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Kevin Harvick’s
Kern Raceway
Bakersfield, California
AMA / FIM North America Speedway Final
Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, Bakersfield, Saturday December 2nd, 2023
by Steve Evans - Photos by Dale Miller
BECKER RETAINS NORTH AMERICAN TITLE WITH STUNNING MAXIMUM
After a season of highs including his Grand Prix debut and a couple of injury lows, Luke Becker returned home to the USA and defended his North American title with a perfect 5 ride maximum.
The event was staged for the 6th time in its modern era, but the twist was a change in venue. The larger Perris Raceway track had staged the previous five versions of the AMA FIM North America Final but the 2023 moved to the smaller, but arguably banked and faster Kern Raceway in Bakersfield. Ahead of the event there was a huge buzz in town and about the venue with the announcement that Bakersfield born three-time Daytona 500 winner and 2014 NASCAR Cup champion Kevin Harvick was part of the new ownership group for the venue which boasts four race tracks for several disciplines.
And of course, the event had the big prize of two spots in the 2024 Grand Prix Qualifying Rounds next spring in Europe for the top finishers on the night. With the race as the gateway into Europe, it is fair to say Becker had it all to lose whilst the domestic-based riders, 14 of the field, had everything to gain.
The race had its most competitive line up in its modern incarnation and was oversubscribed with 21 riders placing entry. To allow all a fair chance, points average for the last 12 months at Bakersfield and Perris determined 15 riders who would be seeded straight into the program, with the other six going through two rounds of run offs to determine the last place on the program as well as meeting reserves.
Run of #1 featured the riders ranked 18-21 in averages. Greg Moore, who has impressed at the track all year with continual improvements, got out of the start first to lead Michael Wells and Justin Almon. The only non-Californian entrant, Redmond Bohannon out of Colorado was an early faller. Disaster struck Moore when a bike failure forced him out, meaning that Almon took the win from Wells which would move both onto the final run off. They were joined by the riders ranked 16 & 17 which were Wilbur Hancock and Eddie Castro. Hancock, at the end of a season of much progress, got the best start and was off and away to cruise to the win with 64-year-old Castro passing Wells for second place.
After a break for track preparation the meeting proper began. It was a 20-heat meeting which had no semi finals or main event but instead determined its positions based solely on overall meeting points.
The only two riders to win the AMA National title in the last decade, Max Ruml and Billy Janniro both started the meeting with wins and Becker overcame his first challenge in heat 3 by leading home State Champion Broc Nicol. The track was certainly somewhat heavier than usual at this stage, and it was clear that some riders had come in with the right set up whilst others struggled. Heat 4 was the first talking and unfortunately it led to the withdrawal of Gino Manzares who came down in turn 3 of lap 1 after making contact with Dillon Ruml and then was collected by the laid down bike of Wilbur Hancock. Manzares went to the local hospital for precautionary medical checks but was later discharged without serious injury. Dillon Ruml, who won the June AMA National Round at Kern, was untroubled in the rerun.
Round two saw Becker, Max Ruml and Janniro take their second wins of the evening with Louie Mersaroli leading home Chris Kerr to take the other heat. With three unbeaten riders so far all meeting in the final heat, chatter was already being heard about all riders being on maximum points going in, but as we know, speedway expects the unexpected. Becker cruised to his third win in heat 9 ahead of the hugely impressive National Under 21 Champion Sebastian Palmese. Janniro made a lap 1 outside move around Nicol in heat 10 to join his rival on 9 points. Alex Martin had a big win in heat 11 over Russell Green and Aaron Fox. Heat 12 featured all big guns with the Ruml’s, Austin Novratil and Mersaroli. It all changed in just a split second when Max Ruml hit the tapes and was excluded. Dillon Ruml took the rerun ahead of Novratil.
After three second places Nicol was on the winner’s board over Novratil in heat 13. Heat 14 saw Becker gate last and for a second or two it looked like his game plan had become derailed. However, an outside line around turn 1 followed by an inside swoop going down the back straight suddenly saw him go from last to first in about a second! Kerr was second with Dillon Ruml in third. Heat 15 saw Janniro miss the start and despite his usual all action and flat-out riding, he was not able to do better than third with Mersaroli winning ahead of Martin. Max Ruml after his tapes blip won his third ride of the night in heat 16.
After a tough evening in comparison to his stunning sophomore senior season, Slater Lightcap ended the night on a high winning heat 17. Novratil after three second places similarly got on the winner’s board for the first time in heat 18. Nicol and Dillon Ruml both went into heat 19 tied on 9 points and each with a shot at getting on the podium. Nicol in the end was the victor and moved onto 12 points. The heat 20 showdown didn’t unfortunately have three unbeaten riders in it going in, but with the event win and of course qualification for the GP rounds at stake, it is fair to say it was still anticipated as a blockbuster. Becker once more did not have the best start with Janniro getting away first but another ‘Karlsson corridor’ outside / inside move off turn two put him to the front. Max Ruml meantime had ground to make up and after getting by Timmy Dion it was clear he would not have time to chase chief AMA National rival Janniro. Becker brought it home for the win, a 15-point maximum, Continental title and a place in the GP Qualifiers.
With Janniro and Nicol tied on 12, a runoff would decide second place and the other automatic qualifier. Janniro got the best start, Nicol gave chase and both riders had moments of going off line. Nicol giving chase came down on turn two of lap three meaning the veteran Janniro was runner up on the night having put in a superb shift of racing all night long.
Becker also picked up the ‘Sarge Memorial Trophy’ in honor of former rider and police chief Robert ‘Sarge’ Fiesler and presented by his son Rob Jnr.
Aside from a good onsite crowd, the meeting was also broadcast on the British Speedway Network with a worldwide streaming audience. Also, the event was a landmark moment in American Speedway with the very first air fence in the USA being used. The fence was previously from the Vastervik track in Sweden and it is fair to say that the credit for its arrival certainly is with Billy Hamill and Morgan Andersson as well a list of sponsors.
As per usual in America, there were several Support Classes. There was a heat and a final for the non-qualified riders from the earlier run offs. Eddie Castro won the heat, but a bike failure denied him a shot at the final which went to Michael Wells. Redmond Bohannon was unbeaten in Division 2 whilst Antonio Coffman repeated that feat in Division 3 despite a 20-yard penalty in the final after looping at the gate in the first staging. Nick Hohlbein scored 11 out 12 points to win the 250cc Junior Class. Zaal Farhand was the 150cc winner from first time rider Brandon Kemmerly.
Speedway racing will continue at Kern throughout the winter and spring. A January 13th date may well be confirmed in the next week, but the big attention will be on USA Versus the World which returns on February 10th.
Results
1. Luke Becker (3,3,3,3,3) 15
2. Billy Janniro (3,3,3,1,2) 12 + 3
3. Broc Nicol (2,2,2,3,3) 12 + 2
4. Dillon Ruml (3,2,3,1,2) 11
5. Max Ruml (3,3,T,3,1) 10
6. Austin Novratil (1,2,2,2,3) 10
7. Louie Mersaroli (1,3,1,3,1) 9
8. Chris Kerr (2,2,1,2,2) 9
9. Sebastian Palmese (2,1,2,2,1) 8
10. Alex Martin (X,1,3,2,0) 6
11. Slater Lightcap (1,1,1,X,3) 6
12. Russell Green (0,1,2,R,2) 5
13. Timmy Dion (2,0,X,1,0) 3
14. Aaron Fox (0,0,1,1,1) 3
15. Wilbur Hancock (1,0,X,0,0) 1
16. Michael Wells (0,0) 0
17. Eddie Castro (0,R,R) 0
18. Gino Manzares (X,-,-,-,-) 0
Heats
Run Off Heat: Almon, Wells, Moore, Bohannon fell remounted
Run Off Final: Hancock, Castro, Wells, Almon
1. M.Ruml, Kerr, Lightcap, Martin (X excluded)
2. Janniro, Palmese, Novratil, Green
3. Becker, Nicol, Mersaroli, Fox
4. D.Ruml, Dion, Hancock, Manzares (X)
5. Janniro, D.Ruml, Lightcap, Fox
6. Mersaroli, Kerr, Palmese, Dion
7. Becker, Novratil, Martin, Castro
8. M.Ruml, Nicol, Green, Hancock
9. Becker, Palmese, Lightcap, Hancock (X)
10. Janniro, Nicol, Kerr, Wells
11. Martin, Green, Fox, Dion (X)
12. D.Ruml, Novratil, Mersaroli, Castro ret (M.Ruml Tapes)
13. Nicol, Novratil, Dion, Lightcap (X)
14. Becker, Kerr, D.Ruml, Green (Retired)
15. Mersaroli, Martin, Janniro, Hancock
16. M.Ruml, Palmese, Fox, Wells
17. Lightcap, Green, Mersaroli, Castro (Retired)
18. Novratil, Kerr, Fox, Hancock
19. Nicol, D.Ruml, Palmese, Martin
20. Becker, Janniro, M.Ruml, Dion
Run off second place: Janniro, Nicol fell remounted
Division 1 Non-Qualifiers Main
214 Michael Wells
137 Justin Almon
251 Greg Moore
14 Eddie Castro retired.
Division 2 Main Event
101 Redmond Bohannon
106 Isaiah Canales
250 Jacob Wondolowski retired.
373 Bob Peet (non-starter).
Division 3 Main Event
222 Antonio Coffman (20)
138 Jim Sanders
115 Dylan McNulty
123n Catherine Moore retired.
250 Youth
29 Nick Hohlbein 11 points
133 Brady Landon 8 points
74 Kensei Matsudaira 6 points
13 Jamison Hutchison 3 points
119 Caden Cavrikas 1 point
150 Mini Speedway
98 Zaal Farhand
44 Brandon Kemmerly
74 Kensei Matsudaira (not scored)
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