The AMA Speedway National Championship Series is bringing added sideways excitement to the 2021 season with two of the three-round series being held in New York followed by a final round in California.
Typically, the entire series has been held solely in California, where the sport has a large following and draws thousands of fans. By hosting rounds on both coasts this year, the goal is to further grow the popularity of the sport by reaching new fans and racers.
“The AMA is eager to get the Speedway National Championship Series underway,” said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “2021 is a milestone year for the series, bringing in two rounds on the East Coast. For a program that is typically held only on the West Coast, this is an exciting change and should help the speedway discipline grow. We look forward to some great racing, and we appreciate all of the efforts our partners are putting forth to make the series successful.”
The series will determine which racer takes home an AMA National No. 1 plate and opens at Action Park East in Greene, N.Y. on Sept. 4. On Sept. 5, the bar-to-bar action moves to Champion Speedway in Owego, N.Y.
East Coast Promotions LLC is the organizer of the two rounds on the East Coast and is well-positioned to tap into the popularity of flat track racing in Upstate New York, according to organizer Jason Bonsignore.
“Speedway is one of the original extreme sports and a breathtaking and spectator spectacle!” Bonsignore said. “We are proud to host two AMA Speedway National rounds and are excited to host the country’s top riders. Upstate New York is a flat track hotbed, and we hope news reaches those fans, as we are confident they would be blown away with our sport. It would be great for the area to hold AMA Speedway National events for years to come.”
The third and final round of the series will see racers travel to the West Coast on Sept. 25 to compete at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn, Calif., where the AMA Speedway Championship No. 1 plate will be handed out. The third round is promoted by David Joiner, the owner of Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway.
Riders scheduled to highlight the New York field for the 2021 season include four-time Speedway Track Champion Len McBride; 2020 East Coast Points Champion Spencer Portararo; 2015 U.S. Open Champion Casey Donholt; and Veteran star Dave Oakden.
Riders from the California field include 10-time and current AMA U.S. National Champion Billy Janniro; Current FIM North American Final Champion Max Ruml; Former British League and USA World Team rider Gino Manzares; Former U.S. National Under 21 Champion and current U.S. Open Champion Austin Novratil; and the rising Northern California star, Blake Borello.
The 10-year British League Veteran David Meldrum from Florida will also be competing, as will Colorado’s Redmond Bohannon.
While in the United States, speedway racing is most active in California, internationally it is one of the most popular forms of motorsport racing. Racers use lightweight, single-gear motorcycles built solely for this type of competition and battle handlebar-to-handlebar on ultra-short oval dirt tracks typically a quarter-mile or less in length.
Full 2021 AMA Speedway National Championship Series schedule:
Round 1
- Location: Action Park East in Greene, N.Y.
- Date: September 4, 2021
- Promoter: East Coast Promotions LLC
- Event Info: www.eastcoastspeedway.com
Round 2
- Location: Champion Speedway in Owego, N.Y.
- Date: September 5, 2021
- Promoter: East Coast Promotions LLC
- Event Info: www.eastcoastspeedway.com
Round 3
- Location: Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn, Calif.
- Date: September 25, 2021
- Promoter: Fast Fridays Speedway
- Awards: National Championship #1 plates earned
- Event Info: www.fastfridays.com
