Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California
Starks Takes U-21 Qualifier
By Michael Kirby - Story & Photos
Fast Fridays - AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, August 21, 2009
Local Auburn rider Bryce Starks took on a heavily talented field of 12 riders filled with two past champions, the current Youth National Champion, and the best Under 21 years of age speedway riders that California has to offer. At stake were a prestigious championship and the honor of representing America in the World U21 Championship in Europe in 2010. Starks will have a chance to compete against the best Under 21 speedway riders in the world, taking his racing career up a few notches and fulfilling a dream of speedway racing in Europe. The seventeen-year-old
Starks, who began his racing career as a junior rider at Fast Friday’s in 2004, has developed into a talented, competitive Division I rider.
Starks with seven points after the regular U-21 program won a spot in the Semi-final placing second to Russell Green and transferring into the final. In the final Starks lined up against Green, Jason Ramirez, and Alex Marcucci. In turn one Starks and Ramirez went down causing a restart. In the restart Marcucci leading the pack crashed in lap two opening the door for Starks who jumped on the opportunity, riding flawlessly to finish first and take the national title. “I started off rough and I was worried about making the main, I wasn’t getting any traction,” Starks said. “We made some adjustments on my bike and it worked out great.”
In the Division I program Billy Janniro picked up another win in the Scratch Main Event his tenth of the season and fourth in a row. Bart Bast finished second, Kenny Ingalls was third and Charlie Venegas fourth. Janniro showed his versatile racing skills, this week working the middle to inside lanes to victory. Visiting Southern California and U-21 rider Jason Ramirez won an impressive Handicap Main Event. Bart Bast still lead all Division I riders with 1907 points goings into Friday nights racing action. Billy Janniro follows with 1668, and Tommy Hedden has 1068.
Daniel Faria won the Division II Main Event, and local rider Billy Parino won Division III. The Division I Youth Main Event was won by Auburn rider Cody Ciciarelli, his second main event win in two weeks, and his sixth of the season.
A special TT (Tourist Trophy) program, which was run for the first time at Fast Friday’s for bikes 125cc or less, and was won by Danny Turner.
Results
U-21 Heats 1-2-3-4 & Total
Win-3pts Second-2pts Third-1pts Fourth 0pts
Tori Hubbert 0 1 0 1 2
Michelle Fehrman 2 1 0 0 3
Skyler Greyson 0 0 1 1 2
Gino Manzares 3 3 3 3 12
Alex Marcucci 3 3 2 2 10
Bryce Starks 2 1 2 2 7
John Gauthreaux 0 0 0 0 0
Brad Pappalardo 1 2 1 2 6
Russell Green 3 2 1 3 9
Jason Ramirez 2 3 3 3 11
Ben Essary 0 0 3 0 3
Philip Harmatiuk 1 2 2 1 6
Casey Cornilsen (R) 1 0 - - 1
U-21 Semi #1
1-Russell Green 2-Bryce Starks 3-Ben Essary 4-Gino Manzares
U-21 Semi #2
1-Jason Ramirez 2-Alex Marcucci 3-Philip Harmatiuk 4-Brad Pappalardo
U-21 Under 21 National Championship Final
1-Bryce Starks 2-Jason Ramirez 3-Russell Green 4-Alex Marcucci
Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro 2-Bart Bast 3-Kenny Ingalls 4-Charlie Venegas
Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Jason Ramirez 2-Bart Bast 3-Billy Janniro 4-Chad Felicio
Division II Main Event
1-Daniel Faria 2-Dustin Berdolt 3-Dan Poli
Division III Main Event
1-Billy Parino 2-Billy Vaughn 3-Kjell Lovlien
Division I Youth Main Event
1-Cody Ciciarelli 2-Tanner Kane 3-Thomas Reich
Division II Youth Main Event
1-Gage Geist 2-Ryan Vaughn 3-Kevin Black
Photos By Michael Kirby
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Bryce Starks in action. |
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Bryce Starks celebrates his impressive U21 Championship with trophy girls Tori Hubbert (L) and Falina Eldredge. |
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Billy Janniro, picked up his 10th Scratch Main Event victory of the season. |
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Bryce Starks takes a victory lap. |
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Division I Youth Main Event winner Cody Ciciarelli's celebrates his victory with trophy girls Tori Hubbert (L) and Falina Eldredge. |
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