in the third 125 B moto yesterday failed to go the distance after an accident involving Pace and two other riders allowed Joell to win comfortably and take top spot for the day at Coney Island yesterday.

Going into the final moto, Joell and Pace -- the overall points leader -- each had a win and a second. And the determination was seen in both riders as they sought an early lead in the deciding moto.

In the opening lap, it was Buddy Joell, Duprey Joell of the 250 B class and Pace in that order. By the third lap, Pace overtook Dupre in pursuit of Buddy who was still leading and riding aggressively.

Pace caught his opponent on the fifth lap and opened a five-second lead by the seventh lap, the halfway stage of the 14-lap race. However, Joell's luck was to change in the ninth lap when he passed a disappointed Pace who was tangled up with two other bikes.

By the time Pace got going again, Joell had built an unassailable lead on his way to 42 points for the day. Ras Mykkal settled for second and Devon Moss third while Pace picked up six points for his fifth-place finish.

Asked to describe how he felt when he saw Pace down, Joell replied: "Relief, because I didn't have to chase so hard now. I settled in some.'' Joell, 23, is back in riding after a two-year absence, though he had to step down to the smaller 125 class where there is more competition.

"It's a nice feeling being back. There are not too many guys strong enough for the 250s and I don't want to ride in the 250 by myself.

Pace described the incident that was to cost him the win for the day. "I was trying to overtake one of the slower riders and we locked handlebars and another guy rode into us,'' he said. "I did all right but it's not good enough. It could have been better.'' Still, Pace, 16, is happy with the competition that Joell brings to the class.

"Last year and the year before there was no competition, now it makes races more interesting.'' The day ended on a high note for Joell who was denied in the second moto by a puncture, though he still finished second with Mykkal third. In the first moto, Joell was first with Pace second and Mykkal third.

The 125 C and 80cc classes were also very interesting as Leroy Maxwell won the first and third motos in the 125 to take honours for the day with 40 points from two firsts and a third. His younger brother, Chris, who was in the 80cc class last season, won the second moto to go with two seconds for 39 points.

Michael Burgess was third for the day with a second and two thirds for 32 points.

Kemo Simons was denied a hat-trick of wins in the 80cc class when, after winning the first two motos, Jamel Hassell beat him comfortably after Simons had a setback on the eighth lap with Hassell already leading.

Devon Moss was the lone rider in the 250 C class while Duprey Joell was alone in the 250 B class. Robbie Smith was riding Mykkal's 500cc bike as an exhibition.

Also on display yesterday were the pee wees who rode miniature 50cc bikes.

Eight-year-old Chris DeSilva was the overall winner with three firsts while Maurice Symonds was second with two seconds and a third while Lewis Repose was third with two thirds and a second. Gary Cann (three fourths) and Lorenzo Trott completed the top five.