Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Venegas and Starks score Main Event Wins
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
Auburn, California - September 2, 2011

With the Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway Track Championship next week, Charlie Venegas is ready and in winning form, up for the challenge. Venegas scored a Division I scratch main event win in Friday night's finale picking up his third scratch main event win of the season. Venegas currently sits third in Fast Friday's season points with 1489 behind Billy Janniro at 2046 and Bart Bast who is currently the points leader at Fast Fridays as of August 26 with 2237. But for Venegas, a skilled veteran of speedway racing, a win in any race championship or not is always possible on any given night. "The bike is starting to work real well, and if I'm up for it I can win it," said Venegas. "You've got to read the start, with Janniro you can't give him an inch, he was pretty amazing out there," he said.

Venegas has won out of any starting gate all season long, but on Friday night he drew the inside gate one. Bryan Yarrow was in gate two, Janniro was in three, and Bast in four. Venegas got the best gate and immediately took the inside lane on turn one with Janniro in pursuit a little higher on the track. Venegas and Janniro went at it for hard until the third lap when Janniro lost control and let his bike slide out from underneath him sliding across the track. Venegas held on for the last lap and the win. Yarrow was second and Bast was third. Next week the Fast Fridays Track Championship is really up for grabs for several riders and the rider who does everything right will take home the trophy.

Bryce Starks won his second Division I handicap main event of the season with an impressive ride. Starks riding off the 20 yard line was able to hold off Bast riding off the 50 and Janniro off the 60 yard line who both finished second and third respectively. Division II was topped by Kevin Chapman followed by Tyler Warren and Danny Turner. Derik Denzin won the Division III main event, Kyle Porteous was second, and Nick Dion was third. The Youth A division was won by Tanner Kane, the current 2011 Youth National Champion, Jamison Dilkey was second and David Mersaroli. Luke Becker again picked up the Youth B main event for the eighth time of the season. Colton Hicks was second, and Daniel Casey was third.

Billy Janniro won the championship round of the Challenge Elimination Series. The series ran all season with five riders qualifying for the championship round throughout the season. Janniro faced Charlie Venegas, Bryce Starks, JT Mabry and Bob Hicks. The event came down to Venegas and Janniro squaring off in the final two-lap runoff with Janniro coming out on top.

Ivan Mauger, New Zealand native and world champion speedway legend, visited Fast Friday promoting his autobiography The Will to Win and leading a speedway school on Saturday. Mauger is one of the sport's most prolific all time riders and holder of six world championships. Mauger was on hand all night autographing books, photos and catching the speedway action in Northern California.

Next week, September 9, the final Fast Fridays season appearance of the Extreme Sidecars and the Fast Fridays Track Championship will thrill speedway fans. On September 30 the top 16 riders in America will compete in the 2011 USA AMA National Speedway Championships at Fast Fridays.

Results for 9-2-11

Division 1 Scratch Main Event
1-Charlie Venegas, 2-Bryan Yarrow, 3-Bart Bast, 4-Billy Janniro
Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Bryce Starks, 2-Bart Bast 3-Billy Janniro
Division II Main Event
1-Kevin Chapman, 2-Tyler Warren, 3-Danny Turner
Division III Main Event
1-Derik Denzin, 2-Kyle Porteous, 3-Nick Dion

Youth A
1-Tanner Kane, 2-Jamison Dilkey, 3-David Mersaroli
Youth B
1-Luke Becker, 2-Colton Hicks, 3-Daniel Casey
Challenge Elimination
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Charlie Venegas, 3-JT Mabry, 4-Bryce Starks, 5-Bob Hicks
Run What U Brung
1-Caleb Clinton

Photos Michael Kirby

	Charlie Venegas celebrates his Division I scratch main event win Friday night at Fast Fridays. Annoucer RoonDog Rooney runs in the background.
	Billy Janniro (R) and Charlie Venegas (L) run off in the final two lap race of the Challenge Elimination Series championship. Janniro won the event.
	World champion speedway racer Ivan Mauger was visiting Fast Fridays Friday night taking in the Northern California speedway action. Mauger along with his wife Raye were visiting with fans and Mauger was autographing his book and photographs. Mauger also was teaching a speedway school on Saturday at the Gold Country Fairgrounds.
	Auburn's Bart Bast leads all Division I riders in season points with 2237 as of August 26 going into the Fast Fridays Track Championships next week. (September 9)
	Riders (L-R) Bryce Starks, Billy Janniro, JT Mabry, and Charlie Venegas line up for the Challenge Elimination Series championship Friday night. Janniro won the event in a final two-lap runoff with Venegas