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Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California
25 Lap Main Event
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Louie Mersaroli Fast Friday's Iron Man
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, July 29, 2022
Story and Photo by Michael Kirby
Auburn Ca. has earned the moniker “Endurance Capital of the World.” Christened because of the many fitness events that are centered here that include the world famous 100-mile Western States Run and the Tevis Cup which is also 100 miles but on horseback. Many other events including marathons, mountain and road bike events, triathlon's, 50k's and fun runs make the name appropriate. Often overlooked though is the annual 25 lap marathon race at Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn. The race is over four times as long as the normal handicap race, and the handicaps for each rider are doubled their normal amount. Running out of fuel and motorcycle malfunction are common in a completion that is much longer and more grueling than the normal race.
Twenty-six-year-old Louie Mersaroli of Auburn is this year's speedway iron man winning the 25-lap event. It was a repeat for Mersaroli who also won the event back in 2019. The 25-lap event is run as the handicap main event and is the finale of the evening. Ten riders took the track some handicapped halfway around the track. In the first turn Mersaroli and Billy Janniro locked up and both went down, Mersaroli able to restart but Janniro not so lucky with bike damage enough to keep him out of the race. In the restart Mersaroli worked his way to the front of the pack and never relinquished his lead.
As the race progressed riders began to start to drop one by one. Bike trouble causing the most trouble. After about 20 laps the field was down to four riders that were still in it, but Mersaroli had a firm grip on the track and what was left of the field of riders. Behind Mersaroli at the finish line was Tyler Warren taking second, Rees Todd picking up third and Bart Bast finishing fourth in the marathon.
Billy Janniro is back on top winning the scratch main event his fifth of the season. Again, perfect in the program as he often is, Janniro won his heat race and his semi-final race to move to the main event and become the fastest man of the night. From lane four Janniro, with a good gate, easily got the hole shot in turn one and kept his lead to the finish line. Louie Mersaroli was second, Bart Bast third and Tyler Warren was fourth.
In Division II Dean Newnham was all smiles has he stood atop the winner's podium accepting his trophy for winning the main event. John Peters was second and Shawn Eldredge was third. It was Newnham's first Division II main event win this season at Fast Fridays. Also taking a trip to the winner's podium with a big smile on his face was Jim Sanders. New to Fast Fridays Sander put together a great night picking up a win in the Division III main event. Second was John Gauthreaux and third was Everett Holmes.
Chase Kangas was the winner in the Youth 250 main event. Kangas won all his races with the exception on one race when he over corrected and took a fall and, on the ground, just long enough to give Catherine Moore the go ahead for the win in that race. Kangas was first in the main and Moore was second. The Youth 150 division is really heating up, the competition intense and the races are very exciting. Jameson Hutchinson was first in the Youth 150 main event, Caden Cavrikas was second and Leeann Emerson was third.
For those keeping track of the Fast Friday's team points the standings are very tight. As of last week, Louie Mersaroli holds just a six-point lead of Billy Janniro. Mersaroli sits at 1017 and Janniro 1011. In Division II John Peters leads with 476. In Division III another tight total with Tim Rott at 409 and Ray Holt Jr. Jr. 404. Next week at Fast Friday's the SOS Team Challenge continues with its fifth-round pitting Team SOS against Team AR-17. Great team racing and always exciting.
Results for 07-29-22
Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Bart Bast, 4-Tyler Warren
Division I Scratch Consolation
1-Russell Green, 2-Rheten Todd, 3-Rees Todd, 4-Gregory Moore
25 Lap Handicap Main Event
1-Louie Mersaroli, 2-Tyler Warren, 3-Rees Todd, 4-Bart Bast, also Rheten Todd, Gregory Moore, Russell Green, Shawn Eldredge
Division II Main Event
1-Dean Newnham, 2-John Peters, 3-Shawn Eldredge, 4-Lawrence McNutt, 5-Marc Denniston
Division III Main Event
1-Jim Sanders, 2-John Gauthreaux, 3-Everett Holmes
Division III Consolation
1-Brian Leventon, 2-Sebe Denniston, 3-Les Veale
Youth 250 Main Event
1-Chase Kangas, 2-Catherine Moore
Youth 150 Main Event
1-Jameson Hutchinson, 2-Caden Cavrikas, 3-Matthew Wright 4-Leeann Emerson, 5-Jayce Preuss
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