Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Vintage Speedway and Legends Night
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway, Gold Country Fairgrounds
Bast fights for scratch Main event win
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, July 4, 2014

YouTube Video By Anthony Bernardi

It took nine weeks into the 2014 speedway season for Auburn's Bart Bast to finally be able to take down Billy Janniro and win the Division I scratch Main event at Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn. As the fireworks were set to go off at the Gold Country Fairgrounds Bast went to work. With five second place scratch Main event finishes so far this season Bast took advantage of a favorable track for him, stayed in the dusted off blue groove to keep ahead of Janniro for the win. Janniro drew the sought after lane one and got to the inside first on turn one but slid outside as Bast came inside where he does his best work. Bast held steady on the inside and Janniro was forced to work higher on the track as Charlie Venegas also snuck past him on the inside following Bast by less than a bike length. Bast held low on the track next to the tube on the dusty track and took the checkered flag, Venegas was second and Janniro was forced to settle for third, followed by Bryce Starks. "The track was much different this week, and it came down to the draw and Billy drew (lane) one which he wanted because it was so slick," Bast said. "He made a little mistake and I just happened to be in the right spot. He went into (turn) three a little hot and past the groove and you had to stay in the groove tonight."

In the Handicap Main event it was PJ Byrne that also broke through into the winners circle with his first Main event win of the season. After starting on the zero line all season in the Handicap program, Byrne will now start on the 10 yard line. Byrne held off visiting current AMA Under 21 National Champion Max Ruml who followed Byrne across the finish line for second by less than a bike length. Tommy Hedden was third. "It was awesome, I finally got off the zero line and am back on the 10 yard line now," Byrne said. "I stayed right on the groove and never slipped and held on to it." Janniro, for the first time this season did not make the Handicap Main event because of a rare fall in his semi-final and did not transfer.

Nick Dion, back from injury a few weeks ago, won the Division II Main event. Dion a Mainstay in both the division II and the Run What U Brung programs rode a great race holding off David Mersaroli and Louie Mersaroli. Handicapped at the 30 and 40 yard lines the Mersaroli twins were unable to get ahead of Dion who rides off the 10 yard line. David Mersaroli was second and Louie Mersaroli was third.

Ron Davis, visiting from Southern California for the fireworks, easily won the Division III Main event. Matthew Bergland was second and William McCloskey was third. Kurtis Hamill, son of legendary speedway champion Billy Hamill, was also visiting from Southern California and made good use of the trip. Hamill put some pressure on Luke Becker in the Youth 250 cc program and picked up the Main event win. Both aggressive riders, and soon to be matched up in the Youth National Championships in August, went head to head. At this meeting it was Hamill who won the Main event. Becker was second and Blake Borello was third. Both Hamill and Becker will be riding in adult divisions next season, with long careers ahead of them. The Martin twins, Alex and Sterling scored first and second place finishes in the 150cc Youth A division. Alex was first and Sterling second. Kyle Cunningham was third. Anthony Dion picked up the 150cc Youth B division Main event win.

The Extreme Sidecar teams made their third appearance this season at Fast Fridays with some fireworks of their own. The adrenaline charged program was an exciting addition to an already thrilling Fourth of July speedway program. The sidecar team of Jeff Medberry and Heather Bennett won the sidecar Main event. All the visiting sidecar teams put on an excellent riding exhibition for the fans at Fast Fridays.

Fast Fridays Results for 7-4-14

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

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-PJ Byrne, 2-Max Ruml 3-Tommy Hedden

Division II Main Event
1-Nick Dion, 2-David Mersaroli, 3-Louie Mersaroli

Division III Main Event
1-Ron Davis, 2-Matthew Bergland, 3-William McCloskey

Youth A 250cc Main Event
1-Kurtis Hamill, 2-Luke Becker 3-Blake Borello

Youth A 150cc Main Event
1-Alex Martin, 2-Sterling Martin, 3-Kyle Cunningham

Youth B 150cc Main Event
1-Anthony Dion, 2-Charlie Trana, 3-Landon Collins

Extreme Sidecars
Jeff Medberry/Heather Bennett

Photos By Michael Kirby

	Auburn's Bart Bast won the Division I scratch Main event, his first of the season. Bast rode the blue groove to pick up the win ahead of Charlie Venegas and Billy Janniro.
	The Martin twin Alex (30) and Sterling (31) come out of turn three Friday night at Fast Fridays. Alex was first and Sterling second in the Youth 150cc A Main event.
	Nick Dion was back after an injury several weeks ago with a first place finish in the Division II Main event.
	Max Ruml made the trip up north from Southern California and finished second in the Division I Handicap Main event.
	PJ Bryne won his first Division I Handicap Main event Friday night.
	The Extreme Sidecar team of Jeff Medberry and Heather Bennett won the sidecar Main event.
	Visiting from Southern California Kurtis Hamill (right) picked up the 250cc Youth Main event win. Hamill lined up next to Luke Becker (left) on the 50 yard line for the start of a heat race Friday night.