Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Sidecar Night
Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway, Gold Country Fairgrounds
Sidecars Return to Fast Fridays
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, July 1, 2016

The Extreme Sidecar teams, those adrenalin seeking crazies that board their three wheeled, 1000cc chariots with no brakes sliding through the turns and burning around the track returned to Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway thrilling fans at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. The team of Bryan Mortis and Cody Brant had a great night and survived a wild main event to take the checkered flag. After two restarts and some racing that included several of the motorcycles in the Fast Friday’s infield knocking over hay bales, Mortis and Brant pulled off the win in a close finish just barely nudging ahead of the team of Chris Jones and Chuck Heider at the finish line. “That was a pretty wild main event but after the third restart we finally got a good gate,” Mortis said. “Chris (Jones) did it well and I did it right back, it’s all good, no hard feelings, that’s what it is-rubbing is racing.” It was the third of five appearances the Extreme Sidecars will make to Fast Fridays this season. Their lighting fast speeds in the tight corners and the rider hanging off the back of the bike is something to see and experience. They will return to Fast Fridays on August 5.

After winning the AMA National Championship Series Round 2 last Saturday night in Ventura, national champ Billy Janniro kept the party going with another win in the scratch main event Friday night. Janniro is leading the four series championship contest with a lead of 39-30 over closest competitor Max Ruml after two meetings. Friday night Janniro was undefeated in the scratch program with wins in his heat and semifinal races to earn his way into the main event. In the main event he drew lane four, not the best draw, though Janniro wins from any starting spot. After a good gate Janniro was in front in turn one. On his heels was Bart Bast who chased him hard, but Janniro worked inside then outside to keep Bast behind him. Janniro increased his lead and by the fourth lap wheeled across the finish line comfortably ahead of Bast. Bast was second, Louie Mersaroli was third and Broc Nicol was fourth.

Louie Mersaroli had a fast night winning the handicap main event and also placing third in the scratch main event. Mersaroli riding off the 20 yard line held his own in the handicap main event topping speedsters Luke Becker and Gage Geist, who finished second and third in that order. Mersaroli now earned himself a trip back 10 yards for next week’s handicap program.

Jeremy Estes is really living the dream. After three straight main event wins in Division III the guy gets a ride in Division II this week and ends up winning his heat race and the main on his first venture. The 20 year old Estes has only been racing speedway for less than a year. He started on the zero line this week in Division II looking very strong and seems to rise to any level he’s racing in very well. Next week he should be on the 10 yard line in Division II. Look to see this young man possibly in Division I before the season is over. “It was a pretty good night, fun for my first division II race,” Estes said. “I should be on the 10 (yard line) next week if I’m still in division II, my goal is to get into division one, that’s where I want to be”. Charlie Haines was second and Michael Achilles was third.

Cameron “The Captain” Beck finally got a piece of the pie with a win in the Division III main event. Beck has been knocking at the door all season and finally put it together. With Estes riding in the Division II main event, Beck had one less rider to deal with. He stayed ahead of Casey Cornilsen who finished second and Eddie Luke who finished third.

Colton Hicks showed again why he wears the number plate on the front of his motorcycle. The reigning youth national champion won the Youth 250 A main event riding off the heavily handicapped 60 yard line. With 40 yards to make up to his next competitor, Hicks takes his time each lap skillfully making up the yardage until about the fifth lap of the six lap main event to pull ahead and win. Local rider Sammy Tetrault, riding for Team SOS, won the Youth 250 B main event, his third main event win of the season. Charlie Trana pulled off another Youth 150 A win, his fourth of the season. Sammy “The Bullet” Waddill who is no stranger to the winner’s podium at Fast Fridays won the Youth 150 B main event his fourth for the season and his second in a row.

The Run What U Brung program this week was dominated by veteran Shawn Eldredge and newcomer to Fast Fridays, Matt King. Battling for the lead for entire race King surged at the finish line to beat Eldredge from behind. Eldredge who always has busy nights at Fast Fridays riding in several programs won the trophy dash over Charlie Haines, Matt King and William McCloskey in that order.

In the division points races at Fast Fridays after last week, Division I is led by Bart Bast with 876, followed by Billy Janniro with 726 and Luke Becker with 710. Division II is led by Michael Achilles with 361, Shawn Eldredge with 358 and Eddie Marsalla with 334. Casey Cornilsen leads Division III with 366, Cameron Beck follows with 332 and Jeremy Estes holds 328.

Fast Fridays Results for 7-1-16

Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Louie Mersaroli, 4-Broc Nicol

Handicap Main Event
1-Louie Mersaroli, 2-Luke Becker, 3-Gage Geist

Division II Main Event
1-Jeremy Estes, 2-Charlie Haines, 3-Mike Achilles

Division III Main Event
1-Cameron Beck, 2-Casey Cornilsen, 3-Eddie Luke

Youth 250 A Main Event
1-Colton Hicks, 2-Kyle Cunningham, 3-Cameron Krezman

Youth 250 B Main Event
1-Sammy Tetrault, 2-Blu VanderBroeder, 3-Logan Hedden

Youth 150 A Main Event
1-Charlie Trana, 2-Sterling Martin, 3-Alex Martin

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

Run What U Brung
1-Matt King, 2-Shawn Eldredge

Trophy Dash
1-Shawn Eldredge, 2-Charlie Haines, 3-Matt King, 4-William McCloskey

Sidecars
1-Bryan Motis/Cody Brant

Photos By Michael Kirby

	No stranger to the winner’s podium Sammy “The Bullet” Waddill collects his hardware and some love from trophy girls Phyllis Kohlman (left) and Roz Petrilla (right).
	Louie Mersaroli (left) and Daniel Faria (right) in a handicap heat race. Mersaroli won the handicap main event Friday night at Fast Fridays.
	National Youth Champion Colton Hicks won another Youth 250 A main event.
	Handicap semi final number nine took two restarts to complete. Jamison Dilkey led the restart and finished the race second.
	Gage Geist (left) and Billy Janniro (right) race in their scratch heat race. Janniro went on to win the scratch main event, his fifth of the season.
	The Extreme Sidecars in their third of five trips to Fast Fridays this season start their main event. The team of Bryan Mortis and Cody Brant took home the trophy.