By Michael Kirby Journal Sports Correspondent Billy Janniro’s return to Fast Fridays after a four year regular season absence highlighted a picture perfect opening night Friday at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Janniro is taking this season off from racing in the European British Leagues where he competed very successfully with the Coventry Bees. The 2008 AMA National Champion will be a regular at Fast Fridays in Auburn each week and did not disappoint speedway fans with his daring and aggressive racing style in the opener. “Racing’s a different experience for me now,” Janniro said. “I’m happy to be back able to enjoy racing for fun, it’s been a job for so long, I want to enjoy it again.” Being one of he first riders in Fast Friday’s history to start from the 60-yard line in the handicap program, Janniro struggled trying to catch the lesser yardage riders. Starting from nearly half way around the track Janniro finished third in both Handicap heat races and after two false starts that changed the back yardage lineup a little, Janniro also finished third in the handicap main behind second place Bart Bast and winner Ben Essary. In the Scratch Main the four fastest men of the night lined up on the start line, with Janniro in lane 1, Greg Hooten in lane 2, Chad Felicio in lane 3 and Auburn’s Bart Bast in lane 4. As the tape went up Janniro beat everyone to the inside corner and using the whole width of the track, tight in the corners and moving wide in the straight a ways held the persistent Bast from passing. Bast kept Janniro looking back, riding close to his rear tire, close to passing several times. Janniro proved to be the fastest rider Friday night, Bast finished second, Felicio was third, and Hooten finished fourth. “It’s great having Billy here racing this year, he’s beatable, everyone’s beatable it’s all a matter of getting a good start. You have to pick up your pace to beat him though, I think he only got me by a bike length or so,” said Bast. Steve Lewotsky won the Division II main event after an aggressive try by second place finisher Daniel Faria who passed several riders on lap three trying to catch Lewotsky. Matt Drury finished third. Tylor Warren won the Division I Youth main event, leading from start to finish, Thomas Reich finished second, and Cody Ciciarelli finished third. Fast Fridays Results Division I Scratch Main Division I Handicap Main Division II Main Event Division III Main Event Division I Youth Main |
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