STEVE Evans is predicting that every race will be ‘like a final’ as America’s top racers set their sights on a spot in next summer’s Speedway of Nations.
Evans, boss of Team USA and the man who will pick the squad for the National Speedway Stadium, will be mentally preparing his own short list as the top 21 American riders compete in Saturday’s FIM North American Final at Kern County Raceway, Bakersfield.
The meeting is being streamed live on BSN from 8.45pm on Saturday and fans will see every second of action from a meeting that will also decide two of the three riders who will take part in next year’s 2025 Grand Prix qualifying competition.
Evans, who was brought up on the terraces of Monmore Green watching Wolverhampton before moving to live and work in the States, has given his insider’s rundown of who he sees as the main contenders.
The American authorities went to enormous lengths to ensure the line-up is the best by analysing performances of every American rider throughout the year, including those who were racing abroad.
And he claims: “It is genuinely the strongest line-up there could be. Fifteen of the riders booked their spots but then there were another six who also deserved their shot which is why we have two qualifying races to find the 16th rider for the final.
“I’m not sure how I can pick a winner. There’s two American Championships, one is over three rounds on three different tracks and that was won by Max Ruml and he also won the 53rd National Championship held at Costa Mesa so he will be chasing the treble.
He was also the North American Champion in both 2020 and 2021.
“The North American Final is the qualifier for the Grand Prix qualifiers in Europe and is open to any riders from North America but we don’t have any Canadian rider at present so they are all from the USA.
“Luke Becker, who spent the summer racing in Europe, is defending this title and Billy Janniro is Billy Janniro, he won this meeting in 2020 and has won a total of 17 American titles.
“There’s three Americans who can qualify for the GP qualifier this year which has increased from two so the top two on the night will go through with the third spot going to a wild card. If anyone who qualifies in the top two doesn’t want to take up a spot then it will go down the finishing order.
“But it’s not just about getting into the GP qualifiers, there’s places in SON as well as a chance for riders who want to race in Europe to put themselves in the shop window.
“I’m expecting Luke and Gino Manzares to be riding in Europe again and I think Dillon Ruml would go back to Britain if someone came in for him.
“Luke is nailed pretty much nailed on for SON and I presume Gino if he is fit and racing in Europe to be there but the third spot in the team, that’s really up for grabs. Right now we are not doing any more than watching everyone and we will take a lot of notice of the US against the World Select event in February before narrowing down our choices but Saturday’s meeting is a good way to lay down your claims.
“Looking at some of the others riders Slater Lightcap is only 17 and he’s had a phenomenal season and went to a Polish league training camp and in a two-day meeting he was placed fourth. He’s certainly right now a young talent and one that people are starting to think he could be someone.
“The Under 21 champion Alex Martin rode in SGP2 in Vojens last year and Sebastian Palmese hadn’t ridden much in 18 months, he got injured doing moto cross. He got a job working for a factory moto cross team as a mechanic but he came back for the national Under 21 championship and won it!
“It’s quite difficult picking a winner because ever race is like a final. Luke is rightly a hot favourite but Max Ruml won both the national championships this year and he will want to make it all three major titles.
“Dillon Ruml can beat anyone, Gino, of course, and Billy Janniro is always in the top five.
“Billy probably isn’t motivated by the chance to ride in a GP qualifier but he is motivated by wanting to win. He also knows that if he does he won’t be robbing a younger rider of his chance because it would immediately pass down to the next rider.
“The rider who many think is probably the most naturally gifted of them all is Austin Novratil but whether he can do it five races in a row is the question.”
Racing gets underway at 9pm (UK time) and Ian Brannan and Greg Blair will be in the BSN commentary booth to make sure you don’t miss a second of the cut-throat action.
LINE UP:
Final: Slater Lightcap, Chris Kerr, Alex Martin, Max Ruml, Billy Janniro, Sebastian Palmese, Austin Novratil, Russell Green, Aaron Fox, Louie Mersaroli, Luke Becker, Broc Nicol, Dillon Ruml, Timmy Dion, Gino Manzares.
Qualifiers: Justin Almon, Greg Moore, Jordan Vanderham, Michael Wells, Wilbur Hancock, Eddie Castro.
Words by Holeshot Media.
Image by Taylor Lanning.