One event but two winners: how often can you say that? But that’s how it turned out at “Fast Fridays” Speedway in Auburn, California, on September 20. The last of the three-round AMA National Speedway Championship blasted off on Saturday to some surprising results.
Story & Photos by Richard Haight
Although most of the Division One Pros came for a shot at the title, the reality is that it was a two-man shootout with only one point separating last year’s champ, Broc Nicol, and multi-time State and National champ, “Mad Max” Ruml.
After two rounds of the championship run-offs, Nicol was one point ahead on total overall score, and Saturday’s 20-heat event would be the final and deciding round.
The evening was going well for both riders until the third set of heats, when Ruml took a spill in a tight pack that included recent Under-21 champ Slater Lightcap, Nicol and Apple Valley, California’s Justin Almon. In Speedway, if you cause a crash, you are excluded from that race, and that cost Max a crucial three points. Although both Nicol and Ruml went three for three the rest of the night, championships can be won by a single point.
Both riders went to the semifinals and then advanced to the Grand Final. By then, there was only a three-point difference, which meant that to win, Ruml would have to take the final without Nicol scoring a single point. Not very likely, as both of them are nearly equal in wins, and even then, the three-point win would only result in a tie.
The four riders advancing to the final were Nicol and Ruml, 11-time California State champ Billy “The Kid” Janniro and rising young star Lightcap. When the gates went up for the final, it only took a couple of corners, and Janniro tangled with Nicol, causing a crash when Janniro’s front wheel locked onto Broc’s rear chain adjuster. That sent both Janniro and his bike down the track, just not together. Janniro was excluded, which made it a three-rider final.
At the start, Ruml and Nicol ran side by side, both trying to maintain control. At the line, Ruml took the win but lost the championship to Nicol by three points, again. Lightcap ended up third in the championship.CN
2025 AMA National Speedway Round 3 Results
FINAL
- Max Ruml
- Broc Nicol
- Slater Lightcap
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