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

1999 Week Four
July 3, 1999 Niagara Raceway
By: Duncan Luke. luke99@idirect.com

CHRIS HESMER KEEPS STREAK ALIVE. Fourth week in a row! DELIMAT BREAKS LEG!

With Bogden Muszynski, Bruce Nelson and Andy Delimat competing at Welland for the first time this season fans expected some excellent Division 1 racing and they were not disappointed. However it was the usual trio of Chris Hesmer, Jeff Orosz and John Kehoe who dominated the action. Kehoe in particular seemed to have a little more speed than in previous weeks and won both his qualifying heats.

The final was perhaps the best race so far this year and worth the price of admission and more! For once Orosz made the gate in a final and just beat Kehoe into the first turn. For three enthralling laps Kehoe pressed hard to find a way to the front attacking on inside and outside lines while Cris Hesmer kept in close touch. Going into turn three on the last lap Kehoe made his final move powering around the outside. Orosz responded and they were wheel to wheel around the turn. They drifted a little wide coming out of turn four as Orosz tried to defend the outside line. While the fans hollered and watched this struggle Chris Hesmer struck like lightning. He rode a tight inside line around the turn, squared off the exit from the corner, found remarkable drive and rocketed from third to first in the run to the line winning by just over a length from Jeff with John less than a bike length further back. Marvelous stuff! And it kept intact Chris Hesmer's record of being the only Main event winner at Welland this season.

Prior to this the there was a dramatic last lap to the D1 Cons. which saw only one rider finish. Bruce Nelson got into trouble going into turn one and slowed down as he avoided the fence. Then leader Tim Ford came down exiting turn two allowing Fred Legault to come home the winner. Meanwhile Andy Delimat, who was far behind due to bike trouble on the opening lap, came around the final turn, lost control and was flung from his bike as it reared and plowed straight into the fence on the home straight. It seems that the accident was caused by a broken chain. Whatever the cause the end result was most unfortunate with Andy Dilomat suffering a badly broken femur (thigh bone). Andy, all fans wish you as fast a recovery as possible. (Note: He checked into the Hamilton hospital, and was released the following Thursday.)

Division 2 honors went to Cleveland's John Busler who looked very sharp and was clearly the class of the field which he emphasized by going unbeaten on the night.