Monarchs assett Mike Faria was third in the AMA National at Auburn, Northern California. This follows from his first place in the FIM US Final earlier in the year. While the National has no status in the World Championship it is usually a tougher event that the US Final. This is because the US Grand Prix riders such as Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill generally contest the National but will not come back for the US Final. Despite the absence of some European based riders, the event had a strong field with two former world champions from recent years competing.
Faria finished ahead after the twenty qualifying heats but missed out in the A Final behind winner Billy Hamill and runner-up Charlie Venegas. In the first run of the A Final, Faria hit Hamill bringing him down and was then hit by Greg Hancock. Hamill recoved despite an apparent hand injury to take his place in the rerun. Hamill and Hancock gated as first Venegas and then Faria passed Hancock but Hamill won despite the pain he was obviously in.
The top three, Faria, Hamill, and Venegas went straight through to the A Final. The other place was filled by the winner of the B Final, Greg Hancock who beat Bobby Schwartz, Josh Larsen and Bobby Heddon. Schwartz and Heddon had to come through a run-off with Billy Janniro to take their place in the B Final.
Former Belle Vue rider Chris Manchester looked close to his old form with an early heat win but suffered a broken cylinder barrel and had to switch to Mike Faria's spare bike until that suffered ignition problems and had to withdraw.
|
Rider |
|
|
|
||||
|
1. |
Mike Faria |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
13 |
|
2. |
Billy Hamill |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
|
3. |
Charlier Venegas |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
|
4. |
Greg Hancock |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
|
5. |
Josh Larsen |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
|
6. |
Bobby Schwartz |
2 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
|
7. |
Bobby Hedden |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
|
8. |
Billy Janniro |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
|
9. |
Gary Hicks |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
|
10. |
Jim Sisemore |
3 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
|
11. |
Bart Bast |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
|
12. |
Chris Manchester |
3 |
1 |
0 |
N |
N |
4 |
|
13. |
Shawn McConnell |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
|
14. |
Robert Curry |
0 |
0 |
T |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
15. |
Ian Ferris |
0 |
1 |
0 |
X |
0 |
1 |
|
16. |
Ryan Fisher |
0 |
0 |
N |
N |
N |
0 |
|
R |
Chad Felicio |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
|
R |
Tommy Heddon |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
This Web Site will continue to give updates on Mike Faria's progress in major AMA and FIM events.