PERRIS, CA

Dream Team member Tyson Burmeister began the lengthy 2010 Southern California speedway schedule right - by winning the main event at the New Year's Classic at Perris Raceway.

Burmeister started from gate one and got off the line quickly, while Doug Nicol tried to trap from gate five. Nicol couldn't get all the way across the field, and Burmeister led through turn one and down the back straight. Nicol didn't give up, though, and used the outside line to pull alongside the leader in turns three and four. The riders were shoulder to shoulder at the end of lap one, and they remained in lock-step through the next bend and onto the back straight.

Nicol found more grip exiting turn four and tried to drop down in front of Burmeister as they entered turn one. Nicol briefly took the lead, but his momentum carried him wide into turn two, and Burmeister took charge again, with Gino Manzares moving up the inside to take second.

Nicol went for broke in turns three and four and slid off. Burmeister led at the white flag, with Manzares in tow, but the 16-year-old couldn't find a way past. Burmeister was first to the checkered flag, Manzares finished second, Neil Facchini was third, Mike "Spider-Man" Bloom finished fourth, and Nicol was fifth.

Recent Birmingham-signing Chris Kerr led the first heat but lost a chain in what proved to be a harbinger of his day; Nicol took the lead and the win, ahead of Burmeister. Austin Novratil defeated Bloom and Brad Sauer in heat two. Facchini beat Jason Ramirez to end the first round of heats.

Round two began with Kerr and Manzares side by side before Kerr slid off in turn four; Manzares led the rest of the way for his first win. Burmeister held off Josh Abbott to win the next heat. Novratil finished the second round with his second straight win.

The final round began with Novratil going down hard and ending his day. Abbott led the restart before Kerr used the outside line to take the lead and the win. Facchini held off Nicol for his second straight win. Manzares ended the heats by passing Burmeister for the lead and his second consecutive win.

A five-rider run-off was needed to fill the final two spots in the semis. Ramirez got the best start, with Kerr going down in turn two. The race continued and Ramirez led for two laps before falling in turn four. This handed the win to Abbott and the other semi position to Bloom.

Burmeister led the first semi the entire way, with Manzares following him into the main. Facchini and Bloom finished one-two in the second semi to also make the main. Nicol won the last-chance qualifier to take the final spot in the main.

Tyson Talkington won both his heats and scored an impressive triumph in the Second Division main event to complete his perfect day.

Mike Wiley led all four laps to capture the Third Division main event.

The next speedway event at Perris Raceway will be a night race on Saturday, February 27, with the first race starting at 7 p.m.

Results

POWDERPUFF: 1. Cassi Novratil (Yamaha); 2. Julie Shockley (Yamaha); 3. Summer Fehrman (Suzuki).

P/W: 1. Michael Wells (Honda); 2. Jacob Wondolowski (Cob); 3. Summer Fehrman (Suzuki); 4. Dakota Shockley (Honda); 5. Tristan Britt (Suzuki).

YTH D-2: 1. Hayley Perrault (Honda); 2. Dylan Ruml (Honda); 3. Michael Wells (Shu); 4. Ryan Vaughn (Honda); 5. Willie Wondolowski (SDR).

YTH D-1: 1. Maxwell Ruml (JAWA/CZ); 2. Nicky Reimer (JAWA/CZ); 3. Rocco Scopellite (JAWA/CZ).

D-3: 1. Mike Wiley (JAWA/CZ); 2. Norman Graham (JAWA/CZ); 3. Tony De Almeida (JAWA/CZ); 4. Gene Stone (JAWA/CZ); 5. Billy Vaughn (JAWA/CZ).

D-2: 1. Tyson Talkington (JAWA/CZ); 2. Michael Raines (JAWA/CZ); 3. Rudy Laurer (JAWA/CZ); 4. Steve Dziadus (GM); 5. Steve Bowen (JAWA/CZ).

D-1 LCQ: 1. Doug Nicol (JRM); 2. Brad Sauer (JAWA/CZ); 3. Josh Abbott (JAWA/CZ); 4. Austin Novratil (GM).

D-1 MAIN: 1. Tyson Burmeister (GM); 2. Gino Manzares (JAWA/CZ); 3. Neil Facchini (GM); 4. Mike Bloom (JAWA/CZ); 5. Doug Nicol (JRM).