2007 Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Fast Fridays, Auburn, California USA - October 26, 2007
By Gary Roberts

The annual USA vs. the World was held on a reasonably warm evening for the time of year, on a well prepared racetrack. 6 top Americans, verses 5 top World riders, plus Captain America, Bobby Schwartz, who stepped up to cover for a World rider who didn’t make it.

Some of the big names that had earlier been billed to ride for the World were for one reason or another unavailable and the team actually fielded was definitely light compared to previous years. This resulted in an easy win for the US team. After 2 defeats the previous 2 years, it evened up the score, somewhat. Also unlike previous years all World team riders were riding at Auburn for the first time and all were currently racing in European teams, as opposed to retired riders who came for a one night return to the sport.

The final score was USA 63 to the World team score of 48 points.

The three brightest stars were the youngsters of the World team. Full credit went to Lubos Tomicek, from the Czech Republic. He is first reserve for the 2008 GPs and he showed why. He looked fast in practice, but on the night gated well but on the occasions when he missed the gate, did some great overtaking moves. Jesper Kristiansen and Claus Vissing, both from Denmark rode well. On the other end of the scale, Tomasz Bajerski from Poland disappointed. From a rider who rode a full GP season in 2003, I expected much more.

An interesting consideration would be if this same team were to come back in 5 years, by which time I predict that Tomicek, Kristiansen and Vissing will be top international speedway riders.

Results:
Heat 1: 1. Bast; 2. Yarrow; 3. Bajerski; 4. Tomicek.
Heat 2: 1. Fisher; 2.Vissing; 3. Kristiansen; 4. Hedden.
Heat 3: 1. Faria; 2. Venegas; 3. Puszakowski; 4. Schwartz.
Heat 4: 1. Vissing; 2. Kristiansen; 3. Bast; 4. Yarrow.
Heat 5: 1. Fisher; 2. Hedden; 3. Puszakowski 4. Schwartz.
Heat 6: 1. Tomicek; 2. Faria; 3. Bajerski; 4. Venegas.
Heat 7: 1. Bast; 2. Yarrow; 3. Puszakowski; 4. Schwartz.
Heat 8: 1. Tomicek; 2. Hedden; 3. Fisher; 4. Bajerski.
Heat 9: 1. Venegas; 2. Kristiansen; 3. Vissing; 4. Mabry (sub. for Faria).
Heat 10: 1. Tomicek; 2. Bast; 3. Yarrow; 4. Bajerski.
Heat 11: 1. Fisher; 2. Hedden; 3. Kristiansen; 4. Vissing.
Heat 12: 1. Venegas; 2. Faria; 3. Puszakowski; 4. Mabry (sub. For Schwartz).
Heat 13: 1. Kristiansen; 2. Vissing; 3. Bast; 4. Yarrow.
Heat 14: 1. Fisher; 2. Hedden; 3. Puszakawski; 4. Schwartz.
Heat 15: 1. Venegas; 2. Tomicek; 3. Mabry; (sub for Faria) 4. Bajerski.
Heat 16: 1. Tomicek; (tactical joker 6 points) 2. Bast; 3. Puszakowski; 4. Yarrow.
Heat 17: 1. Fisher; 2. Tomicek; 3. Hedden; 4. Bajerski.
Heat 18: 1. Vissing; 2. Hedden (sub for Faria); 3. Puszakowski; 4. Mabry. (sub for Venegas)

USA 63
Bart Bast (3 1 3 2 1 2) 12
Bryan Yarrow (2 0 2 1 0 0) 5
Tommy Hedden (0 2 2 2 2 1 2) 11
Ryan Fisher (3 3 1 3 3 3) 16
Mike Faria (2 2 – 2 - -) 6
Charlie Venegas (3 0 3 3 3 -) 12
J T Mabry (res) (0 1 0) 1

THE World 48
Lubos Tomicek (Cz) (ef 3 3 3 2 6 2) 19
Tomasz Bajerski (Pol) (1 1 0 0 0 0) 2
Claus Vissing (Den) (2 3 1 0 2 3) 11
Jesper Kristiansen (Den) (1 2 2 1 3 -) 9
Mariusz Puszakowski (Pol) (1 1 1 1 1 1) 6
Bobby Schwartz (USA) (0 0 0 0) 0
J T Mabry (res) (0) 0

Seven Northern Californian and one Southern Californian youth riders put on a show with 4 heats, with the 4 best going to a main event, which was won conclusively by the Southern Californian.

1. Austin Novratil; 2. Thomas Reich; 3. Tanner Kane; 4. Kendra Warren.

So there ends another year of Fast Fridays Speedway racing and we face the annual challenge of what to do until next May. The opera, the ballet, or the pub? Its always a tough decision.

I hope that 2008 brings out more riders. The field in all divisions seemed thinner this year. Several new riders in particular Beau Judge, have made outstanding progress in 2007. Other established youngsters such as Wells, Ingalls, Hooten and Mabry continue to improve. But if the sport is to even stay at the same level as it is now, we need more and better riders. Even at the top end of American Speedway, our representation in Europe has diminished both in quality and quantity. Two things that would help are a Northern California practice track and track to hold races on Saturday evenings. Is there anyone out there who can turn either of these ideas into a product? Let’s hope that 2008 sees a turnaround.

Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com