Mike Faria won the North American World Championship Qualifier at Auburn California last Friday. The result continued the recent domination of domestic US speedway by the 43 year-old former Monarch. Mike tied with Josh Larsen after the completion of the 20 heats and won a run off against the former London Lion to take first place.

This event is primarily a qualification round for the Grand Prix series. Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock were not competing. Only two European based Americans returned to Aurburn for the event, Sam Ermolenko and the Swedish-based Jon Cook. The qualification arrangements were that the top two European-based riders would qualify for the Oveseas Final at Poole on June 18th. They were to be joined by the top two US-based riders.

That meant that Sam Ermolenko and Jon Cook qualified automatically and proceed to the Overseas Final along with Mike Faria and Josh Larsen. The results were as follows:

1	Mike Faria	3	2	3	3	2	13
2	Josh Larsen	3	3	3	2	2	13
3	Chris Manchester	3	3	2	1	3	12
4	Sam Ermolenko	1	2	3	2	3	11
4	Bert Bast	1	3	3	3	1	11
6	Bobbie Heddon	2	0	2	2	3	9
7	Ryan Fisher	2	2	1	3	X	8
7	Charlie Ermolenko	1	2	2	0	3	8
9	Charlie Venegas	2	1	0	3	0	6
9	Jon Cook	0	3	2	1	X	6
9	Chad Felicio (R)	2	1	1	2	N	6
12	Billy Janniro	3	0	0	0	2	5
13	Ian Ferris	1	1	0	1	1	4
14	Eddie Castro	T	1	0	2	0	3
15	Tom Sephton	0	0	0	1	1	2
15	Robert Curry	0	0	1	0	1	2
17	John Kehoh	0	X	1	0	0	1

Mike Faria confirmed that he would be competing at Poole. He had hoped to get an Elite League place in Britain for this year. This may be his last year before retirement.

Mike struggled last year in the Overseas Final, posssibly due to not having competitive equipment and not having raced in Britain since his two years with Monarchs in 1995 and 1996.

Mike was a class act and very popular with the Edinburgh supporters and all wish him well.

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