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BILLY JANNIRO WINS SPEEDWAY CYCLE CALIF. STATE CHAMPIONSHIP @ INDUSTRY SPEEDWAY – By Tim Kennedy
Industry, CA., Sept. 1 – Speedway cycle champion Billy Janniro, from San Pablo, came, saw and conquered at Industry Speedway Wednesday night in the $3,000 California State Championship race. Almost 1,000 grandstand spectators and 1,150 including pit onlookers watched his triumphant performance. The 30-year old won the season opener at the Grand Arena in the Industry Hills Expo Center on June 2. He closed the 14-race season with another dominant performance in his only other ride at the track to bookend the Industry Speedway season. The impressive rider, and soon to be track champion at Golden Gate Motorcycle Speedway in Vallejo, was the 2004 and 2008 US National Champion and 2000 Cal Expo points champion. He also raced in Europe as part of the 2001 Coventry Bees team in England.
Janniro and Tommy Hedden came from northern California to compete in the 20-rider Division 1 500cc rider field for the 35th California State Championship event. It was the fifth consecutive California State title race at Industry Speedway. Ricky Wells (2009) and Josh Larsen (2006) were not present, but 2007-08 winner Charlie Venegas was in the field. No California State Championship events were held from 1998-2005. Two and four-wheel racer Sonny Nutter, the first California State Speedway Motorcycle Champion in 1968, was present for his first visit to Industry Speedway. Also present was eight-time (between 1969-78) Speedway Cycle World Champion Ivan Mauger, of New Zealand, who autographed copies of his book about his cycle racing career.
Each D-1 rider raced in four rounds of 4-lap heat races. Janniro won all four of his heats for a perfect 12 points. In his first ride he started on the outside and passed fellow north stater Hedden on the inside at turn two on lap 3 to lead the final two laps. He led all the way in his other three heat races. The top three D-1 riders in point--Janniro (12), Tyson Burmeister (11) and Buck Blair (11)--made the four rider State Championship feature based on total points. Mike Faria and Charlie Venegas both scored ten points and made the four rider last chance race. Three riders tallied nine points during their four heat races, so Hedden, Eddie Castro and Shawn McConnell had to race in a 4-lap run-off race that advanced only the top two finishers to the last chance race. Hedden, McConnell and Castro lined up in lanes one, two and three in that order and finished in the same order. Castro had won his first three heats, but in round four he slid to the ground leaving turn four on lap 2. He restarted with a ten yard penalty, but was disqualified by the referee for rolling before the starting tapes lifted. That DQ ended his chance for a direct berth into the feature based on heat race points.
The all-important last chance race (with only the winner advancing to the feature) lined up from lanes one through four with McConnell in lane one. Venegas, Hedden and Faria were alongside in that order. McConnell led all the way over Venegas and Hedden in a tight, three-way contest. Faria dropped out from fourth place after two laps. The D-1 main event payoff was augmented by the donation of all $846. from the spectators portion of the 50/50 cash drawing. In appreciation, track promoter Jeff Immediato gave the generous fan a track tee-shirt and a 2011 Industry Speedway season pass.
The D-1 feature had Janniro, Blair (the winner of a coin toss with Burmeister), Burmeister and McConnell in lanes one through four. Janniro said, “I know the starts were important all night.” He nailed it when it counted and beat McConnell to the first turn, with Blair and Burmeister trailing closely. Burmeister took third from Blair on the second lap and the finishing order behind Janniro was set for the final three laps. McConnell trailed by four yards, with Burmeister another three yards back. Blair slowed on lap 4 to finish 15-yards in back of Burmeister. In celebration, Janniro hiked his front wheel as he crossed the finish line at 10:08 pm. Then he did a 360 degree spin in the third turn on his victory lap. The muscular rider with outstanding cycle control posed for photos on the infield victory podium. He spoke to well-wishers long after he clinched his first California State Speedway Cycle Championship.
Other main event winners on the 50 event evening (including the D-1 run-off race) included Gerard Jackson and his sidecar rider Dave German. It was the first Industry feature victory this year for the Lake Forest residents. Steve Bowen, from Moreno Valley, won his first 500cc Division 2 (intermediate level) Industry main this year over his 20-year old son Blake. Mike Salyer, 51, from Claremont, won a wild 500cc Division 3 (rookie level) main. Second place John Pavia, who had tried to get inside of the leader lap after lap, ran into him at turn three on lap 3, sending both riders to the ground. Angrily, Salyer rose first and kicked the soles of still down Pavia's foot. The referee called the race complete with more than 50% of the race run. So the finish reverted to the last completed green flag lap 2 order. Salyer won his second 2010 main.
In youth mains, Nick Varner led all four laps in the 200cc race for his first victory this season. Broc Nicol won the first place trophy as high point rider for the night. Rocco Scopellite, 14, led all the way in the two-rider 250cc main. With nine pee-wee division riders present, Matthew Duffy, 9, of Rossmoor, won both pee-wee mains. Lakewood resident Alyssa Smith, 8, led the first three laps of the 50cc mini cycle main before Duffy took the lead on lap 4. In the two-rider 50cc modified race, Duffy led all four laps over Logan Scantlin, also a participant in both pee-wee mains. Immediato said he will return for his fourth season as Industry Speedway promoter with a possible winter series starting in January or February.
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