NZ Rotax Series Back Into Action
| press release | 7 May 2015 |
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The Logitech New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge roars back into action in Tokoroa this weekend.
After an early start, with rounds in Rotorua in late January and Hawke's Bay in early February, the series now settles into a rhythm, with the four remaining rounds now each a month apart.
After the first two rounds multi-time former series class winner Daniel Kinsman leads Auckland-based international Daniel Bray in DD2, defending class title holder Dylan Drysdale is again on top in Junior Max, fellow Palmerston North driver Josh Hart leads 125cc Rotax Max Light, and Auckland's Ryan Urban tops the DD2 Masters class points standings.
Above: Daniel Bray was the DD2 class winner at the second round of this year's series
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Fast Company/Graham Hughes
With different winners in three of the four classes at the two earlier rounds, however, there is a lot riding on this weekend's round at Holsters Trade Zone Raceway.
In DD2 for instance, Daniel Bray made good on the pace he showed at the first round with a win at the second, elevating himself from fourth equal to second in the series points standings.
Cambridge driver Andy Schofield, meanwhile, was the big mover in the 125cc Rotax Max Light class at the second round, scoring a breakthrough win.
Second place in the Pre-Final and sixth in the Final was enough for former globe-trotter and New Zealand rep Josh Hart to retain the lead in the series standings, but the round win saw Schofield move up from fourth to second while second place was enough to elevate Daniel Connor from outside the top six to third.
Above: Andy Schofield, Rotax Light
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Fast Company/Graham Hughes
Defending title-holder Ryan Urban remains the man-to-beat in the Masters category within the DD2 class, with competition for the runner-up spot this weekend expected to again involve Josh Hart's older brother Fraser, Aucklander Aarron Cunningham, and former UK champion Tiff Chittenden.
On the strength of the Final at the second round, Junior Max looks too close to call, however, defending title holder and New Zealand rep Dylan Drysdale leading the lion's share of laps but young Auckland ace Liam Lawson pipping him at the post to move up to share second place in the points standings with Matthew Payne.
With Payne, who is currently leading the Junior Max Trophy class in Australia's Rotax Max Pro Tour, and Jacob Cranston (who is fourth) winning the New Zealand Sprint title at the Nationals over Easter there is real depth in the Junior Max class talent pool.
Numbers are also growing with young Aucklanders Sam Wright and Josh Parkinson moving up from the Vortex Mini ROK class this weekend.
This year's Logitech New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge Series is again twinned with the KZ2-based ProKart Series, with over 100 karters from as far afield as Dunedin and Whangarei making the trip to Tokoroa to compete over the weekend.
Above: Liam Lawson won Junior MAX at round 2
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Fast Company/Graham Hughes
2015 New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge
Results
125cc Rotax Max Light
Points after Rnd 2 of 6
1. Josh Hart 173 points; 2. Andy Schofield 168; 3. Daniel Connor 155; 4. Scott Manson 154; 5. Campbell Joyes 153; 6. Caleb Huston 147
DD2
Points after Rnd 2 of 6
1. Daniel Kinsman 178 points; 2 Daniel Bray 169; 3. Jonathan Buxeda 161; 4. CJ Sinclair 159; 5. Mitchell Beach 158; 6. Bradley Hicks 158.
DD2 Masters
Points after Rnd 2 of 6
1. Ryan Urban 182 points; 2. Fraser Hart 174; 3. Scott Howard 166; 4. Niki Urwin 157; 5. Aarron Cunningham 152; 6. Tiffany Chittenden 151.
Junior Max
Points after Rnd 2 of 6.
1. Dylan Drysdale 179 points, 2=. Liam Lawson & Matthew Payne 170; 4. Jacob Cranston 167; 5. Lee Zeltwanger 153; 6=. Kaleb Ngatoa & Reece Hendle-Cox 146.
Calendar
Rnd 1: Sat- Sun Jan 31-Feb 01 The Rock FM Raceway Rotorua
Rnd 2: Sat-Sun Feb 14-15 Chemz Raceway Hastings
Rnd 3: Sat-Sun May 09-10 Holsters TradeZone Raceway Tokoroa
Rnd 4: Sat-Sun Jun 13-14 Fagan's Valley Raceway Te Puke
Rnd 5: Sat-Sun Aug 15-16 Strata Networks Raceway Auckland
Rnd 6: Sat-Sun Sept 12-13 AgriSea Raceway Hamilton
