A near sell-out crowd here in the First Arena, Elmira in NY State witnessed a thrilling nights racing in both disciplines.

A new rider was introduced to the speedway division of the Series tonight in the shape of the evergreen Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell, a native of California, possibly in the twilight of his speedway racing career, but a Rider who has travelled extensively, not only in the US but all over the world including spending many seasons racing in the British League.

Starting this Round some 10 points ahead, California’s Charlie “The Edge” Venegas steamed further ahead in a twice re-started Heat 1 and continued to dominate the nights racing. The 1st running of Heat 1 was stopped as the Riders entered the back straight as Venegas and Kelly Kerrigan tangled exiting the turn.

Referee Reeve ordered a re-run from the line for all 4 Riders, unaware that James Mann was not under power at the time of the stoppage. In the 1st re-start there was a bad crash exiting the 4th turn which resulted in Venegas crashing into the Starting Gate and the Start Marshal. Fortunately he recovered well enough to take his place in a 2nd re-start which saw Kerrigan put on the back line as the Referee adjudged him to be at fault for the crash, a decision that really upset the Rider. Venegas took first place in the re-run from Mann, Barlow and Kerrigan.

Heat 2 saw young Brit, Ben Hopwood get ahead after passing both David Meldrum and then Paul Cooper for a well deserved heat win and in the last of the 1st round of qualifying heats new boy Shawn McConnell took a win when up against fellow Americans, Eddie Martinez and New Yorker Casey Donholt.

Heat 4 saw Venegas once again storm from the start gate and although McConnell put up a strong challenge throughout the 4 heats, Venegas continued his winning ways to collect maximum points from his qualifying heats and was joined on maximum points by Hopwood who claimed a win in Heat 5 when he passed the “British Bulldog” Anthony Barlow. In Heat 6 Mann picked up a win to make it 5 points out of a possible 6 and by winning the ballot with McConnell claimed a Main Final place as McConnell had to be content with a place on the Front Row of the Last Chance.

In that Last Chance final, McConnell made no mistakes from pole position, neither did Barlow, but Cooper made his way through from the Back Row to join the Main Final.

The 6 lap Main Final once again saw Venegas hit the front early on and although Hopwood put in a challenge, Venegas was far too experienced and held on to add another 10 points to the nights total and go a massive 20 Championship points into the lead over Barlow, who in turn maintained his lead over 3rd place Mann at 10 points and young Hopwood overtook Kerrigan on the Leader Board .

He started the Round with a 37 point championship lead and ended the night by extending that to 43 points.

Chris “Bomber” Hall was slow from the Gate in Heat 1 and Siegel was untroubled for an easy win, whereas in Heat 2 Barlow was quick away and although local Dan Hawk showed promise it was another win for a Series Quad racer. Heat 3 was a race of the speedway boys as Meldrum took 1st place, Cooper a 2nd and Warburton was 3rd as the reserve, Johnny Kerr spun out.

It was a heat 4 win for yet another speedway rider, James Mann in Heat 4 whilst “Rookie” Johnny Kerr picked up his first 2nd place of the Series.

More was expected of the locals and in Heat 5 Hawk tried to put the brakes on Siegel, but the Hippy is in such good form this season that it was a daunting task and he had to settle for 2nd place and a creditable 4 points from his 2 qualifying races.

Chris Hall won heat 6, whilst Barlow’s win in Heat 7 clinched his place alongside Siegel in the Quad Main Final and Mann’s 2nd place in the final qualifying heat also proved to be enough to go straight to the Main after winning a ballot with Hall who had to settle for pole position in the Last Chance in which he was joined on the front row by Dan Hawk and David “Victor” Meldrum and it was these 3 who progressed to the Main as the back row starters could not make up the 15 yard handicap over 4 laps.

Siegel started the Main like a man possessed and throughout the 6 laps was not troubled at all. Mann started well, but was struggling with a sore back following his early crash in the Speedway heats and went back to last place allowing Barlow to collect 2nd place and 7 Championship points ahead of Hall in 3rd place whilst the only local in the Final collected 5th place behind Meldrum.

It will take an extra special effort on Saturday night for a Local to take the SuperTrapp sponsored “Dash for Cash” prize money, a feat so far only achieved in Everett by Ron Heath.