Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Week 3
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway, Gold Country Fairgrounds
Janniro dominates week three at Fast Fridays
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, May 23, 2014

YouTube Video - Anthony Bernardi

Thousands of Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway fans kicked off the Memorial Day weekend taking in a hot night of racing action Friday night at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. The evening opened with a touching ceremony honoring members of the military past and present, a 15 by 25 foot flag was unfurled and Maria Viola of Rough and Ready sang our national anthem.

In Division I racing action, Billy Janniro is making it look easy. Auburn's Bart Bast is giving Janniro the toughest time but has only managed to steal one division one main event win from the current national champ so far this season. Janniro continued his winning ways Friday night notching his second night of double main event wins so far this season with first place finishes in the scratch main and handicap main events. As week three of the 2014 Fast Fridays season went into the books, Janniro has won all three scratch main events and two of three handicap main events, losing just one in the second week to Bast. That's five six of main events wins in three weeks. With a track groomed perfectly for his riding style Janniro was unbeatable in Friday night's main events.

In the handicap main event Bast again followed Janniro across the finish line but this time by just inches in an exciting handicap program finale and the closest finish of the evening. Janniro, Bast and Broc Nicol battled for the entire six laps and with Bast leading out of the final turn, Janniro on the outside and Nicol trailing, Janniro found the power in the deeper dirt to nip Bast by inches. It was Bast's second of three loses to Janniro in the handicap program so far this season. Bast wrestled one handicap main from Janniro last week. Nicol, the 2012 youth national champion, up from Southern California to race at Fast Fridays followed Bast with a third place finish.

In the scratch main event Janniro would not be denied. Facing Bast again in lane two, Tommy Hedden in lane four, and Bryce Starks in lane one, Janniro blasted out of lane three finding a way to the front of the pack inside on turn one, but Bryce Starks bobbled and went down causing a restart. Janniro again got inside on turn one, and it was Hedden giving chase. Bast from behind passed Starks then worked by Hedden to again find himself behind Janniro trying to find a way around him, waiting for the slightest mistake and his chance that never came. Bast took second, Hedden was third and Starks was fourth.

Making their first trip up north from Southern California for the first of five visits to Fast Fridays the Extreme Sidecars put on an exciting sidecar program. A crowd favorite at Fast Fridays, Joe Jones and his band of adrenaline charged racers lit up the Fast Fridays track on their 1000cc three wheeled chariots with no brakes. The team of Duel Anderson and David Dent picked up the first round win after Jones and Johnny Glover stalled at the start line in the main event.

Division II was topped by Louie Mersaroli who was riding off the 30 yard line after a main event win on opening night. Mersaroli was followed by Chris Popanz in second and his brother David Mersaroli in third. "I was on the twenty when I started this season, I got bumped to the thirty, and now hopefully I'll be moved up to division one, said Mersaroli. "I just try to go faster and faster to get up to division one, it's been my goal." Mersaroli also won his heat race to get into the main. Kyle Porteous won the division III main event, Eddie Marsalla finished second after a first place showing last week. Lawrence McNutt was third.

After a week's absence Luke Becker was back at Fast Fridays with a win in the Youth 250cc division off the 60 yard-line. "Everything came together well, everything worked out," said Becker. "I'm working toward the youth national championship, I've got to make it happen, I'm 15 this is my last year." Colton Hicks was second and Chase Guerrero was third. "Dylan Wagner was first in the 150cc Youth A division and Anthony Dion topped the 150cc Youth B division for the second time this season. Colton Nelson picked up another win in the Pee-Wee division. Dan Cahoon won the Run What U Brung main event.

Fast Fridays Results for 5-23-14

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

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Broc Nicol

Division II Main Event
1-Louie Mersaroli, 2-Chris Popanz, 3-David Mersaroli

Division III Main Event
1-Kyle Porteous, 2-Eddie Marsalla, 3-Lawrence McNutt, 4-Harlan Bast

Youth A 250cc Main Event
1-Luke Becker 2-Colton Hicks, 3-Chase Guerrero, 4-William Fike

Youth A 150cc Main Event
1-Dylan Wagner, 2-Kyle Cunningham, 3-Logan Hedden, 4-Landon Norton

Youth B 150cc
1-Anthony Dion, 2-Cameron Krezman, 3-Charlie Trana

Pee-Wee
Colton Nelson

Run What U Brung Main Event
Dan Cahoon

Sidecar Main Event
Dual Anderson/David Dent

Photos By Michael Kirby

	Louie Mersaroli picked up another Division II main event win Friday night. This week Mersaroli won off the 30 yard line, which might bump the 18 year-old to a division I slot.
	Luke Becker has won two of three Youth 250cc main events at Fast Fridays this season.
	The sidecar team of Dual Anderson (driver) and David Dent (rider) won the sidecar main event.
	Riders lined up for the start of the Division I main event Friday night. (Far to near) Tommy Hedden, Billy Janniro, Bart Bast, and Bryce Starks. Janniro won the event, and has yet to be beaten in a scratch main event this season.
	Billy Janniro celebrates his scratch main event Friday night.
	Grass Valley's Anthony Dion won the Youth B 150cc main event. It was Dion's second main event win this season.