Niagara Raceway
Netherby Road / Townline Tunnel
Welland, Ontario, Canada

1999 Week Three
June 26, 1999 Niagara Raceway
By: Duncan Luke. luke99@idirect.com

TWO RIDERS HIT THE 1,000 POINT PLATEAU - Chris Hesmer takes the Final! THIRD week in a row!

Since 1982, when records were first kept, only three riders have reached the 1,000 point career mark in Canada. The odds against the next two riders reaching that level in the same meeting must have been quite long but that is what happened on Saturday night at Niagara Raceway, Welland. Jeff Orosz won his first heat to go over the top and Chris Hesmer followed with a second place finish in his second race.

It was therefore appropriate that, on a night which saw three riders make the long trip from Quebec to compete, Orosz and Hesmer were the stars of the show. D1 racing was close all evening. Jeff O came from behind to take heat 1 from John Kehoe while in heat 2 Andy Harris and Gary Hesmer passed and repassed one another until Gary startled the crowd by almost losing control and going so wide that he barely avoided hitting the dreaded hay bales. (Gary is currently leading the CSRA Points Standings)

The second round saw the big three battle for all four laps. Kehoe made the gate and held the lead until Orosz got by on the back straight on lap three. Hesmer then took up the chase and using the outside line closed to within a wheel's length at the line. Nick Fafard shook off his initial bike problems to win the final heat and the Consolation to earn a spot in the final. This was actually two great races in one. Kehoe again made the gate and held the lead until Chris Hesmer dove inside him on lap three to take the lead and the race. Meanwhile Andy Harris overcame a 10 yard penalty for breaking the tapes and had a tremendous battle for fourth place with Nick Fafard until the latter slid off on the last lap. Exciting racing. Chris H's win in the Main made it three in three weeks and he seems to be developing the knack of winning the important races.

In D2 Joe Heye took his second main in a row at Welland. Aaron Hesmer took a good second place ahead of Quebecer Michel Lemay, Ryan Rainville and Joel Keller.