Cycle News

kyler Greyson scored the biggest victory of his career in dramatic fashion by winning a runoff to become the AMA Under 21 U.S. National Champion at Wheel2Wheei Raceway in Victorville, California. The first two years that the event was held, the title was decided in the final race. This year proved no different, as fIVe rounds of racing was not enough to determine the Champion. Greyson and Dario Galvin were tied with 13 points each at the end of the Championship program, and the two would have to square off again in a four-lap runoff to determine the title. Greyson won the coin toss and selected the inside. When the tapes went up, Galvin left the line first and held the lead through turns one and two. Galvin used the wide line that had paid dividends all day on the banked track, while Greyson used the low line to stay close. The two riders battled side by side for two laps, with Galvin holding a slight edge. Greyson moved ahead on the inside as they entered turn one the third time, and deftly slid in front of Galvin exiting turn two to secure the lead. Galvin refused to give up, however, and tried to go around the outside of Greyson as they took the white flag. Greyson held off Galvin to secure the title. The top 15 riders under the age of 21 , representing Southern California, Northern California, New York and Colorado, competed in the third annual event. In addition go around Laird and earn an impressive second place. Hollenbeck made a great start from gate four and ran away with the final race of round two to match Neil Facchini's two victories in two rounds. Galvin began round three by jumping in front of Hollenbeck at the start to get the lead. Hollenbeck, staring at his first defeat, saw his fate go from bad to worse when he fell while chasing Galvin, who secured his first win of the day, ahead of Donholt. Hollenbeck was able to remount and finish third. Greyson started in gate four and stayed wide in turn one and two, and swept into the lead. Gomez gave chase, but was unable to prevent Greyson's second win of the day. Event 19 pitted Neil Facchini, perfect up to this point, and Boyle, who had already dropped two points and could not afford to lose any more if he wanted to hold on to his title. The first try ended in tum one when Neil Facchini and Boyle tangled and went down. The second attempt ended when Neil Facchini went down and brought out the red flag. Facchini's perfect day ended when he was excluded from the race. Boyle jumped in front and was well ahead of his competitors when he suffered an engine failure while taking the white flag. While Boyle and his title hopes coasted to a stop in turn two, Starr breezed by for his second win. Boyle did receive an ovation as he pushed his bike to the finish line for one point. Laird finished the third S to talking home the AMA's Under 21 number-one plate, the winner would also be presented with the Randy Evans Perpetual Trophy that will be passed on to future U.S. Under 21 Champions for years to come. Evans was an up-and-coming speedway racer who suffered career-ending injuries while racing at the old Victorville speedway track in 1995. Neil Facchini began his day on a high note as he ran away from the eventual runoff contestants and scored a win in race one. Galvin was second and Greyson was third. The second race ended after half of a lap as Casey Donholt lost a chain on the back straight and a pileup ensued. Donholt was unable to make the restart, but would continue in the meeting. Colorado's Aaron Laird jumped into the 46 DECEMBER 14, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS lead, and held off Dale Facchini and Tim Gomez for the victory. Brian Starr was victorious in race three, ahead of Kenny Ingalls. Brian Hollenbeck held off defending Champion Justin Boyle to win the fourth and final race of round one. The second round began with Galvin leading into turn one, but Gomez used the outside to take the lead on the back straight, and he pulled away for the win. Greyson jumped in front in race 10, but Boyle didn't let him get away. Boyle stalked Greyson the entire race but Greyson wasn't going to be denied his first win of the day. In race I I, Laird made his second great start, but Neil Facchini used the outside to take the lead and the win. Ingalls also used the outside line to

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