Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Week 2
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway, Gold Country Fairgrounds
Janniro Unbeatable in Fast Fridays Week Two
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, May 16, 2014

YouTube Video - By Anthony Bernardi

Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway sped into its second week at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn Friday night and the racing action was as hot as the climbing outside temperature. It has only taken Billy Janniro a week to get back to his winning ways and establish that he hasn't lost anything off his game during the off season. Janniro, the reigning USA National Speedway Champion, scored wins in both Division I main events for the first time in the short new season. Janniro's skills on the track as the season gets rolling firmly re-establishes him as the man to beat at Fast Fridays, with a game plan to repeat as national champion, and places a large target on his back.

In the scratch main event Janniro again faced Auburn's Bart Bast. Bast, the only rider to really give Janniro any grief so far this season worked his way into the final with heat race and semi-final first place finishes. Janniro also faced Charlie Venegas and Bryce Starks who had an impressive night finding his way into the final with two second place finishes in his heat and semi races. Out of lane one Janniro got inside and kept the pesky Bast, who started in lane two, a bike length behind him for the entire race. Bast gave Janniro a few scares coming inside as Janniro went a little wide but was unable to pull the power out of his bike to pass. Janniro picked up his second main event win of the evening. Bast was second, Starks third, and Venegas fourth.

The handicap main event had brought out a few different players but the end result was the same with Janniro finishing in first and Bast following up in second. Janniro and Bast both started back in the deep yardage at the 50 yard line, Starks was on the 30 yard line, Ryan Bast and Daniel Faria lined up on the 20 yard line and PJ Byrne sat on the start line. Bast and Janniro worked their way through traffic as they do, and Byrne held tight onto his spot on the inside. By the fifth lap both Bast and Janniro had passed Byrne, who stayed tough though against the two talented veterans. Bast again found himself in the familiar position of looking at that big number one on Janniro's back as they crossed the finish line. Bast took second, and the 19 year-old Byrne picked up third. "I just having fun, the track was great tonight for me, and if you can't tell I'm having a lot of fun," Janniro said.

Janniro did stumble Friday night if you consider a couple of second place finishes a fall from grace. Janniro lost to Auburn's Tommy Hedden in the final two lap race of the first round of the Challenge Elimination Series. In a series of one lap races one rider is eliminated until only two riders remain for the final two lap finish. Janniro and Hedden outlasted Bob Hicks, Charlie Venegas, and Ryan Bast to square off in the final. On the second lap coming out of turn three Janniro swung wide a little and Hedden took the break to grab the win and the first spot in the final challenge on September 12.

The Marsalla brothers pulled off an unusual feat with main event wins in Division II and Division III in the same evening. As Fast Fridays fans might remember older brother Eddie Marsalla was injured last season in a crash that kept him out racing the entire season. Kyle Marsalla topped the Division II field for the first time this season ahead of Nick Dion in second and Michael Achilles in third. Eddie Marsalla won his first main event in Division III in only his second night back racing since his injuries last year, beating Glenn Scott who was second and Laurence McNutt was third. Eddie, who was second in last week's main event, is back on the horse and is well on his way back making up for lost time.

In the 250cc Youth Division Colton Hicks was the clear winner. Without speedster Luke Becker in the line-up this week Hicks could cut loose and push himself. Hicks had three victories including the main event. In second was Chase Guerrero who Hicks came from behind beat in the final. "I just knew if I stayed on the inside I could make it, and catch him," Hicks said. In the Youth A 150cc main event it was Alex Martin this week in the winner's circle. Last week his twin brother Sterling Martin took first place. Cameron Krezman won the Youth B 150cc main event. In the Pee-Wee division Auburn's Colton Nelson won both races, his third win in four races this season.
Fast Fridays Results for 5-16-14

Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Charlie Venegas, 4-Bryce Starks

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast, 3-PJ Byrne

Division II Main Event
1-Kyle Marsalla, 2-Nick Dion, 3-Michael Achilles

Division III Main Event (corrected)
1st#394 Eddie Marsalla, 2nd#252 Kurt Kornchuk, 3rd#257 Lawrence McNutt, 4th#255 Glenn Scott

Youth A 250cc Main Event
1-Colton Hicks, 2-Chase Guerrero

Youth A 125cc Main Event
1-Alex Martin, 2-Kyle Cunningham, 3-Sterling Martin

Youth B 150cc
1-CameronKrezman, 2-Anthony Dion

Pee-Wee
Colton Nelson

Photos By Michael Kirby

	Eddie Marsalla is back this season after a serious racing injury last year, picking up the Division III main event win.
	Alex Martin picked up the Youth A 150cc main event this week. His brother Sterling Martin won the main event last week.
	Current national speedway champion Billy Janniro continued his winning ways winning both handicap and scratch main events for the first time this season.
	Auburn's Tommy Hedden looks for the start tapes to go up during the first round of the Challenge Elimination Series. Hedden grabbed the first championship spot.
	Auburn's Bryce Starks had an impressive night working his way into the handicap and scratch main events.