Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Season Opener
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway, Gold Country Fairgrounds
Fast Fridays Season Opener
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, May 6, 2016

YouTube Video - by Anthony Bernardi

The long off season at the Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn is over. America’s premier speedway track hosted a great opener Friday night at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. The uncertain weather might of kept some fans away but those fans that showed up were treated to a fantastic night of speedway racing action.

All the divisions were full, beginning with Division I. Twenty four riders are in the handicap division and sixteen riders in the scratch division. Divisions II and III loaded with returning and new riders. The youth divisions include A and B divisions in both the 250cc and 150cc classes. Throw in the pee-wee’s and Run What U Brung and you have an exciting racing program right here in Auburn every week.

In Division I Billy Janniro is back on a quest for his seventh USA AMA National Speedway Championship, matching veteran Mike Bast longtime record. A 2016 national championship would also put him just one championship title behind record holder and world championship rider Greg Hancock who owns eight national championship titles.

Also, back in Division I is veteran local rider Bart Bast who dogged Janniro in the scratch main event Friday night. Bast has over 30 years of speedway racing under his belt and is one of the most recognizable names in the sport. Lining up for the fastest man of the night title in week one were Janniro, Bast, young Luke Becker and Bryan Yarrow. Janniro, out of gate four got a good start grabbing the inside line and Bast out of three fell in right behind him, and it was on. Janniro and Bast battled in a two man race, leaving Yarrow and Becker in a fight for third and fourth. “It was an awesome opening night,” Janniro said. “The track was a little slick, I had to slow down in the turn and could feel Bart (Bast) right there,” he said. Janniro held off the hard charging Bast taking first. Bast made a strong burst yards from the finish line to catch Janniro and nearly pulled it off but had to settle for second place. Becker was third and Yarrow fourth.

The handicap main event was won by Auburn’s David Mersaroli. Mersaroli held off Luke Becker who took second. Auburn’s Bob Hicks was also in the mix finishing third. Leedy also raced in the Division II and picked up the win in the division II main event making the trip north fruitful for the eighteen year old. Auburn’s Jamison Dilkey grabbed second and Auburn’s Mike Achilles took third after transferring with a win in his heat race. Jeremy Estes, new to speedway last year won the Division III main event, followed by newcomer Hunter Morris in second and Casey Cornilsen took third.

The youth divisions were packed with many riders moving up divisions. Cameron Krezman was able to hold off current USA AMA Youth National champion Colton Hicks in the Youth 250cc A main event. Krezman was impressive Friday night winning his heat race to transfer. Hicks was second and Anthony Dion was third. The Youth 250cc B was won by Sammy Tetrault. Folsom’s Charlie Trana won the Youth 150cc A main event, and Sammy “The Bullet” Waddill grabbed the victory in the Youth 150cc B main event. Local Run What U Brung veteran Jay Fodrini picked up what looks to the first of many wins this season in the popular event.

The weather was a little uncertain but it was an exciting night and the start to what looks like a great season of speedway racing at Fast Fridays. The Challenge Elimination Series kicks off next week and coming up on May 20 the very exciting Extreme Sidecars will make the first of five appearances at Fast Fridays. Vintage night, the North vs South Challenge, championship nights and USA vs the World, will all be back throughout the season. Mark your calendars for a fun filled summer at Fast Fridays.

Fast Fridays Results for 5-6-16 (Editor: Please note that results are not official as the promoter is responslble for those, we do attempt to be correct as we can. Some results below added by speedwaybikes.com)

Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Luke Becker, 4-Bryan Yarrow

Scratch Consolation
1-Charlie Venegas, 2-Tommy Hedden, 3-Ryan Bast, 4-Broc Nicol

Handicap Main Event
1-David Mersaroli, 2-Luke Becker 3-Bob Hicks, 4-Billy Janniro, Bryan Yarrow (Fell), Kurtis Hamill (Fell)

Handicap Consolation
1-Bart Bast, 2-Tommy Hedden, 3-Charlie Venegas, 4-Daniel Faria, 5-Broc Nicol, 6-Louie Mersaroli (DNS)

Division II Main Event
1-Dalton Leedy, 2-Jamison Dilkey, 3-Mike Achilles, 4-Charlie Haines, 5-Shawn Eldredge, 6-Robert Curry

Division II Consolation
1-William McCloskey, 2-Eddie Marsalla, 3-Nick Dion, 4-Lawrence McNutt, 5-John Peters, 6-Brian Leventon

Division III Main Event
1-Jeremy Estes, 2-Hunter Morris, 3-Casey Cornilsen, 4-John Gauthreaux, 5-Harlan Bast, 6-Cameron Beck

Division III Consolation
1-Ray Holt Jr, 2-John Williams, 3-Tim Dion, 4-Peter Pecorilla, 5-LC Veale, 6-Eddie Luke, 7-John Airrington Sr

Trophy Dash
1. Jamison Dilkey, Dalton Leedy, 3-Eddie Marsalla 4-Robert Curry

Youth 250 A Main Event
1-Cameron Krezman, 2-Colton Hicks, 3-Anthony Dion, 4-Kyle Cunningham, 5- Landon Norton, 6-Dylan Wagner

Youth 250 B Main Event
1-Sammy Tetrault, 2-Logan Hedden, 3-Gregory Moore, 4-Blu VanderBroeder, 5-Rich VanderMeeden, 6-Aidan McNutt (Fell)

Youth 150 A Main Event
1-Charlie Trana, 2-Landon Collins, 3-Sterling Martin, 4-Enzo Sorani, 5-Timmy Dion, 6-Alex Martin

Youth 150 B Main Event
1-Sammy Waddill, 2-Chase Kangas, 3-Colton Nelson

Run What U Brung
1-Jay Fodrini, 2-Nate Wilson, 3-Dylan Sudtell

Photos By Michael Kirby

	Back this year again as the man to beat is Billy Janniro. The current national champ is gunning for his seventh USA National Speedway Championship.
	Back in fine form after serious speedway injury sidelined him last year, Broc Nicol will be a weekly rider at Fast Fridays this season.
	Dalton Leedy made the trip up north from Riverside successful with a first place finish in the Division II main event.
	Newcastle’s Cameron Krezman 12, won the Youth 250cc A Division main event, holding off current national youth speedway champion Colton Hicks.
	Kurtis Hamill is another rider that will be making the trip north each week from Southern California to race at Fast Fridays.
	Sammy Waddill-Sammy “The Bullet” Waddill won the Youth 150cc B main event.