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Perris RacewayPerris, CaliforniaAMA FIM North America Final JANNIRO ADDS FIM NORTH AMERICA TITLE WITH THRILLING WIN AT PERRIS It’s a new decade but a familiar face came out on top as America launched into the ‘Roaring 20’s’ with an absolute epic. Former Coventry Bees and Team USA star Billy Janniro added yet another title to his impressive resume by beating his younger rivals to take the FIM North America Final victory at Perris Raceway on 11 Jan 2020. Janniro now holds a trifecta of the biggest three titles in America, adding the Continental title to both versions of the USA National crown. As Janniro admitted in his victory interview, it was very much a case of redemption as a rare crash and resultant injury cut short his attempt at the title a year early. The event, restaged after weather got in the way five weeks earlier, featured a bumper crowd on a cold evening, at least by Southern Californian expectations. The event serves as a huge out of season epic, featuring the best of the domestic scene and returning European based riders. It also determines the riders for the two allocated USA places in the 2020 Grand Prix Qualifying rounds and is newly recognized by the British Speedway authorities and government, with the top four finishers gaining eligibility for a new or renewed UK working visa as they desire. The event ran on the traditional 20 heat, 16 rider format, with points deciding the finishing order and no main events scheduled unless run offs were needed for any of the top three spots. Heat 1 saw the first upset of the evening, Russell Green getting a superb start and defending champion Luke Becker struggling out of the gate. Becker was briefly challenged by rising star Jake Isaac before setting his sights on Green, but there was no way through. Janniro won heat 2 with relative ease but there was a close race behind him where 16-year old rookie Anthony Dion scorched to a sensational second place over Dillon Ruml and Aaron Fox. Heat 3 saw multi time former Youth Champion Sebastian Palmese gate first but he got out of shape on turn three with Tim Gomez moving through for the win from Blake Borello. The pre event race draw saw four potential winners out in heat 4. It was one of the classic speedway races that are rarely seen in America where the Kelvin Tatum cliché of ‘You could throw a blanket over all four riders’ would not have been out of place. Newly signed Wolverhampton rider Broc Nicol came out on top with Max Ruml close by in second, Gino Manzares third and last years runner up Austin Novratil in fourth with a last turn fall. Round 2 kicked off with Janniro leading home Manzares and Green in heat 5. Nicol responded in heat 6 to also stay unbeaten with Dillon Ruml in second. Max Ruml moved up to five points with a victory over Fox in heat 7. Becker got his first win in heat 8 over Gomez, Novratil falling for the second time. Dillon Ruml led home Novratil and Green in heat 9. Janniro stayed perfect with a win over his biggest domestic scene rival Max Ruml in heat 10. Nicol won heat 11 with ease to keep pace with Janniro from the unfavored outside gate with Borello in second. Heat 12 saw Manzares get a superb start to take the lead and hold off Becker for a superb win. With two dropped points, two rivals unbeaten and a more tough opponents coming up the pressure now fell firmly upon Becker who seemed at this point a little off of his usual Perris A-Game. Action resumed after intermission and heat 13 went to Nicol who now moved onto 12 points with Fox in second. Manzares scorched to his second win of the night in 14 with the impressive Dion in second. Janniro responded to Nicol to also stay perfect with a gate 4 win in heat 15 with Novratil in second. Heat 16 saw Max Ruml get the drop on Becker with Dillon Ruml in third. Becker chased down in his rival in what was a must win race for him. Going into turn 1 of lap 2, Becker looked to be moving by Max when suddenly the older Ruml brothers bike straightened out from what was later discovered to be a broken primary chain. Max’s brother Dillon could not avoid his brother’s bike as Max fell down and was launched into the air towards the safety fence. The unusual mechanical failure ultimately ended Max’s charge for the podium. Dillon was able to walk back to the pits after the fall much to the relief of the crowd on hand but took no further part in the event. The re run was a two man go with Becker defeating Borello but still two points adrift of qualifying. Incredibly, Max Ruml was out again in heat 17 and showed his mettle as a racer with victory in a stunning heat. 60-year old veteran Eddie Castro got the start and for a while looked like he could score a huge upset. However, first Ruml and then Green reeled him in and got by. One point seemed harsh reward for a vintage Castro race but given the depth of the field, that is how it goes. Aaron Fox got his name on the winner’s sheet, heading home Novratil in 18. Now it was down to the last two races which would determine the podium and qualifiers. Manzares won heat 19, his third win of the night, over an a very impressive Jake Isaac which added further pressure upon Becker. With Manzares now on 12 points, heat 20 would be decisive. Going into it, Janniro and Nicol were unbeaten also on 12. Becker, on ten, essentially needed a win against his unbeaten rivals, to qualify. Janniro got a great start from the inside with Becker in second around the outside and Nicol in third. Becker went wide going into turn 1 of lap two and with Janniro locking up a little, he executed the perfect inside cutback coming out of turn two to take the lead. Janniro knew his job at this point was not to re-pass Becker but to keep Nicol at bay to take the championship, which he did to perfection. With Janniro on 14 points, it meant the two young Wolverhampton Wolves 2020 team mates, both on 13 points, would need to run off for second place and the final Grand Prix Qualifying spot. In another epic close duel, Becker cut inside of Nicol out of turn 2 to win the run off and claim silver on the night. Becker had four-time World Champion Greg Hancock in his pit crew throughout the evening. Nicol rode sublimely all evening long and needs credit for his The event was the second staging of the AMA FIM North America Final since it returned to the calendar in December 2018. The event also featured a 28 race Winter Championship for other divisions which will be covered in its own report. Perris action continues with two February races as book ends to the month, on the 1st and 29th. Finishing Order
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