Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Speedway - Season Opener
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, May 10, 2024
Story and Photos by Michael Kirby

Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway opened their 2024 season Friday night in Auburn at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway owner David Joiner and his talented staff did a great job turning the arena back into a racetrack in just two weeks' time after the Gold Country Rodeo staged their three-day event recently. The track was in fantastic condition as riders dusted off the cobwebs and got back into the swing of speedway racing. A near capacity crowd filled McCann Stadium on the first night of racing eager to seeing and experiencing professional speedway racing, and that is what Fast Friday's and the racers that journeyed to Auburn brought.

Billy Janniro 43, with a list of championship speedway accomplishments too long to list including 11 AMA National Speedway Championships and one of the best American riders to ever throw his leg over a speedway bike was back right of the bat with two very convincing wins. Janniro picked up a double-double and not the kind you get at In and Out Burger.

Janniro won both the Division I handicap and the Division I scratch main events. Handicapped on the 30-yard line in the handicap program Janniro won his heat race and was second to a hard charging Charlie Trana, who started on the 10-yard line in their semi-final. Janniro and Trana went at it again for a time in the main, but Janniro pulled ahead and in his traditional trademark wheelied across the finish line took the checkered flag for his first main event win of the night. Trana who had a great night was second to Janniro in the main event. Slater Lightcap was third and Timmy Dion was fourth.

In the Division I scratch program, Janniro won his first heat race, transferring to the semi-final finishing second to Louie Mersaroli who also had a great night. Both riders transferring to the main event for the night's finale. After the draws Janniro sat in lane four, Mersaroli was in one, Broc Nicol up from Southern California was in lane two and rounding out the main event Blake Borello was in lane three. As the tapes the race was off only to see Janniro in a rare slide out go down on turn two necessitating a restart. In the restart Janniro got out ahead and held the lead tape to tape but with Nicol hot on his tail the entire race. Nicol put up a great effort, but Janniro rode with the confidence that only comes with over 29 years on a speedway bike can give for the win. Nicol was second, Borello was third and Mersaroli was fourth.

The Support Class was won by Antonio Coffman who was perfect was perfect for the night winning his heat race and then transferring to the main event for the win. Catherine Moore was second and Brian Leventon was third.

Riley Rearick continued his success from last year and won the Youth 150 main event. Perfect also for the night winning his heat race and the main event. Newcomer Gavin Evans Seely was second and track favorite Leeann Emerson was third.

In the Youth 250 main event Brady Landon from Roseville took the top honors. A starting gate malfunction caused a restart and Landon took over leading the entire race as the tapes went up again. Darren Armbruster the 2023 250 AMA Youth National Champion was second and Caden Cavrikas was third. The Pee Wee program which includes the speedway riders of the future was strong with eleven riders and as usual were welcomed with warm applause each time they rode onto the track from the Fast Friday's crowd. 

Several Southern California will be making the trip up north to race on Auburn's tricky dirt oval each week. These riders include Slater Nightcap, Broc Nicol, Dillon Ruml and others that will come north each week to challenge our North riders. Fast Fridays in its 29th season continues to be a world class racetrack and if Friday night is any indication the season looks to be fantastic and the “Place to be on Friday nights.”  Racing continues all summer and information on race dates can be found at Fast Fridays.

Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Broc Nicol, 3-Blake Borello, 4-Louie Mersaroli

Division I Scratch Consolation
1-Timmy Dion, 2-Bart Bast, Non Starters Daniel Faria and Russell Green

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Charlie Trana, 3-Slater Lightcap, 4-Timmy Dion, 5-Blake Borello, 6-Louie Mersaroli

Division 1 Handicap Consolation
1-Broc Nicole, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Rees Todd, 4-Daniel Faria, Non-Starters Dillon Ruml and Russell Green

Support Class Main Event
1-Antonio Coffman, 2-Catherine Moore, 3-Brian Leventon, 4-Mike Newnham, Fell Troy McQueen and Hunter Castillo

Support Consolation
1-Tisiah Prout, 2-John Gauthreaux, 3-LC Veale, 4-Giovanni Tonto

Youth 250 Main Event
1-Brady Landon, 2-Darren Armbruster, 3-Caden Cavrikas, 4-Jameson Hutchinson, 5-Wesley Rearick

Youth 150 Main Event
1-Riley Rearick, 2-Gavin Evans Seely, 3-Leeann Emerson

Michael Kirby Photos
	William Bruce is one of the many Pee Wee riders that compete in the Pee Wee program each week.
	Antonio Coffman picked up the win in the Support Class with a perfect night wining in his heat race and then the main event.
	Billy Janniro picked up double-double wins in the handicap and the scratch main events Friday night at Fast Fridays.
	Timmy Dion (left) and Billy Janniro (right) come out of turn two Friday night in the handicap main event. Janniro went on to win the race.
	Brady Landon of Roseville won the Youth 250 main event.
	Very popular at Fast Friday's is the pee wee program. Eleven little future speedway riders competed Friday night.
	Riley Rearick (right) and Gavin Evans Seely (left) stand on the winner's podium with Fast Friday trophy girl Piper Gamble. Rearick was first in the Youth 150 main event Seeley was second.
	Charlie Trana was a strong competitor Friday night finishing second in the handicap main event to Billy Janniro.