[American Motorcyclist Association] - AMA Speedway: Hagon Shocks Winter Classic

[Ninjette Newsbot]

The following is an industry press release...

The 2015 American Speedway year got off to an explosive start with a memorable night of racing at Hagon Shocks Winter Classic, held at Perris Raceway on Saturday, Jan. 10.

A mixture of the best the current USA domestic scene, a Great Britain world cup team member, and a host of the new breed of young stars served up a real show as the traditional American race format of Handicap and Scratch racing was brought out for the night. The races featured a sudden death elimination format of heats, semi-finals and main events, with riders transferring to the next round or having their night end.

The Handicap half of the program was simply electric. Heat one saw Billy Hamill charge from the 50 yard line past five opponents for victory, but it was the manner in which young Dillon Ruml stayed on his mentor's back wheel throughout that caught attention. Heat two saw Max Ruml come off the 40 yard line to win, with 15-year-old Gage Geist a steady second and Aaron Fox in third. The final heat saw GB star Edward Kennett come from the 50 to win. Braydan Galvin was second and Broc Nicol ended in third.

The first semi final saw Billy Hamill once more come from the back with Max Ruml in second. Rocco Scopellite got third ahead of Russell Green to transfer to the Main Event. Semi-final two saw Fox charge from the 40 for the win, with Kennett following closely. Kurtis Hamill held off Broc Nicol to secure the last spot in the Main.

The Main event was the highlight of the evening. Hamill led Scopellite into turn one, both riders from the 20 yard line. The fast chasing pack was soon in pursuit, and all 6 riders were packed tight together. Both Billy Hamill and Max Ruml were putting pressure on either side of Scopellite, who held ground for two laps until Ruml found his way by on the outside. Ruml then made the move on Kurtis Hamill and went on to win. The younger Hamill held his line and nerve to get second place over his famed father.

In the Scratch program, Fox and Nicol were first and second in heat one, while heat two saw the first of perhaps many Ruml 5-1's, Max leading home Dillon who claimed the scalp of track specialist Russell Green. Billy Hamill led home Tyson Talkington in heat three with Kennett heading Dalton Leedy in heat four. Semi one saw Kennett and Fox come 1-2 and go to the Main, while Billy Hamill beat Max Ruml in the second.

The final saw Billy Hamill make a fantastic gate and never be troubled. Max Ruml came in second with Fox in third.

The Support Class with 15 entrants threw up some furious racing. All riders had two Scratch heats, with their points settling main event positions. It was ice racer Nathan Siegal who headed home a close chasing Mike Dalbey and Rudy Laurer in the A Main. 250cc Juniors had 150 National Champion Sebastian Palmese winning all three races. UK's Jason Edwards was the 150 Div 1 winner, also winning all races, a feat Luke Whitcomb repeated in Division 2. Cole Ayers won the Pee Wee Main after Ryder DiFrancesco won both heats.

Joe Jones and Johnny Glover, who are getting ready to represent USA in Australia won the Sidecar Main and a heat, with National Champions Brian Motis and Josh Bennett winning the other heat.

Speedway makes a fast return to Perris on January 24 for round 2 of the winter league team races, as well as all junior and pee wee divisions. Gates open at 2 p.m., with races beginning at 5 p.m.

Results:
Handicap Racing:
Heat 1: B Hamill (50), D Ruml (20), Green (40), Gayle (10), Leedy (20), Novratil (40) fell
Heat 2: M Ruml (40), Geist (10), Fox (40), Scopellite (20), Talkington (30), McDougall (10)
Heat 3: Kennett (50), Galvin (10), Nicol (40), K Hamill (20), DiFrancesco (30), Perrault (10)
Semi 1: B Hamill (50), M Ruml (40), Scopellite (20), Green (40), D Ruml (20), Gayle (10)
Semi 2: Fox (40), Kennett (50), K Hamill (20), Nicol (40), Geist (10), Galvin (10)
Consi: McDougall (10), Leedy (20), Perrault (10), Talkington (30)

Main:

1. Max Ruml (40)
2. Kurtis Hamill (20)
3. Billy Hamill (50)
4. Edward Kennett (50)
5. Aaron Fox (40)
6. Rocco Scopellite (20)

Scratch Racing
Heat 1: Kennett, Leedy, McDougall, Gayle, Novratil ns
Heat 2: Fox, Nicol, Galvin, Scopellite (ret)
Heat 3: B Hamill, Talkington, Geist, K Hamill, Perrault
Heat 4: M Ruml, D Ruml, Green, DiFrancesco
Semi 1: Kennett, Fox, D Ruml, Talkington
Semi 2: B Hamill, M Ruml, Nicol, Leedy
Consi 1: K Hamill, Galvin, McDougall, Perrault
Consi 2: Scopellite, Green, Geist, Gayle

Main:

1. Billy Hamill
2. Max Ruml
3. Aaron Fox
4. Edward Kennett

Support Class
A Main:

1. Nathan Sigal
2. Mike Dalbey
3. Rudy Laurer
4. Mike Wiley
5. Lewis Hughes

B Main:

1. Ricky Richards
2. Ron Davis
3. Damon Barry
4. Chris Wiggins
5. Rohn Zellner

C Main:

1. Tom Bryant
2. Wade Whitcomb
3. Greg Willis
4. Steve Brown ret
5. Bentley Barrett (ns)

250cc Junior Main

1. Sebastian Palmese
2. Adam Herkner
3. Michael Wells

150cc Mini Div 1:

1. Jason Edwards
2. Sara Cords
3. Jake Isaac
4. Cameron Krezman
5. Slater Lightcap
6. Sam Hagon

Pee Wee Main Event:

1. Cole Ayers
2. Travis Horn
3. Levi Leutz
4. Johnathon Albaugh
5. Jose Navarette
6. Zach Krezman

Sidecar Main:

1. Joe Jones / Johnny Glover
2. Brian Motis / Josh Bennett
3. Jeff Rowe / John Bach
4. Heather Rowe / Heather Gledhill

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