Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Janniro wins double main events
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 15, 2012

Tommy Hedden had another excellent night pushing the limits at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. The Auburn resident has performed well all season and coming off of back to back scratch main event wins at Fast Fridays looked like he was on his way to a three peat Friday night. Heading into the nights main events Hedden was undefeated in all his heat and semi-final races in both the handicap and scratch programs. But then in the main events Hedden ran into reigning USA National Speedway champion Billy Janniro, who was having a good night of his own and picked up wins in both the Division I handicap and scratch main events for the first time this season.

In the scratch main event Janniro lined up as he did last week in the number one lane with the familiar group of veteran riders that had worked their way into the scratch main event for the third week in a row. This week Bryan Yarrow was in lane two, Bart Bast was in lane three and Hedden was outside in lane four. As the gate went up Janniro jumped out front as expected into turn one, with Hedden moving outside on the track to pass as he did last week. This week though Janniro was prepared and pushed Hedden further out while still protecting the inside line against a hard charging Yarrow. Janniro had his hands full with this cagey group of skilled riders each one of them ready to pounce on the champion's slightest mistake. Hedden continued to try the outside and Yarrow and Bast kept working the inside track but Janniro's experience held out and he was first to the finish line. Yarrow was second, Bast was third and Hedden was fourth. Bast still leads all division one riders in the seasons points race with 711, Hedden is second with 634.

Seems like whatever beginning of the season bugs Janniro needed to work out he did and has regained his dominance at Fast Fridays. He repeated his last week's victory in the Division I handicap main event riding off the 60 yard line. Hedden rolled a bit on the start and was penalized to the 60 yard line with Janniro. Even from the back yardage, Janniro moved through traffic with ease and into the third lap assumed the familiar lead position. Bast gave chase but could not catch Janniro and finished second, Hedden was third and Yarrow was fourth.

In the third round of the Challenge Elimination Series staged Friday night at Fast Fridays, Greg Hooten grabbed the third spot and will join Bob Hicks and Hedden in the championship round on August 31, with the winners of round four and five. In a crowd pleasing goodwill show of sportsmanship, Janniro stopped and waited on the track on the final lap of the two lap finale for Hooten who had fallen to restart and resume the race. Hooten was able to take Janniro on the final lap and win the race.

Division II rider Derik Denzin has been on a tear with back to back Division II main event wins, bringing his total to four out of six Division II main event wins for the season. Look to see Denzin who is winning off the 30 yard line bumped up to Division I in the near future if his winning ways continue. In Friday night's main event George Snodgrass was second, and Nick Dion was third. Denzin also tops the Division II Fast Fridays season points with 262, followed by Paul Sanburn with 197.

Kyle Marsalla won the Division III main event, his first of the season. Shane Szuh was second and Glen Scott was third. Szuh leads the Division III in season points with 248, followed by Nick Dion with 248. In the Youth Division I Jeremy Faria was first, Joseph Hernandez was second and Louie Mersaroli was third. The Youth Division II saw newcomer Sterling Martin, up from the pee-wee division in his first race on a speedway bike, win the main event. Winning in the pee-wees in past seasons and along with his brother Alex, the seven year old twins from Salinas will make a definite impact in the youth divisions.

Results from Fast Friday's for 6-15-12

Division 1 Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bryan Yarrow, 3-Bart Bast, 4-Tommy Hedden

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Tommy Hedden

Division II Main Event
1-Derik Denzin, 2-George Snodgrass, 3-Nick Dion

Division III Main Event
1-Kyle Marsalla, 2-Shane Szuh, 3-Glenn Scott

Division I Youth Main Event
1-Jeremy Faria, 2-Joseph Hernandez, 3-Louie Mersaroli

Division II Youth Main Event
1-Sterling Martin

Photos By Michael Kirby

	Fast Friday's riders (L-R) Greg Hooten, Bryan Yarrow, Alex Mariucci, and Billy Janniro start a scratch semi-final race. Janniro went on to win and Yarrow finished second in the scratch main event.
	Seven-year-old Sterling Martin moved up to the youth division from the pee-wee division and won his first Youth division B race. Martin and his twin brother Alex will have an impact on the youth divisions at Fast Fridays in the future.
	Billy Janniro leads Auburn's Bryce Starks out of turn three in an early Division I handicap heat race. Janniro won the Fast Friday's handicap and scratch programs Friday night.
	Tommy Hedden (front) and Bart Bast race in a handicap heat race. Hedden again made it into both main events but was outdueled by Bill Janniro who picked up both victories.