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Fast Fridays SpeedwayGold Country Fairgrounds
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| Ryan Bast takes Handicap Main | Dakota VandenBroeder and John Schroeder | Anthony Dion 1st ride on 500 wins Division 2 |
It was a full house at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn Friday night as speedway motorcycle race fans showed up to open the 2019 Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway season. Starved for the fast pace racing action absent during the off season fans got a real treat and a taste of what is to come this season.
Many of the riders looked a little different decked in new riding suits, but after a couple of races to get tuned up it was back to business. Auburn’s Tommy Hedden, a top competitor, put it all together right out of the gate and grabbed a win as the fastest man of the night in the scratch main event. Hedden got a good gate and after a little tight bump and go racing in turn one skillfully held on to the lead riding on the inside of the track. Hedden faced Bryan Yarrow, Billy Janniro and Bart Bast in the night’s finale. They all tried to get around him but Hedden was tough showing his years of experience and picked up the first scratch win of the 2019 season. “It is going good this season, lots of prep on the Warnock bikes (Hedden sponsor) it is just going to be a great season and this is a great way to start,” Hedden said.
Ryan Bast, sporting a new riding suit and a new racing number put it all together for a win in the handicap main event. Riding off the 40 yard line, Bast held off cousin Bart Bast for the win. Picking up a win in his first heat race after Southern California speedster Max Ruml blew an engine yards for the finish line, Bast also picked up a convincing win in the handicap semi moving on to win the handicap main event. Bart Bast was second and Chance Grove third.
Up from the youth division this season, skipping Division III and moving directly into Division II Anthony Dion showed he belonged turning in a winning night riding a 500cc bike officially for the first time. Dion was undefeated for the night winning his heat race and then going on to win the Division II main event. Dion began his 500cc career on the 20 yard line and will add 10 yards to his start position next week. Look for Dion who has been at this for years in the youth divisions to be making his debut in Division I probably sooner than later. The young Dion definitely made an impression Friday night. Sammy Tetrault was second off the 40 yard line and Matt King third of the 50 yard line.
Dakota VandenBroeder started the season in grand fashion with a win in the Division III main event. VanderBroeder advanced to the main event with a win in her heat race. Jake Estes was second and LC Veale was third.
The Youth 250cc division continues from last year to be a battle between Cameron Krezman, Landon Norton and Kyle Cunningham, all seasoned youth competitors. Opening night Norton was the one to come out on top with the main event win, Krezman was second and Chase Kangas third. Nick Hohlbein topped the Youth 150cc field with a win in the main event. Fast Friday’s newcomer Darren Armbruster was second and Mike McGrath was third.
It was a great opening night with a packed crowd and a good sign of the exciting motorcycle speedway racing to come as the 2019 season continues. The Extreme Sidecars roll into town Friday for the first of four fast paced three-wheeled racing appearances.
| Photos By Michael Kirby | |
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Landon Norton (left) in turn two with Timmy Dion in a Youth 250cc heat race. Norton went on to win the Youth 250cc main event Friday night. |
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Auburn’s Tommy Hedden won the scratch main event on opening night at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway. |
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Ryan Bast picked up the first handicap main event win of the season at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway Friday night. |
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Auburn’s Bart Bast leads Billy Janniro and Louie Mersaroli in a Division I heat race Friday night. Bast finished second in the handicap main event and fourth in the scratch main event. |
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Dakota VandenBroeder won the opening night Fast Fridays Division III main event. |
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Anthony Dion had a great first night on a 500cc speedway bike. Dion, up from the youth division for the first season and riding in Division II and won the main event. |
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Nick Hohlbein took the Youth 150cc main event. |
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Tommy Hedden (right) lined up against (left-right) Bart Bast, Bryan Yarrow and Billy Janniro in the scratch main event Friday night at the opening night of the Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway 2019 season. Hedden won the night’s finale. |
Scratch Main
1-Tommy Hedden, 2-Bryan Yarrow, 3-Billy Janniro, 4-Bart Bast
Scratch Consolation
1-Max Ruml, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Russell Green, 4-Tyler Warren
Handicap Main
1-Ryan Bast, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Chance Grove, 4-Bryan Yarrow, 5-Billy Janniro, 6-Tommy Hedden
Handicap Consolation
1-Greg Hooten, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Russell Green, 4-Daniel Faria, 5-Jeremy Estes, 6-Davey Shaw
Division II Main Event
1-Anthony Dion, 2-Sammy Tetrault, 3-Matt King, 4-Charles Haines, 5- Casey Cornilsen, 6-Davey Shaw
Division II Consolation
1-Shawn Eldredge, 2-Will McCloskey, 3-John Peters, 4-Aaron Sorani, 5-Lawrence McNutt, 6-Richard Perkins
Division III Main Event
1-Dakota VandenBroeder, 2-Jake Estes, 3-Les Veale, 4-Dean Newnham, 5-Brian Leventon, 6-Ray Holt Jr.
Division III Consolation
1-Jeff Powell, 2-Rees Todd, 3-Tim Dion, 4-Marc Denniston, 5-Steven Sagen
250 Juniors
1-Landon Norton 2-Cameron Krezman, 3-Chase Kangas, 4-Kyle Cunningham
Mini 150
1-Nick Hohlbein, 2-Darren Armbruster, 3-Mike McGrath