship will be held on Friday, July 16, 2010. The championship will be combined with a great night of Antique Motorcycle racing at the 28th annual AMCA National meet at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio.

Visit www.bikedays.com for current information.

The three time Speedway Long Track National Champion Jeff Orosz (center) celebrates with runner up Warren Diem (right), and third place finisher Chad Rall (left) after the Speedway Long Track National Championship Round I in Canton, Ohio. Bike Days file photo

Speedway Long Track National Championship Round I
Results of May 29, 2010

A MAIN FINAL
1st Jeff Orosz #31 Caistorville, ON Canada
2nd Warren Diem #4 Gap, PA
3rd Chad Rall #52x Mansfield, OH
4th Jesse Diem #14 Gap, PA
5th Joe Garrison #777 Lawrenceburg, IN
6th Kyle Legault #11x St. Catharines, ON Canada

B MAIN FINAL
7th Dan Weicht #30 North Webster, IN
8th Chris Hathaway #82 Syracuse, IN
9th Ronnie Rall #52 Engadine, MI
10th Mike Callen #33e Galesburg, MI
11th Jim Terchila #11 Indianapolis, IN
12th Kevin Sexton #60F Elyria, OH