Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

USA tops the World at Fast Friday’s
By Michael Kirby - Story & Photos
Fast Fridays - AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, October 9, 2009

This story is revised to reflect a correction.  The original story neglected to state that Northern California speedway rider Greg Hooten rode in place of Polish racer Jacek Rempala in USA vs The World. Please correct this error by posting this revised story.  Thank You, Michael Kirby.

The eighth annual USA vs. The World motorcycle speedway race Friday night at Auburn’s Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway teamed six international riders from four countries against six of our United States riders in a friendly, but competitive racing venue that thrilled a near capacity crowd at the Gold Country Fairgrounds track.  The 2009 Fast Friday’s season finale had its share of light moments and racer shenanigans, and also featured some of the best speedway racing of the season.

The USA team manned by Bart Bast, Tommy Hedden, Charlie Venegas, Billy Janniro, Bryan Yarrow, and Bryce Starks defeated the World team that consisted of Martin Smolinski, of Germany, Robert Hedenski, Poland, Clause Vissing and Kenneth Hansen, of Denmark, Lubos Tomicek from the Czech Republic, and Northern California rider Greg Hooten for Jacek Rempala of Poland who was unable to attend the event.  The USA defeated the World by a score of 65-46.

The racers were teamed in pairs and raced in eighteen heats two American riders against two World riders and were scored three points for a win, two points for second, one point for third and zero for fourth.  Teams were allowed the use of a joker heat, which allowed the winner of those race double points, and a wild card entry.  The American team took an early lead with the team of Bart Bast and Tommy Hedden taking first and second place in the first heat scoring five points over the World team of Martin Smolinski and Robert Hedenski’s one point, and taking a commanding lead which America held throughout the exciting evening of speedway racing.

Perhaps the best race of the evening was heat 17 pitting the USA team of Billy Janniro and Charlie Venegas against the World team of Martin Smolinski and Robert Hedenski.  Janniro and Smolonski were racing teammates for the Coventry Bees in Europe for four years when Janniro raced overseas.  Janniro and Smolinski familiar with each others riding styles put on quite an aggressive show as they battled for position on the tight track.  “I wanted to beat Billy and Charlie and I just tried to fly out of the gate to beat everyone to the inside, saying to myself, not this time Billy,” said Smolinski.  After two restarts and a rare Billy Janniro tumble to the track on turn one, referee Dane Besneatte, started the best race of the night as riders rode aggressively for four laps sometime knotted tightly together in the turns.  In his third race in row, Smolinski gave up first place to Venegas and second place to his old teammate Janniro, finished third and Hedenski finished fourth.  The exciting race had Fast Friday’s fans on their feet cheering with enthusiasm.

The visiting Europeans enjoyed their stays in America as much as racing at Fast Friday’s, and the event has become a cultural exchange between speedway riders as they share techniques and racing styles, some riders coming to America for the first time.

Most of the European riders had to make their stays in America short because of racing commitments back home but found some time to enjoy Auburn and California.  “I have to return home the first of next week, but it’s always fun and awesome to be in the United States, we’re planning to do some sightseeing in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe this weekend, said Clause Vissing from Denmark.  It was Vissing’s second USA vs. the World and his second visit to California, as he competed in 2007.

Friday night the final score was not as important as the meeting of some truly great speedway riders, and the friendly spirit of speedway motorcycle racing.

Results:
USA Total - 65
World Total - 46

Individual Totals

USA
Bart Bast 3 1 3 2 3 1 - 13
Tommy Hedden 2 2 2 1 2 2 - 11
Charlie Venegas 2 2 3 0 3 3 - 13
Billy Janniro 3 3 3 3 2 2 - 16
Bryan Yarrow 1 0 2 1 2 0 - 6
Bryce Starks 2 1 0 2 1 2 - 8

World
Martin Smolinski 0 3 2 3 6 1 3 - 18
Robert Hedenski 1 2 0 0 0 0 - 3
Claus Vissing 0 0 3 1 0 3 - 7
Kenneth Hansen 1 3 1 2 1 1 - 9
Lubos Tomicek 3 1 1 3 1 0 - 9
Greg Hooten 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 6

Photos By Michael Kirby

	German rider Martin Smolinski stands with the USA team on the winners podium Friday night after the USA defeated the World 65-46.  (L-R) Martin Smolinski, Bart Bast, Charlie Venegas, Tommy Hedden, Billy Janniro, Bryce Starks, and Bryan Yarrow.
	Martin Smolinski and Billy Janniro after the race Friday night.  Smolinski and Janniro were old teammates racing with the Coventry Bees in England. Smolinski scored 18 points for the World and Janniro scored 16 for the USA.
	Clause Vissing of Denmark scored seven points for the World team.
	World rider Martin Smolinski gets inside of USA rider Billy Janniro in heat race 17.  One of the best races of the night Smolinski aggressively rode against his old Coventry Bees racing partner Janniro.  The two were teammates when Janniro raced in Europe for four years.