Speedway Opens Where It Left Off : Oxley, Ott to Meet for First Time Since Controversial Race

The 20th season of speedway motorcycle racing will begin at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa at 8 tonight with two riders entered who last met in the controversial 1987 national championships.

U.S. champion Brad Oxley of San Clemente and Bobby Ott of Balboa are expected to meet for the first time since their disputed finish in last October’s championship.

The riders had tied after five heat races, forcing a four-lap runoff to determine the champion. In the runoff, Ott fell on the first lap, and Oxley laid down his bike to avoid crashing into him.

Referee Irwin Moon made an unpopular decision by declaring Oxley, son of speedway promoter Harry Oxley, the champion. The majority of fans, and Ott, wanted a restart, but speedway rules mandate that a rider who crashes automatically loses.

Ott said after the race: “As long as the sport of speedway is promoted like a form of entertainment, and not legitimately as a sport, this type of thing is going to continue.”

Ott, who won the state championship at San Bernardino earlier in the 1987 season, said he would never ride again at Costa Mesa, but he has changed his mind since he competed in South Africa during the off-season.

Oxley and Ott probably will meet tonight in the handicap and scratch semifinals.

“It (the runoff) was never a sore point with me,” Oxley said. “The way I look at it, Bobby had the championship in his pocket, and he gave it away. He had a lack of concentration or tried to get too stylish in front of his friends with the lead, and he fell.

“I heard him say he would never ride at Costa Mesa again, but if you’re going to race, secure sponsors and go for the points fund, you have to ride at Costa Mesa. He was confused and upset that night, but he should have only been upset at himself.

“There’s always going to be controversy whenever I’m involved because I’m the promoter’s son. I’ve learned to live with that. But I’ll take a national championship any way I can.”

The local talent pool diminished considerably when veteran riders Mike Faria and Robert Pfetzing decided to compete in the British Speedway League this season. Eight Southern California riders are competing overseas, the most since 1982, when 13 competed abroad.

Faria’s absence will particularly hurt the Southland tracks. He won 54 main events on five Southland tracks in 1986. He was the only consistent competition for Bobby Schwartz last season, when Schwartz won 56 main events.

“I’m going to miss Mike,” Schwartz said. “We had a mutual respect for each other, and he kept me on my toes. Mike Faria is a racer’s racer. There’s still some good competition here with Brad Oxley, Steve Lucero, Bobby Ott and Alan Christian, but none of those guys are nearly as consistent as Mike or myself.”

Schwartz, beginning his 14th season of racing, has decided to remain in Southern California for a second consecutive year after he spent eight seasons in the British Speedway League. He spent the off-season with Shawn Moran in Australia, where he rode in seven major meetings.

“I’m at a point in my life where racing in Europe isn’t that important to me any longer,” Schwartz said. “I’ve won three gold medals in world races, and although I never won the individual title, I’m satisfied.

“The World Team Cup is coming back to Long Beach in September, and I’d like to be a part of the team. But if the boys overseas are all riding well and I don’t get picked for the team, I’ll understand the situation.”

After an unsuccessful season of experimenting with qualifying heats and support class races, promoters have decided to return to the original racing format of first, second and third division racing.

The longer, eight-lap handicap main events will remain intact to allow the back yardage riders an opportunity to win. Also, back yardage riders will earn bonus money for winning under a system suggested by Pfetzing.

The popular match races at halftime also will return. Oxley is scheduled to meet Schwartz on opening night, with Ott facing Lucero in the second week.