Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California
Extreme Sidecar Night
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway,
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Janniro wins big at Fast Fridays
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, August 29, 2014
Friday night at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn Billy Janniro again demonstrated the riding skills that have made him the man to beat in national speedway competition. Janniro again dominated both Division I programs winning both the scratch and handicap main event in convincing fashion. So convincing that the reigning national champ won every time he rode onto the track-six races six wins, adjusting very well to the slick track at Fast Fridays that has at times given him problems during the season. Janniro has won the scratch main event at Fast Fridays 10 times this season, three times also winning both the scratch main and handicap main events.
Janniro, nearly unbeatable on any track anywhere, is a four time AMA USA National Speedway champion and leads the current national championship series by 16 points over second place rider Max Ruml and 25 points ahead of Auburn's Bart Bast who is in third place. Janniro has won the first 2014 three national championship series meetings and sits in a commanding position when the four race series wraps up on September 19 in Auburn. Friday night was the last night to accumulate Fast Fridays season track points before the Fast Friday's track championship on September 12. Janniro also came out on top ahead of Bast who finished in second. Janniro also just won the California State Championship for the fourth time Wednesday at City of Industry in Southern California.
In the scratch main event Janniro faced Bart Bast, Charlie Venegas and Ryan Bast. Out of lane one, Janniro got the inside line in turn one and just worked Bart Bast to the outside, holding inside and gradually pulling away. Bast tried to catch him but Janniro worked the slick track skillfully to the finish line. Bast was second, Venegas was third and Ryan Bast was third. "I hate slick tracks, but I'm starting to adjust, I didn't ride inside all night long except for the last race, and in the last race of the night you have to ride the inside, Janniro said."
In the handicap main event Janniro, riding off the 70 yard line, again faced Bart Bast who rides off the 50 yard line, in the final lap of a great race. Working through lower yardage traffic it was Janniro and Bast in a two man race after five laps. Janniro came inside of Bast in a smooth powerful move on the last lap to take the flag. "I just brought up the bike that I race down south and tonight is the first time I have used it here, and boy was she fast. So, we'll going to put it in the closet until the national, I just wanted to make sure it was good," Janniro said. Bast was second and Thomas Reich was third.
Sixteen-year old Dalton Leedy visiting Fast Fridays from Riverside won the Division II main event. Leedy fresh off a sixth place finish in last week's Under 21 national championship won his heat race and the main. Colfax's Nick Dion was second and Shawn Eldredge was third. Lawrence McNutt won the Division III main event for the second week in a row and third time this season. Racing off the 40 yard line in this week's win look for McNutt to be a favorite in the Division III track championships when racing resumes on September 12. John Gauthreaux was second and William McCloskey was third.
In the youth divisions Chase Guerrero was first in the 250cc Youth main event, followed by William Fike. Sterling Martin grabbed the 150cc Youth A main event, Cameron Krezman was second and Dylan Wagner was third. In the 150cc Youth B main it was Folsom's Charlie Trana, a Fast Friday's crowd favorite who took first place. Landon Collins was second and Anthony Dion was third.
The Extreme Sidecars made their fifth and final exciting appearance of the season at Fast Fridays. Again five teams on three wheeled sidecars took to the track thrilling the Fast Friday's crowd. The teams ride 1000cc bikes at lighting speeds around the track as the rider on back hangs off the bike sliding around the turns. The team of Joe Jones and Chuck Heider won the sidecar main event. The Extreme Sidecars have been crowd pleaser for many years at Fast Friday's and are welcomed for their daring racing skills and thrills.
Fast Fridays Results for 8-29-14
Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Charlie Venegas, 4-Ryan Bast
Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast 3-Thomas Reich
Division II Main Event
1-Dalton Leedy, 2-Nick Dion, 3-Shawn Eldredge
Division III Main Event
1-Lawrence McNutt, 2-John Gauthreaux, 3-William McCloskey
Youth A 250cc Main Event
1-Chase Guerrero, 2-William Fike
Youth A 150cc Main Event
1-Sterling Martin, 2-Cameron Krezman, 3-Dylan Wagner
Youth B 150cc Main Event
1-Charlie Trana, 2-Landon Collins, 3-Anthony Dion
Extreme Sidecars Main Event
1-Joe Jones/Chuck Heider
Photos By Michael Kirby
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