HAMMOND REACHES A NEW GOAL !
Mike Hammond arrived to the Welland track on a lovely warm summer night, full of spirit for his love of speedway racing. His spirit and courage were shown to their fullest in his final heat race, as he took the lead ahead of a flying Jeff Orosz, Gary Hesmer and John Bennett. He kept his nerve to keep the ducking and diving Orosz off his back to take an historical first heat win in Division 1 racing at the Welland Track.
This was only one highlight of a great night of racing!
The race schedule was set for an all Division 1 night, with the absence of Gary Moody with a fractured collar bone following his crash at Paris Speedway on Friday night, John Bennett was moved upward to ride with the 'big guns'!
Glenn Brown made a welcomed return to the track after a short absence on his newly acquired Jawa, to join in the fun.
Round one started with Rob Dixon being squeezed out in first corner bunching and he slid out into the fence. The referee correctly put all four riders back and Rob Dixon got a flyer against a fast Gary Hesmer. Mike Hammond and John Bennett were close behind battling it out when Hammond slid off on turn 3, he remounted and dramatically grabbed the third place off Bennett at the line, which proved to be another highlight for Hammond!
In the next heat, Katalin Davis suffered some mechanical woes a continuation of the night before, and she retired for the night after just 2 laps. Jeff Orosz gated alongside Aaron and C.J. Hesmer, Orosz pulled away chased by the Hesmer boys, and both settled for their 2nd and 3rd spots respectively ahead of Glenn Brown.
Round 2 saw that amazing feat by Mike Hammond and the second heat, saw C.J. Hesmer grab the lead in the first corner ahead of Aaron Hesmer. Rob Dixon and Glenn Brown were unable to to make any headway on the Hesmer lead.
The finals set up some good racing. With 4 riders all equal on points some coin-tosses were performed, and schedules were set.
The Consi-Final with Gary Hesmer, Glenn Brown and John Bennett was led by Hesmer to the tapes despite a valiant effort by Brown to get within half a bike at the checkered flag!
With Aaron Hesmer having the last pick of the gates in the final, his concerns were very evident as he mounted his bike for the last time this night. He took the last inside gate position along side, Jeff Orosz, C.J. Hesmer, Rob Dixon and for the first time ever, Mike Hammond. The tapes flew and Aaron pushed hard and lots of elbows were flying into the first corner, and he gained that important first place and never looked back. If he had, he would have seen a great battle between Jeff Orosz and C.J. Hesmer ensuing as they battled for position. C.J. held the line as Orosz went inside and outside to try for the line to gain that important 2nd place, Orosz's work was rewarded coming up the inside of turn 2 on lap 3 and C.J. was left to commiserate on the 3rd spot. Rob Dixon missed the start and was penalized for this in a 4th spot, just ahead of the great looking Hammond! A two-night win for Aaron Hesmer who once again showed that he really is a top class rider, when his back is against the wall!
