Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Bast Takes Scratch Main Event
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, MAY 29, 2009
The fourth meeting of the exciting 2009 season at the Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn held a few exciting surprises for racing fans Friday night. Making a “one-night only” comeback was popular rider Bobby Hedden who once tore up the Gold Country Fairgrounds track each week as a regular season rider at Fast Friday’s until being injured in 2005. Showing that they had not forgot one of their favorite riders, the Fast Friday’s crowd welcomed Hedden back as he proved he has not lost a bit of his riding skills in his four-year absence. Hedden took second place in the Handicap Main Event just ahead of his brother Tommy Hedden. “Just for tonight, two of my three kids are racing Pee Wee's, and I thought it would be good for them to be out here racing with them,” said Hedden. Also making a surprise visit to his old stomping grounds was “Flyin” Mike Faria another crowd favorite who now lives in Southern California and plans to make all the big races at Fast Friday’s this season.
Auburn’s Bart Bast continues to be on fire this season at Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway. Taking first place in the Handicap Main Event, and second in the Scratch Main Event last week Bast continues find a place a top the winner’s podium each week with superb riding performances at Fast Friday’s. Bast topped the talented final four riders of the night to be crowned the fastest man of the evening with an exciting nearly perfect ride in the Scratch Main Event Friday night. Coming out of lane three next to 2008 USA National Speedway Champion Billy Janniro in lane two, last week’s Scratch Main Event winner Foresthill’s Kenny Ingalls sitting in lane one, and surprise appearance rider and crowd favorite “Flyin” Mike Faria against the wall in lane four, Bast had his work cut out for him in the nights finale. “I missed the start, but everyone went wide and it was clear sailing from then on,” said Bast. Bast ended up inside with Ingalls on his tail feverishly trying to pass, and Janniro looking for an opportunity to take them both. Janniro eventually over took Ingalls and riding right behind Bast watched for a Bast miscue that never came to make his move. “For the start I had I never should of won that race, I got lucky,” said Bast. Janniro took second, Ingalls third and Faria finished in fourth.
In the handicap program seventeen year-old Bryce Starks of Auburn never saw the backs of any riders taking the checkered flag in all three of his handicap races, riding great and winning the Handicap Main Event. Friday night’s handicap win was the first main event win of the 2009 season for Starks, a talented up and coming rider. Second went to “one night only” Bobby Hedden, and third to his brother Tommy Hedden.
Shaping up to be a very exciting Fast Friday’s 2009 Speedway season, Friday night was filled with surprises and showcased a talented field of speedway riders at the Auburn track.
Results for 5-29-09
Division 1 Scratch Main Event
1-Bart Bast 2-Billy Janniro 3-Kenny Ingalls 4-Mike Faria
Division 1 Handicap Main Event
1-Bryce Starks 2-Bobby Hedden 3-Tommy Hedden
Division 2 Main Event
1-Steve Lewotsky 2-Doug Geist 3-Mike Achilles
Division 3 Main Event
1-Casey Cornilsen 2-Kjell Lovlien 3- Mark Legarra
Division 1 Youth Main
Cody Ciciarelli 2-Thomas Reich 3-Tyler Warren
Division 2 Youth Main
1-Jamison Dilkey 2-PJ Byrne 3-Gage Geist