Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Venegas soars in scratch main
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, June 21, 2013

As Charlie Venegas left the start gate out of lane one Friday night at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn under a full summer solstice moon he never had to look back. Facing Billy Janniro, Bob Hicks and Bryan Yarrow Venegas got probably his best gate of the season and grabbed the inside on turn one. With Janniro and Hicks on his tail down the straight-away Venegas just poured it on increasing his lead to uncatchable and capturing the Division I fastest man of the night honors. "It was just my night," said Venegas after the race. "Once that bike gets going it just comes alive," he said. Janniro finished second and Hicks was third but both were way back as Venegas crossed the finish line. Yarrow finished fourth.

Ryan Bast found his way to the winner's podium Friday night winning the Division I Handicap main event for the second time this season. Bast won the handicap main just two weeks ago and was moved back to the 20-yard line where he started this week. Bast was perfect for the night in the handicap program winning his heat and semi-final races to get to the main. "I stay put on the inside and then if a hole opens up you have to take advantage of it," said Bast. Bast will have an extra 10 yards added to his start position next week and will start on the 30-yard line. It looks like he will soon join the likes of Janniro, Hicks, Hedden and his cousin Bart Bast on the back yardage soon. "It's just a progression out here," Bast said of his progress in the handicap program. Bast held off Janniro who finished second and Alex Marcucci who finished third in the main event to take the checkered flag.

In Division I Fast Fridays season points Bart Bast still leads all riders with 758 after last week's meeting. Tommy Hedden is second with 695 and Bob Hicks is third with 635 points.

Auburn's Louie Mersaroli won the Division II main event in his first night racing in Division II. Half of a 17-year old local racing duo with his twin brother David, the Mersaroli's have improved and steadily progressed through the Fast Fridays ranks starting in the junior program just two years ago. With a Division III main event win last week Mersaroli was bumped to Division II and seems to have made himself comfortable feeling right at home. "It was my first night in division two and my first division two main event win," said Mersaroli. "I'm really liking it, and will move back to the ten-yard line next week," he said. Finishing behind Mersaroli was Kyle Marsalla in second and Nick Dion in third. Kevin Chapman is now at the top of Division II in Fast Friday's season points with 295.

Foresthill's John Peters won the Division III main event followed by Colfax's Lars Kotrlik in second and Auburn's Glenn Scott in third. It was Peter's first main event win of the season. Even though he has moved up a division Louie Mersaroli still leads Division III in season points with 319 after last week.

In the youth programs it was Luke Becker winning the 250cc division after a week's absence from Fast Fridays. Gage Geist was second and Colton Hicks was third. Becker was unbeatable Friday night winning all his races. Logan Hedden, son of retired veteran rider Bobby Hedden, won the 150cc Youth division main event. It was Hedden's second main event win of the season. Colfax's Nick Dion won the Run What U Brung main event.

Results from Fast Friday's for 6-21-13

Division 1 Scratch Main Event
1-Charlie Venegas, 2-Billy Janniro, 3-Bob Hicks, 4-Bryan Yarrow

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Ryan Bast, 2-Billy Janniro, 3-Alex Marcucci

Division II Main Event
1-Louie Mersaroli, 2-Kyle Marsalla, Nick Dion

Division III Main Event
1-John Peters, 2-Lars Kotrlik, 3-Glenn Scott

Youth 250cc Division Main
1-Luke Becker, 2-Gage Geist, 3-Colton Hicks

Youth 150cc Division
1-Logan Hedden, 2- Landon Norton

Run What U Brung
1-Nick Dion

Photos By Michael Kirby

	Auburn's Ryan Bast picked up his second Division I handicap main event win Friday night at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn. R. Bast now moves back to the 30-yard line next week.
	Veteran Charlie Venegas pulled off a convincing Division I scratch main event win Friday night.
	Auburn's Louie Mersaroli won the Division II main event after being moved up from Division III this week.
	Pictured in the start of Auburn's Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway Division I scratch main event Friday night are (left-right) Bryan Yarrow, Bob Hicks, Billy Janniro and Charlie Venegas. Venegas won the race.