Dan The Man To Beat In America
press release
Kiwi Daniel Bray has emerged as the man to beat in the premier S1 class after the first two rounds of this year's Superkarts USA Pro Tour in Arizona over the weekend.
Driving for the California-based GP West/RM KartWerks team, Aucklander Bray, 24, dominated the opening round of the 2011 US series at Tucson's Musselman Honda circuit on Saturday, winning both heats and the final, then came back from a bruising seventh in the first heat to again win the second heat and final at the second round of the series on Sunday.
Above: Daniel Bray wins at the SKUSA ProTour in Arizona
pic - Fast Company/Todd McCall
It was an impressive performance from the globe-trotting Kiwi, who before he flew out to the United States last week won the Open class title at the Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand 2011 Sprint Nationals at Invercargill over Easter weekend.
"I'm over-the-moon, ecstatic," he said from Tucson this afternoon. "This has been one of those weekends you dream about and it sets us up nicely for the rest of the season up here."
Last year Bray finished fifth in the S1 class points standings after showing plenty of speed and racecraft but being let down by his engine package.
pic - Fast Company/Todd McCall
This year he is back with the same team - GP West/RM KartWerks - but with a new, better engine programme. And he is now a bona fide title contender.
On Saturday he was pipped for pole position in qualifying by CRG driver Brad Dunford but ran away to win all three races, the Final from two-time SKUSA SuperNationals winner Tom Dyer and junior RM KartWerks teammate Lukas Johnson.
On Sunday Bray went one better in qualifying - claiming pole from Johnson - but struck trouble while leading the first heat.
With three laps to go his kart's rear sprocket came loose then broke on the last corner of the last lap.
As Bray was coasting to the line he was overwelmed by a gaggle of six karts, making it to the line in seventh place but with a bent rear axle and steering column for his troubles!
Fortunately the damage was easily fixed and after working his way from 7th on the grid he won the second heat, then ran away with the final after starting from pole.
The weekend's meeting was the first of three double-headers which comprise this year's SuperKarts USA Pro Tour. The second is at Colorado Springs in July, the third and final at the annual SKUSA SuperNationals meeting in Las Vegas in November.