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Favourites Head The Way At Rotax Pro Tour

press release

The Rotax Pro Tour All Stars Cup heralded a new era in Australian kart racing at Newcastle’s Mount Sugarloaf Raceway today, with in excess of 160 competitors plying their trade in challenging conditions.

Favourites in all the classes performed well, with Australian Rotax Light Champion, David Sera looking particularly good in that class. The Pringle brothers, Jason and Rick, and William Yarwood are heading the way in Rotax Heavy, whilst Christopher Hays is looking very good for the J-MAX Junior class.

In the Over-35s, Sydney-sider Nicholas Crawshay won both events and Queenslander, Kyle Ensbey repeated that feat in Rotax DD2.

Results so far are on mylaps HERE.

ROTAX LIGHT
David Sera set the pole time in damp conditions with consummate ease – some 1.2 seconds faster than his nearest competitor. He adopted his now familiar laid back style to win both of today’s heats.

Sera’s fellow Victorian, Daniel Rochford qualified down in ninth, but has made the most of it – finishing the first heat second and in the second heat – he had a half lose which put him toward the back of the pack. Rochford was able to fight his way back through the pack and set the fastest lap.

It sets up for an interesting pre-final, particularly if Rochford can work his way through in tomorrow morning’s heat number three. Others to impress included David Whitmore – who qualified 16th in the wet and has worked his way through to fifth in both races held today.

Jack Lindgren was the best of the locals, finishing the opening heat in sixth placing. Damian Ward put in a stellar effort in qualifying to start on the front row. It probably didn’t yield the results he was after, however there is still a long way to go.

ROTAX HEAVY
The Pringle brothers – Jason and Rick were the pace setters in qualifying, with both their CRGs occupying the front row. Whilst most expected the two Victorians to clear out, the racing was tight and close, with the two sharing a heat race win each.

Lake Macquarie’s Andrew Torville was the hard luck story of the class – he finished second in the opening heat and was on track to repeat the dose in heat two, however a tangle whilst trying to pass another competitor saw him drop to the back of the order. He’ll be hoping for better in heat three tomorrow.

Torville had an outstanding battle with Daniel Stein in the opening heat and it was setting up for similar in heat two before the incident. Stein was able to capitalise and finish an impressive second.

Double national Rotax Heavy champion, William Yarwood is setting himself nicely for tomorrow. He is looking his cagey best and finished a strong third in the second heat today. Expect him to feature prominently in tomorrow’s final results.

Western Sydney’s Craig Stauner experienced one of those high and low days of motorsport. After qualifying a lowly 22nd, Stauner scythed through the field to finish heat one seventh. The second heat and he did exactly the same and was seventh entering the final circulation. He went off at the bottom end of the circuit and dropped numerous places, being recorded at the back of the field. Doing it all again tomorrow will be a challenging prospect!

Simon Meyer and Newcastle’s Matt Solman also showed bursts of speed throughout the day.

FORMULA J-MAX
The Junior Rotax category attracted the largest field this weekend – some 46 competitors have been split into two equal groups for their qualifying races.

At this early stage, it would appear that Tony Kart driver, Christopher Hays has the wood on the opposition and will be incredibly difficult to stop in tomorrow’s final – which is where the two groups will join for the first time this weekend.

The younger Rochford brother – Luke – is looking to have as good a weekend as big brother. In the first J-MAX group, he has been setting sizzling times around the challenging Newcastle layout. Taking a dominant win in his first heat, he was forced wide during the opening stanza of his second heat which compromised his race. He fought back to seventh and set the fastest race lap by a considerable margin and when Finals come around, he is one to keep an eye on and could provide Hays with his toughest opposition.

Jaie Robson finished second in heat one and won heat two of the first group, whilst Ben Jurczak has been finding form at the end of his two heats today. Aside from Hays’ domination of Group B, Pierce Lehane has been somewhat impressive and so too Joshua DeMaio.

Sydney’s Josh Hunter has had the weekend from hell. After qualifying on the front row, he suffered a flat left rear tyre in heat one and then went off the track and slammed the tyre barrier in turn two. He’s hoping heat three tomorrow will yield a result, before working through for the Pre-Final and Final.

Darcey Kondopirakis and Tobias Bellbowen were others to show bursts of form throughout the day.
J-MAX is the fastest Junior category in Australian karting and with competitors aged between 13 and 16, the action is always frantic!

ROTAX OVER-35s
Sydney Top Gun Racing academy driver, Nicholas Crawshay proved the class of the field in Rotax Over-35s taking the win in both heats today. Crawshay was superb in controlling the pace, but had pressure in both. Paul Mapperson finished second in the first heat – conducted with light rain falling, whilst in the second, Danny Woodland really put Crawshay under the pump. Woodland even had a look underneath Crawshay late in the second heat, but was unable to take the position and settled for second.

Craig Matthews put in a superlative effort in the second heat and will be strong tomorrow, whilst Top Kart’s Troy Brown finished fourth in heat one, but an off put him towards the back in heat two.

ROTAX DD2
Some of the best racing of the day came from Rotax DD2. The direct drive, two-geared karts featured a small field, but the racing was world class.

Queenslander, Kyle Ensbey took both heats, but had tough opposition from Brinley Gread in heat one – who came from 11th on the grid. Grant Smith was another to advance through the field after an early race fight with Paul Hamilton – who finished a close second in heat two.

Gread and Smith both came off the track early in heat two – but showed they have the pace to be right there come tomorrow, getting back for fourth and sixth respectively.

Tomorrow will see heat three for all Rotax Classes, plus Pre-Finals and Finals.

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	Favourites Head The Way At Rotax Pro Tour press release The Rotax Pro Tour All Stars Cup heralded a new era in Australian kart racing at Newcastle’s Mount Sugarloaf Raceway today, with in excess of 160 competitors plying their trade in challenging conditions. Favourites in all the classes performed well, with Australian Rotax Light Champion, David Sera looking particularly good in that class. The Pringle brothers, Jason and Rick, and William Yarwood are heading the way in Rotax Heavy, whilst Christopher Hays is looking very good for the J-MAX Junior class. In the Over-35s, Sydney-sider Nicholas Crawshay won both events and Queenslander, Kyle Ensbey repeated that feat in Rotax DD2. Results so far are on mylaps HERE. ROTAX LIGHT David Sera set the pole time in damp conditions with consummate ease – some 1.2 seconds faster than his nearest competitor. He adopted his now familiar laid back style to win both of today’s heats. Sera’s fellow Victorian, Daniel Rochford qualified down in ninth, but has made the most of it – finishing the first heat second and in the second heat – he had a half lose which put him toward the back of the pack. Rochford was able to fight his way back through the pack and set the fastest lap. It sets up for an interesting pre-final, particularly if Rochford can work his way through in tomorrow morning’s heat number three. Others to impress included David Whitmore – who qualified 16th in the wet and has worked his way through to fifth in both races held today. Jack Lindgren was the best of the locals, finishing the opening heat in sixth placing. Damian Ward put in a stellar effort in qualifying to start on the front row. It probably didn’t yield the results he was after, however there is still a long way to go. ROTAX HEAVY The Pringle brothers – Jason and Rick were the pace setters in qualifying, with both their CRGs occupying the front row. Whilst most expected the two Victorians to clear out, the racing was tight and close, with the two sharing a heat race win each. Lake Macquarie’s Andrew Torville was the hard luck story of the class – he finished second in the opening heat and was on track to repeat the dose in heat two, however a tangle whilst trying to pass another competitor saw him drop to the back of the order. He’ll be hoping for better in heat three tomorrow. Torville had an outstanding battle with Daniel Stein in the opening heat and it was setting up for similar in heat two before the incident. Stein was able to capitalise and finish an impressive second. Double national Rotax Heavy champion, William Yarwood is setting himself nicely for tomorrow. He is looking his cagey best and finished a strong third in the second heat today. Expect him to feature prominently in tomorrow’s final results. Western Sydney’s Craig Stauner experienced one of those high and low days of motorsport. After qualifying a lowly 22nd, Stauner scythed through the field to finish heat one seventh. The second heat and he did exactly the same and was seventh entering the final circulation. He went off at the bottom end of the circuit and dropped numerous places, being recorded at the back of the field. Doing it all again tomorrow will be a challenging prospect! Simon Meyer and Newcastle’s Matt Solman also showed bursts of speed throughout the day. FORMULA J-MAX The Junior Rotax category attracted the largest field this weekend – some 46 competitors have been split into two equal groups for their qualifying races. At this early stage, it would appear that Tony Kart driver, Christopher Hays has the wood on the opposition and will be incredibly difficult to stop in tomorrow’s final – which is where the two groups will join for the first time this weekend. The younger Rochford brother – Luke – is looking to have as good a weekend as big brother. In the first J-MAX group, he has been setting sizzling times around the challenging Newcastle layout. Taking a dominant win in his first heat, he was forced wide during the opening stanza of his second heat which compromised his race. He fought back to seventh and set the fastest race lap by a considerable margin and when Finals come around, he is one to keep an eye on and could provide Hays with his toughest opposition. Jaie Robson finished second in heat one and won heat two of the first group, whilst Ben Jurczak has been finding form at the end of his two heats today. Aside from Hays’ domination of Group B, Pierce Lehane has been somewhat impressive and so too Joshua DeMaio. Sydney’s Josh Hunter has had the weekend from hell. After qualifying on the front row, he suffered a flat left rear tyre in heat one and then went off the track and slammed the tyre barrier in turn two. He’s hoping heat three tomorrow will yield a result, before working through for the Pre-Final and Final. Darcey Kondopirakis and Tobias Bellbowen were others to show bursts of form throughout the day. J-MAX is the fastest Junior category in Australian karting and with competitors aged between 13 and 16, the action is always frantic! ROTAX OVER-35s Sydney Top Gun Racing academy driver, Nicholas Crawshay proved the class of the field in Rotax Over-35s taking the win in both heats today. Crawshay was superb in controlling the pace, but had pressure in both. Paul Mapperson finished second in the first heat – conducted with light rain falling, whilst in the second, Danny Woodland really put Crawshay under the pump. Woodland even had a look underneath Crawshay late in the second heat, but was unable to take the position and settled for second. Craig Matthews put in a superlative effort in the second heat and will be strong tomorrow, whilst Top Kart’s Troy Brown finished fourth in heat one, but an off put him towards the back in heat two. ROTAX DD2 Some of the best racing of the day came from Rotax DD2. The direct drive, two-geared karts featured a small field, but the racing was world class. Queenslander, Kyle Ensbey took both heats, but had tough opposition from Brinley Gread in heat one – who came from 11th on the grid. Grant Smith was another to advance through the field after an early race fight with Paul Hamilton – who finished a close second in heat two. Gread and Smith both came off the track early in heat two – but showed they have the pace to be right there come tomorrow, getting back for fourth and sixth respectively. Tomorrow will see heat three for all Rotax Classes, plus Pre-Finals and Finals. Home
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