Welland Warms up!
Another warm summer's night welcomed a good-sized crowd to the mid season race at Welland speedway.
The night began with a field of 11 riders in both Division 1 and Division 2. Sadly Terry Rideout was forced out of the night's event due to re-injuring himself at the Paris Speedway event the previous night, and John Bennett was also holding an injury that would force him out of the racing after his first heat.
The Division 2 class began the night with Mike Hammond, John Bennett, Allan Chisholm and Gary Moody all ready to go. Mike Hammond who was still pumped up from last weekends success, pulled away from the pack and led to a good win, sadly though, John Bennett's courageous attempt to hold 2 nd place was short lived, as Gary Moody grabbed this on lap 3 and Allan Chisholm followed in closely to complete the race.
The Division 1 first round heat saw Aaron Hesmer, Joe Heye, Rob Dixon and Gary Hesmer come to the tapes. During the practice session Joe Heye and Aaron Hesmer had a coming together leaving Joe Heye on the floor, so we were expecting some fireworks from the race between these two, but this was not to be, as Aaron Hesmer, Gary Hesmer and Joe Heye all spread out after corner 1, Rob Dixon nursing a newly re-built engine followed up the rear at this point. Dixon pushed hard on lap 3 to grab third place off Gary Hesmer, while cousin Aaron Hesmer took a good chequered flag win!
C.J. Hesmer, Fred Legault and Jeff Orosz presented the second heat of the Division 1 racing. The race was dominated by Jeff Orosz to take the win, but behind him Legault and Hesmer duelled all race, to duck and dive under and around each other, with Hesmer coming out on top on lap 4, going under Legault to take a well-deserved second place!
Round 2 saw John Bennett withdraw from the event leaving Mike Hammond, Gary Moody and Allan Chisholm to race the Division 2 heat, with them finishing from the gate in this order.
Drama was seen at the start of the Division 1 second round, as Jeff Orosz's clutch seized at the line, leaving him to grab his back-up bike to start the heat. He left the gate ahead of Aaron and Gary Hesmer, Aaron Hesmer pushed Jeff Orosz all race, but Orosz was too strong on his back-up bike to pass!
The race of the night was presented in the second Division 1 heat. Fred Legault, Joe Heye, C.J. Hesmer and Rob Dixon. Dixon got a flying first corner only to be passed by the pack coming out of turn 2, the pack of Hesmer, Heye and Legault were three abreast going into turn 3 and without incident, Legault took the lead ahead of Heye and Dixon manoeuvred passed Hesmer, the race proceeded with Fred Legault battling to hold off Joe Heye and Rob Dixon duplicating this with C.J. Hesmer. Joe Heye's hard charging was too much for Fred Legault and on lap 2, Heye passed on the back straight. Dixon went out of shape on lap 4 and Hesmer passed him on turn 3 to complete a fantastic race!
The final events were poised to be crackers, and they did not disappoint the crowd!
Mike Hammond once again, defended his reign of the Division 2 racing night, by completing a good solid performance from the tapes, as Allan Chisholm proved his worth by taking a well-deserved second place ahead of a determined Gary Moody.
A consolation race-off between Gary Hesmer and Rob Dixon took place, with Rob Dixon's newly rebuilt engine finally coming into full power mode, and he performed a nice display of bike control and speed for the crowd ahead of Gary Hesmer.
The main ‘A' final saw Jeff Orosz, Aaron Hesmer, C.J. Hesmer, Fred Legault and Joe Heye draw for gate positions. Orosz won the first pick and his gate proved to be the winning one! Out of the tapes Aaron Hesmer pushed Jeff Orosz as Joe Heye pushed Aaron Hesmer, a close race between these three was spoiled when Aaron Hesmer's chain came off on lap 3 leaving him to coast to a stop. Joe Heye grabbed that second place spot with Fred Legault in third and C.J. Hesmer in fourth.
A good night of racing enjoyed by all, and we look forward to the next Welland Speedway event on July 18 th , which is the 2009 Canadian Speedway Championship. The 2008 event was forcibly cancelled due to rain, but the question will be, can the 2007 Champion Aaron Hesmer retain his title? Watch this space and you will find out!
