Motorcycle racing back on track

Chuck Graham was the fastest on four wheels when another year of two-wheel racing got underway at Welland County Speedway.

The ATV racer from Embrun, Ont., southeast of Ottawa, set the pace in both the ATV Open and ATV Production classes.

Also travelling quite a distance for the Clare’s Night of Thunder season opener Saturday in Welland was Sam Manyon. He went home to Akron, Ohio, with the checkered flag in the Vintage class and trailed just Rick Gunby of Minett, Ont., southwest of Ottawa, in the Veterans division.

Branden Keys of Princeton, Ont., near Woodstock, won the first Youth Youth 250 Novice feature of the season, and Ryan Scavuzzo of Rochester, N.Y., and Adrian St. Armand of Burlington did likewise in 450 Novice and 85 cc, respectively.

Scavuzzo, one of several riders to haul more than one motorcycle to the track on Netherby

Road, finished second to Jacob Rainville of Welland in the main event in Open Novice.

Local riders had the fastest bikes in the 450 classes. Justin Crumb out-raced Chippawa’s Hunter and fellow Wellander Josh Barrick in 450 Intermediate, while order of finish in 450 Expert was Tyler Seguin, Welland; Don Taylor, Welland; and Dustin Brown, Muskoka.

Bauer fared better in Open Intermediate outracing Shane Corbeil and Dustin Lambert, both of Welland.

Brantford’s Liam Caskie, in 65 cc; and Port Colborne’s Jayda Brauweiler, 50 cc, chain-drive; also raced their way to victory lane on the first of 10 racing programs at the track this season.

Racing returns Saturday.

Gates open at 2:30 p.m., practice starts at 5 p.m. and qualifying heats in the regular classes begin at 6 p.m.