10-Time U.S. National Champion and another former National Champion to race U.S. Open Speedway Championships in Owego

One of the most prestigious events in North America for speedway motorcycle racing, the U.S. Open National Championships, is set to come to Champion Speedway in Owego, N.Y. on Sept. 1 and one of the greatest riders of all-time, current AMA U.S. National Champion Billy Janniro, is set to compete. 

Janniro, from Northern, Calif. is not only the current U.S. National Speedway Champion, but has also won nine other National Titles, and holds the record in American speedway with ten. He will be making his second appearance at Champion Speedway in his career; three years ago he won the Patrick Ahlund Spring Classic, but has never raced the U.S. Open. He also is the current point leader in the 2019 AMA National Championship Series.

This year’s Championship series will include two nights of racing at Champion on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The first round, Saturday evening, Aug. 31 will be held at Action Park East in Greene, N.Y. 

The big news of who is racing does not stop at Janniro. He is slated to be joined by another former National Champion, and the defending U.S. Open Champ Aaron Fox, of Beaumont, Calif. who has won the U.S. National at Costa Mesa twice and also competed in the British League. He will also be joined by the 2012 U.S. Open Champion, Chris Kerr of Auburn, Calif. Young teenage star Blake Borello, from Northern, Calif., who has been tearing up the West Coast tracks, will also be there. Representing Colorado will be three of their top points riders; young star Redmond Bohannon and veterans David and Ken Pieper.    

Local fans will have a lot to cheer and the guest stars will have their hands full as track Promoter Jason Bonsignore has a strong program of local riders at the moment. The top local favorites to win the Championship have to be former Champion Casey Donholt, of Port Crane, who leads this summer’s Points Championship; Endicott’s Adam Mittl, who is a 5-time track champion; and Len McBride of Windsor, a legend in the sport with four track titles to his credit. Owego’s Brian Hollenbeck has had a strong season; and another rider to keep an eye out for is former East Coast Points Champion Jeremy Parsons, of Newark Valley. Young Spencer Portararo of Newark Valley has been strong lately, and also Jerry Harman and the Oakdens, Dave and Jonny, will serve the Rochester area well.

A full program of local ATV pros will be planned as well. Local riders Shane Smith, Jimmer Ulrich, Bruce Stauder, Tony Hanbury, Dylan Hawk, Donnie Archilbald, Tobey Relyea, Chris Merwin, and Brad Harrington should be just some of the top riders on hand.  

Speedway motorcycles have absolutely no brakes, go from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds and slide totally sideways through the turns. They run on methanol and the sport attracts crowds of 20,000 plus for weekly meetings in Europe. There are only several pockets of speedway in the U.S. and New York is recognized as one of the best, second only to California.

The ATV action starts at 7 p.m. on Friday in Greene and Speedway gets underway at 8:30 p.m. On Sept. 1 at Champion Speedway, ATV racing starts at 4 p.m. and Speedway at 6 p.m. 

Champion Speedway is located at the end of Route 434 in Owego on Old Narrows Road. Support Class racing and Juniors will be included both nights. Monday, Sept. 2 at noon could serve as a rain date. 

More information can be found by calling (585) 739-9612 or at www.eastcoastspeedway.com or www.speedwaybikes.com.