Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California
AMA Youth National Championships
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway,
Gold Country Fairgrounds
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, August 15, 2014
YouTube Video By Anthony Bernardi
Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway ran their most ambitious racing program so far this year Friday night at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. Staging 56 races the staff at Fast Fridays worked to bring not only a regular program of exciting scratch and handicap racing for Division I, Division II and Division III, but also ran programs that crowned three AMA Youth National Speedway Champions. It was a thrilling night of racing for fans and riders.
Hosting the best youth riders in the country and the future of speedway racing in America, 24 under 16 riders converged in Auburn to vie for national championships in the Youth 250cc, 150cc Division 1 and the 150cc Division 2 classes. Two Southern California riders defended and retained their crowns and one new champion was crowned in the youth championships.
In programs dominated by Southern California riders who made the trip up north for the championships it was Dillon Ruml who rode a perfect night with four wins in his qualifying heats and a win in the national final to retain his AMA 250cc Youth National Speedway Championship for the second year. Ruml 15, won the championship in 2013 and will move up next season to racing the 500cc bikes in the adult divisions. Ruml who began racing in 2008 has an impressive record as a junior and will surely make an immediate impact in the adult divisions. Ruml is the younger brother of successful 17 year-old speedway rider Max Ruml, who recently returned from competing in the Speedway World Cup in Europe and is second in the current national championship series with one race to go.
Challenging Ruml in the final national final for the championship was Luke Becker, Gage Geist and Kurtis Hamill. Hamill finished second after the heat races with seven points, one off perfect, Becker finished the heats with six points and Geist finished with five to move into the final. It was Ruml's night though and he remained perfect with a near flawless final race. He grabbed the lead and held on for the win. Hamill spun out on turn one losing his chance and Becker challenged but Ruml's experience proved to be the deciding factor. Becker took second, Geist was third and Hamill fourth. "It was a good night, the track was good, I got it on good scores, I couldn't ask for any more," said Ruml. "This is my last youth national, more than ever I'm looking forward to racing on the 500's." All of these talented riders will be in adult divisions next season.
In the AMA 150cc (Division I) Youth National Championship Sebastian Palmese also repeated his 2013 championship adding a second championship trophy to his collection Friday night. Palmese 11, finished third in points after the heat races to qualify for the national final race. He faced top heat point winner Sterling Martin, second place heat point winner Dylan Wagner and local rider Kyle Cunningham in the final. Experience and confidence again ruled and though Palmese was third in points entering the final he rode a skillful race taking the checkered flag. "Last year I started off in third and passed Sterling (Martin) on the final turn," said Palmese. "This year was fun, I battled into the first turn and just got out in front." Martin 10, showing great skill, also rode a good race but could not catch Palmese. Wagner was third and Cunningham fourth.
The only local rider to capture a championship was Auburn resident Cameron Krezman. Krezman 11, won the 2014 AMA 150cc (Division II) Youth National Speedway Championship, after finishing the heat races with 16 points. Krezman has worked hard in his first year racing on a 150cc bike after starting at Fast Fridays in the pee-wee division in 2013. Landon Collins was second, and Luke Whitcomb finished third in the final championship race.
In regular speedway action at Fast Fridays Friday night, Billy Janniro won the scratch main event. Janniro was chased by Bob Hicks who gave it a valiant try but had to settle for second. Bart Bast coming off of two straight scratch main event victories was third and Bryce Starks was fourth. Janniro leads in points in the 2014 AMA National Speedway Championship series after three of four meeting by 16 points over Max Ruml and followed by local rider Bast who is in third 25 points behind Janniro in the series. The deciding grand final race for the national championship will September 19 in Auburn.
Another Southern Californian scored big Friday night. Rocco Scopellite came north and won the Division I handicap main event. Racing in both Divisions I and Division II, Scopellite held off Billy Janniro who finished second and Thomas Reich who finished third. Reich has come back strong since last week after mechanical issues have sidelined him for weeks. Jamison Dilkey delivered in the Division II main event for the second time this year. David Mersaroli was second and Nick Dion was third. Mersaroli still sits on top of the Division II season track points ledger. Matthew Bergland was tops in the Division III main event, after a second place heat race finish to transfer to the main event. Lawrence McNutt was second and John Gauthreaux finished third.
Fast Fridays Results for 8-15-14
Youth 250cc AMA National Speedway Championship
1-Dillon Ruml, 2-Luke Becker 3- Gage Geist, 4-Kurtis Hamill
Points after Qualifying Heat Races
Dillon Ruml-8 Kurtis Hamill-7 Luke Becker-6 Gage Geist-5 Braydan Galvin-4 William Fike-2 Chase Guerrero-2 Blake Borello-1
Youth 150cc Division I AMA Youth National Speedway Championship
1-Sebastian Palmese 2-Sterling Martin 3-Dylan Wagner 4-Kyle Cunningham
Points after Qualifying Heat Races
Sterling Martin-12 Dylan Wagner-11 Sebastian Palmese 10 Kyle Cunningham-9 Tristan Britt-7 Slater Lightcap-6 Alex Martin-6 Jake Isaac-5 Landon Norton-4 Gregory Moore-2
Youth 150cc Division II AMA Youth National Speedway Championship
1-Cameron Krezman 2-Landon Collins 3-Luke Whitcomb
Points after Qualifying Heat Races
Cameron Krezman-16 Luke Whitcomb-12 Landon Collins-9 Charlie Trana-3 Aidan McNutt-2
Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bob Hicks, 3-Bart Bast, 4-Bryce Starks
Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Rocco Scopellite, 2-Billy Janniro 3-Thomas Reich
Division II Main Event
1-Jamison Dilkey, 2-David Mersaroli, 3-Nick Dion
Division III Main Event
1-Matthew Bergland, 2-Lawrence McNutt, 3-John Gauthreaux
Photos By Michael Kirby
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