Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

USA vs World
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, October 5, 2024
Michael Kirby Story and Photos

It was a fantastic night of speedway racing with a international flair. Four European riders journeyed halfway across the world to participate in the Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway's season finale. The meeting Saturday night at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn Ca. showcased a night of international camaraderie as this team representing the world squared off against our hometown boys. The racing was tight all evening with the score lead changing several times and tied much of the night, but when the dust settled the World came out on top of the USA 71-65.

It was the fourth time in a row that the World has come out on top of the USA. Because of event cancellations in 2022, 2021 and 2020 due to forest fires in the area and COVID you would have to go back to 2017 to find a USA win when the USA defeated the World 58-53. The running total score for the series has the has the USA still leading the World 12-10. But that does not mean that the racing was not tight, and the win could of went to either team Saturday night, with the final A main event the deciding race.

Traveling to Auburn to participate in this year's challenge from Europe were Claus Vissing and Rene Bach from Denmark, Tomasz Orwat from Poland and Ben Trigger from the United Kingdom. Supporting the World team to make six riders was newly crowned AMA National Speedway Champion Broc Nicol and US Open Speedway Champion Chris Kerr. All professional riders and skilled speedway racers. Representing the USA was eleven time AMA National Speedway Champion Billy Janniro, Timmy Dion, Bart Bast, Danny Faria, Blake Borello and Russell Green.

The night opened with rider introductions and short interviews with Fast Friday's announcer Mike Rooney. Three of the four European riders were visiting the United States for the first time. A coin toss to decide starting gate positions, then handshakes between teams and the racing began. The banter and talk between the riders was friendly but when the racing began it got serious real fast.

The program was a championship format with riders scoring points in 18 heat races for finishing positions. Three points for a first-place finish, two points for a second-place finish, one point for third place and zero for a fourth-place finish. After the 18 heat races there was a B main and A main event where the scoring increased which made the racing interesting.

After the first two heats the score was tied and then USA pulled ahead with strong finishes from Blake Borello and Russell Green who combined for first and second and five points, leaving the score USA 11 and The World seven at the track drag. At the end of six heats the USA still held the lead 20-16 strong finishes from Billy Janniro and Timmy Dion who again combined for five points with first and second place finishes. Heats seven thru nine was a little different story with the World pulling ahead 29-25 with first place finishes from Rene Bach, Broc Nicol and Ben Trigger.

The World comes into the competition with a little disadvantage being that they are riding on bikes that are borrowed and riding on a track shorter that their hometown tracks. Add a little jet lag and it could get hard competing with some of the best speedway riders in America.

At the end of 12 heats the USA took the lead again 37-35 but still very tight. Heats 13-15 brought another tie with the score knotted at 45-45 with Bach and Nicol turning in first place finishes for The World and Janniro scoring three points for the USA with a first-place finish. In heats 16-18 The World closed the gap and pulled ahead 55-53 going into the bonus heat rounds.

Each team chose riders to go into the bonus heats. In the B Main the World sent Vissing and Kerr, and The USA sent Russell Green and Timmy Dion. The scoring increased to four points for a win, three points for second, two points for third and one point for fourth. Vissing and Kerr combined for first and second and seven points and leaving the score 62 for the World and 56 for the USA going into the final bonus round. With a six point difference and scoring increasing again in the A main event the title could go to any team that had a great race.

The USA sent Borello and Janniro to the start line and the World sent Nicol and Bach to the start line with the meeting bragging rights on the line. Borello for the USA had his best ride of the night with a great gate and led the entire race picking up six points. Nicol for the World was second picking up five points, Bach was third for the World and added four points and Janniro for the USA chipped in three. Final score for the 2024 season USA vs. The World meeting was The World 71, USA 65.

Along with the USA/World program there was a Youth 250, Youth 150 and Pee wee program.

High scorers for the World were Broc Nicol with 20 points and Rene Bach with 19 points. For the USA Billy Janniro was high scorer with 19 points and Blake Borello earned 16 points. It was an awesome ending to another great season at Fast Friday's. Hats off to the Fast Friday's staff who put on a wonderful season ending international race.

Results USA vs. The World 10-5-24

The World-71
Broc Nicol 20, Rene Bach 19, Claus Vissing 14, Chris Kerr 11, Ben Trigger 6, Tomasz Orwat 1.

USA-65
Billy Janniro 19, Blake Borello 16, Timmy Dion 10, Russell Green 9, Bart Bast 7, Danny Faria 4.

Michael Kirby Photos
2024 North vs. South The USA and The World teams pose for a group photo before the race. (Left-Right) World Team Ben Trigger, Broc Nicol, Tomasz Orwat, Rene Bach, Claus Vissing, Fast Fridays owner Dave Joiner, USA Team Billy Janniro, Timmy Dion, Bart Bast, Danny Faria, Blake Borello and Russell Green.
#27 Chris Kerr and #27n Timmy Dion on Blake Borello's bike
#321 Russell Green
Rider #2 Rene Bach and Timmy Dion
Editor Note: Photo of the Night The racing all night was very tight by both teams as turn one became very sought after space after riders left the start line. Shown here is (L-R) Chris Kerr for the World, Billy Janniro for the USA and Timmy Dion for the USA.
The World riders celebrate their 71-65-win Saturday night at Fast Fridays. (L-R) Fast Fridays trophy girl Patti Johnson, Broc Nicol, Rene Bach, Claus Vissing, Ben Trigger, Tomasz Orwat, Chris Kerr and Fast Friday's trophy girl Liviah Johnson.
Lining up for the A Main event are (L-R) Billy Janniro USA, Broc Nicol the World, Blake Borello USA and Rene Bach the World. With the score so tight all night the last race decided the outcome. Blake Borello won the final race.
Broc Nicol supporting the World team led all scorers with 20 points.
Billy Janniro led the USA team scoring 19 points.
Claus Vissing of Denmark gets a push off leaving the pit area to the start line. Vissing scored 14 points for the World team.
Rene Bach of Denmark scored 19 points for the World Team.