Saturday Report: Day Of Drama At Rotax Pro Tour

press release

Whilst Joseph Mawson took out the Rotax Pro Tour Junior MAX Light race at Todd Road today, the racer everyone was talking about was Gold Coaster, Renee Gracie – who took a significant step forward in her racing career – challenging the double national champion right to the flag.

Graciesmall.jpgGracie (left - Cooper's pic) had been within the top group of Juniors all weekend and an intensive fitness campaign over the summer break finally paid dividends as she hunted down – and passed – Mawson with two laps to go.
As spectacular as the pass was, it gave Mawson opportunities to size his opponent up – the Sydney-sider cagey enough to fire back in front of his female counterpart on the final lap and taking the chequered flag by a mere one-tenth of a second.

The performance by Gracie is easily the most solid by a female competitor at the top level on the national scene in some time and bodes well for the remainder of the Rotax Pro Tour year with Ben George’s R360 team.

Liam Morey finished third, whilst the run of podiums by World Junior #3 Pierce Lehane in Pro Tour competition finally came to an end. Lehane’s weekend was compromised after an ill-thought manoeuvre on Mawson in the pre-final went awry. It saw him finish ninth in the Pre-Final. He was then dropped to the tail of the field after a turn one incident in the Final, which also included CIK Pro Junior combatant, Brock Plumb.

Lehane fought valiantly to finish the final in tenth placing and recorded the fastest lap of the race.

In Rotax Light, David Sera’s unbelievable form continued, despite the best efforts of fellow Melbournite, Josh DeMaio. The two Victorians were supreme in the division today, pulling a massive gap on the field. Whilst Sera took the first victory for the new Arrow XE-1 kart, DeMaio kept him honest, setting fastest lap of the race and crossing just 0.134 behind the five times national Rotax Champion.

Adam Lindstrom took his DR Kart to third, surviving a race long blitzkrieg from Bradley Jenner and Jaymee Frampton – another girl racer really impressing throughout the weekend.

There were two other big home town winners in Jason Pringle and Troy Woolston. Pringle – in his maiden Rotax DD2 performance on Australian soil – was outstanding, leaving the massive field in his wake. He quickly established his advantage over fancied competitor, Kyle Ensbey – and didn’t look like being headed, crossing the line some three seconds in front of the Queenslander.

Damian Ward – who had been quick for most of the weekend –  was an early casualty when his airbox split in half and came adrift.

The race for the minors was one of the most intense in Rotax Pro Tour history, with Brinley Gread charging through the field and taking the final podium placing from Jackson Delamont. The Canberra racer, who flew out of his kart yesterday, actually had a hand injury and fought on despite the pain he was feeling to finish fourth. Gread took further consolation in recording the fastest lap of the race just four laps from home, proving the durability of the MOJO D3 tyres after a weekend of punishment. Jack Lindgren brought his CRG home in fifth place, having moved forward from deep in the pack.

Woolston fought hard to bring his Intrepid chassis home in first place in Rotax Heavy. The former Light specialist took a different turn in setup for the Pre-Final which did not work, handing the pole to Tony Kart’s Lee Mitchener. Nevertheless, with father Wayne and former national Championship winning mechanic, Gary Arandt in his corner, they had it right for the Final, Woolston romping home over Mitchener and 2009 Todd Road Pro Tour winner, Paul Rodgers.

Top Gun Racing’s Mitchell Kennedy took a fine win in Junior MAX Heavy – his Rotax Pro Tour debut. He crossed the line over four seconds ahead of fellow debutantes Joshua Crossingham and Jack Richardson. Early leader, Dale Corbett was afflicted by a mechanical problem after five laps and retired. Kennedy’s fellow Troy Hunt protégé, Mason Barbera made a last lap pass to record a fourth position.

In Rotax Super Heavy, Sean Reeves walked away with the gold, defeating Bruce Otter and Steven Lalas in the process. The three traded blows in an entertaining exchange all throughout the weekend, but Reeves’ fitness proved telling in the 40-plus temperatures in Melbourne today. Eddie Ruiz and Rod Franks completed the top five.

Mick Robson was able to return after a problem yesterday and dominate Rotax Over 35s. He had to work his way through in the Pre-Final to start up front in the Final, but did so using the benefit of his fresher tyres. Queenslander Cameron Harch took his Custom Decals Exprit to second after a spirited battle with early leader Danny Woodland and John Bailey.

All in all, the Rotax Pro Tour at Todd Road provided some superb racing. The entire Rotax family was ecstatic to hear that none of the drivers involved in incidents yesterday – or today – were seriously injured.

The next Rotax Pro Tour event will be conducted at Dubbo’s Lincoln County Raceway across the weekend of March 18-20.

Keep an eye on www.rotax.com.au or www.twitter.com/RotaxProTour for more information about the Rotax Pro Tour and other upcoming events.

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