| February 23, 2022
Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California, hosted the U.S. Pairs Speedway Championship, February 19. A successful night of racing proved that speedway lives on, thanks to the efforts of Steve Evans and others who run events throughout the year. The only “problem” was that the American Pairs Championship was almost won by a pair of Polish teenagers.
Luke Becker and Broc Nicol lead the way at the U.S. Pairs Speedway final in Bakersfield.
Story and Photos by Richard T. Haight
Although this event usually draws the best talent in the country, there were a few notable riders missing this time, with multi-time State Speedway Champion Billy Janniro not appearing, So-Cal’s Austin Novratil was at home caring for a new baby, and upcoming star Wilbur Hancock came down with Covid the day before the event.
Nevertheless, it was a powerhouse evening with repeat Pairs Champions Luke Becker and Broc Nichol teaming up to fend off the duos of Dillon Ruml and Aron Fox, Chris Kerr and Dillon’s brother Max, and Eddie Castro and Rhees Todd.
The surprise of the evening, however, was the young pair of Poles, Gleb Chugunov and Michael Curzytek. Both were here to gain some experience, and a better idea of Speedway racing in America, while being mentored by Southern California’s own four-time World Champion Greg Hancock.
Four-time World Champion Greg Hancock (center) was in attendance mentoring young Polish racers Michael Curzytek (left) and Gleb Chugunov (right).
In their first match up, Gleb and Michael scored a solid 1-2 over the rarely beaten Dillon Ruml and his teammate Aron Fox. In the next heat, repeat champions Luke Becker and Broc Nicol did the same thing, taking a solid first and second from Ruml and Kerr.
As the evening progressed, both the Becker/Nicol and Chugunov/Curzytec teams waded through their opponents, scoring mostly 1-2 positions with the one exception being the third round when Becker and Nicol outgated the Polish pair to take a 7-2 maximum score, as Curzytek fell but re-mounted. In the same round, Max Ruml and his partner Chris Kerr turned the tables on his brother Dillon and Fox, taking the maximum seven points for a 1-2 finish.
Over the evening, some younger riders in the Junior classes started to look like future champions. One who impressed was Kage Tadman who it appears has no fear whatsoever and sees only the finish lane, ignoring anyone in front of him until the end. Kage is a diminutive Junior who excels in just about all forms of motorcycle racing. Tadman took a small slide out in race 32, but was up at the re-start and raring to go, taking a second place in the 250cc-class final.
The semi-finals were almost anti-climactic, with Becker and Nicol taking a win over Fox and Dillon Ruml, with Chugunov and Curzytek defeating Kerr and Max Ruml to set up the final championship pairing.
Nichol and Becker celebrate the U.S. Pairs Championship for the third year in a row.
After a bit of track-prep, the final was a blistering race with Becker and Nicol lining up in the second and fourth slots at the start. Both hit stunning gates to leap into the lead. Chugunov and Curyztek were not lagging, however, and were in the fight to the end, but at the flag it was Becker and Nicol with a seven-point maximum score to take the 2022 U.S. Pairs Championship for a three-peat.
Click here to read 2022 U.S. Pairs Speedway Championship Results in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
