Deadly Dave Holds Out Fast Fife in Brilliant KZ2 Final
| press release | 28 March 2016 |
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David Sera has survived one of the most intense races of his career to emerge victorious at round two of the 2016 Australian Kart Championship on Sunday in Puckapunyal, Victoria.
- more photos are on the series' Facebook page HERE
The 17-time Australian Champion endured multiple challenges in the 25-lap KZ2 final in the feature of the second round of the Championship supported by Jayco and Castrol EDGE.
Above: David Sera crossing the line for his first victory since 2014
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Coopers Photography
Heat four winner, Kyle Ensbey took it to Sera aboard his CRG early on. Sera jumped in front of Ensbey, however the Queenslander would not be denied. Mid-race, Sera left the door open heading into turn one and Ensbey pushed down the inside. The result of the move was that Sera dropped back to fourth position and was forced to bide his time.
A move from Canberra driver Joshua Fife on Ensbey allowed Sera to come back into the picture. Forcing his way into the lead Sera established a gap before having absolutely no pace aboard his Deadly Kart. Fife, from the Tom Williamson Motorsport stable, put in his most spirited KZ2 drive and was soon on the tail of his older combatant.
Sera showed all the guile that has led him to become the most prolific Australian Champion in history to hold out the 15-year-old Canberra driver. Meantime, Ricciardo Kart’s Marijn Kremers was closing the gap to the top two after managing his MG tyres and getting up into third position from deep on the grid.
At the end of the race, an exhausted Sera said that he had to push hard to keep the competition at bay to secure his first KZ2 win since September 2014.
“It was tough, I was really doing everything to keep the field behind me, I didn’t have the pace if I was to be honest,” Sera reflected.
“Josh was really pushing hard and I had to try anything I could to keep him from passing me, as I knew he would have pulled away during those last few laps. Kyle is a hard competitor, he was really going for it this weekend. I am exhausted, it was a really taxing fight, but a good feeling to be back on top, it has been a while!”
Queenslander Jack Doohan won his first-ever elite junior (KA2) Championship round. The son of five-time World Motorcycle Champion, Mick Doohan had a difficult weekend, however it all came good for him in the final. He worked his way through the field in his Kosmic Kart to take the win.
Above: Jack Doohan was victorious in KA2
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Coopers Photography
He led home a Kosmic trifecta that also saw Cameron Longmore score his best ever finish in the category in second and Lachlan Hughes finish third. Longmore and Hughes both had stints in the lead of the race.
HDR Arrow Karts’ Scott Sorensen returned to the top step of the podium in KA1 taking a comfortable victory in what was an entertaining final. Round one winner Reece Sidebottom took his Reevu Helmets Kosmic to second – while 14-year-old category debutant, Cory Arnett came home in third position in an impressive showing. Defending Australian Champion, Liam McLellan was fourth in his Holden Kart Team JC Kart.
In another great performance for the Australian-built Arrow chassis, Adam Mercer put on a clinic in the X30 category, taking a victory by 2.5 seconds.
Pacific Kartsport-backed Mercer was supreme during the final and continued to eke out the lead. Despite having speed all weekend, CompKart Australia’s Joshua Car had no comeback for Mercer and settled for second whilst defending Australian Champion, Daniel Rochford kept himself in sight of the Championship lead in third.
Above: Adam Mercer leads Daniel Rochford and the rest in X30
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Coopers Photography
In TaG 125 – Brendan Nelson made it two on the trot in his FA Kart – taking a comfortable victory. He got the best of the start in the final – while Car (who was racing both TaG and X30) got shuffled out of the top 10 in a turn one incident after starting on pole. All eyes were on Car’s charge forward, eventually getting up to fourth position. Liam Ford and Mitchell Hewitt rounded out the podium places behind Nelson.
The KA4 Junior final produced arguably the best race seen since the inception of the Australian Kart Championship era. No less than five drivers were involved in the battle for the win with the lead swapping on multiple occasions.
At the end of the 16-lap final, Benito Montalbano emerged victorious for Scuderia PCR Australia with Cooper Webster bringing his kart home second on his birthday and round one winner, Travis Worton doing everything he needed to protect his Championship lead finishing third.
KA3 fell the way of Cody Donald. The Arrow driver had enjoyed a fierce battle with Shamick Racing’s Jordan Nicolaou throughout the course of the weekend and it looked as though it would be the same in the final, however Donald got to the lead and then started pulling away. The 15-year-old in just his second AKC race was ecstatic with victory, whilst Nicolaou came home second and Spencer Ackerman brought his Tony Kart home in third after a sensational weekend.
In Cadet 12, Kobi Williams’ pace from Saturday continued, taking the win over Fletcher Harris. That came after a battle that also involved Shamick Racing CRG pilots, James Wharton and Kai Allen. The two Victorians had every opportunity to back up their Dubbo Cadet 12 quinella, however ended up fighting among themselves in the closing stages, thus squandering any chance of that happening. Wharton salvaged third at the end of the race.
Meantime, in the Cadet 9 final, Alex Ninovic was able to emerge the victor in the final. It looked as though much had been lost after not setting a time in qualifying on Saturday, however the Stanley Motorsport TB Kart driver shot through for a 3.2 second win over Dominic Attard and Leon Cordato.
The next round of the Australian Kart Championship presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE will be conducted at the Monarto Karting Complex just outside Adelaide (Murray Bridge) across the weekend of May 13-15.
On-demand coverage of all of Sunday’s races can be found at www.karting.net.au
Full results from every class from throughout the weekend can be found here https://karting.net.au/cms/results/view/AUSTRALIA/KA/2016-03-25/
Above: Cody Donald was victorious in KA3 Senior
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Coopers Photography
2016 AUSTRALIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 2
Puckapunyal, Victoria
RESULTS: Top Three
Cadet 9
1. Alex Nonovic (NSW) – TB Kart/Vortex
2. Doninic Attard (QLD) – Exprit/Vortex
3. Leon Cordato (NSW) – Monaco/Vortex
Cadet 12
1. Kobi Williams (Victoria) – FA Kart/Vortex
2. Fletcher Harris (Victoria) – Haase/Vortex
3. James Wharton (Victoria) – CRG/Vortex
KA4 Junior
1. Benito Montalbano (NSW) – PCR/IAME
2. Cooper Webster (Victoria) – Arrow/IAME
3. Travis Worton (Victoria) – Arrow/IAME
KA3 Senior
1. Cody Donald (Victoria) – Arrow/IAME
2. Jordan Nicolaou (Victoria) – Arrow/IAME
3. Spencer Ackerman (Victoria) – Tony Kart/IAME
TaG 125
1. Brendan Nelson (QLD) – FA Kart/IAME
2. Liam Ford (Victoria) – Kosmic/Rotax
3. Mitchell Hewitt (NSW) – Redspeed/Rotax
X30
1. Adam Mercer (QLD) – Arrow/IAME
2. Joshua Car (NSW) – CompKart/IAME
3. Daniel Rochford (Victoria) – Arrow/IAME
KA2
1. Jack Doohan (QLD) – Kosmic/Vortex
2. Cameron Longmore (NSW) – Kosmic/Vortex
3. Lachlan Hughes (QLD) – Kosmic/Vortex
KA1
1. Scott Sorensen (QLD) – Arrow/Vortex
2. Reece Sidebottom (Victoria) – Kosmic/Vortex
3. Cory Arnett (Victoria) – Kosmic/Vortex
KZ2
1. David Sera (Victoria) – Deadly/IAME
2. Joshua Fife (ACT) – Energy/TM
3. Marijn Kremers (Queensland) – Ricciardo/IAME
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Top Five After Round 2 of 5
Cadet 9
1 Dominic ATTARD 82
2 Carter MOBBS 75
3 Ryan TOMSETT 70
4 Ben HOLLIDAY 67
5 Leon CORDATO 65
6 Alex NINOVIC 59
7 Costa TOPARIS 50
8 Fraser CARR 47
9 Toby DVORAK 47
10 Harrison LYNE 36
11 Harry ARNETT 33
12 Marshall CROFTS 26
13 Sebastian RUIZ 24
14 Jett COTTER 23
15 Ruby GIBSON 15
16 Spencer RICE 7
17 Jett MURRAY 6
18 Sebastian MANSON 0
Cadet 12
1 Kai ALLEN 122
2 Kobi WILLIAMS 102
3 James WHARTON 100
4 Fletcher HARRIS 63
5 Blake PURDIE 59
6 Adrian HAAK 58
7 William SEAL 47
8 Rhys SMITH 45
9 Hugh BARTER 38
10 Jobe STEWART 34
11 Samuel CHRISTISON 18
12 Brody SONTER 16
13 Oscar COMLEY 12
14 Aaron OLIVER 10
14 Oscar TARGETT 10
14 Tex STARR-MCKOY 10
17 Massimo CAPITANIO 8
18 Nicholas SACCO 6
19 Joshua SARGENT 5
20 Cody MAYNES-RUTTY 4
21 Will HARPER 4
22 Adam TOMSETT 3
22 Josh HAYNES 3
22 Marcos FLACK 3
22 Troy FORTANIER 3
22 Ty SPENCER 3
27 Max DEGUARA 2
28 Beau PRONESTI 1
28 Joseph FAWCETT 1
28 Tom DRANE 1
28 Tristan GRIFFIN 1
32 Beau RUSSELL 0
32 Carter MOBBS 0
32 Christian COWIE 0
32 Christian MANSELL 0
32 Christopher CHRISTENSEN 0
32 Damon WOODS 0
32 Ethan CHURCH 0
32 Hugo SIMPSON 0
32 Jack LAWSON 0
32 James PISZCYK 0
32 Jamie CHRISTISON 0
32 Jessica FORTANIER 0
32 Jonathon MARCUSSON 0
32 Joshua HOCKING 0
32 Kai WALKER 0
32 Kent FIAS-AYON 0
32 Kyle COTTER 0
32 Liam SCEATS 0
32 Makk O’NEILL 0
32 Noah SANDS 0
32 Ryley WATSON 0
32 Shannon MORTLOCK 0
32 Zaiden BARRY 0
KA4 Junior
1 Travis WORTON 120
2 Benito MONTALBANO 104
3 Cooper WEBSTER 87
4 Oscar PRIEST 84
5 Broc FEENEY 56
6 Jay HANSON 51
6 Zac CRICHTON 51
8 Tate FROST 37
9 Cody BURCHER 32
10 Beau HARRIS 25
11 Joshua SMITH 12
11 Zac ZAMPROGNO 12
13 Tyler EVERINGHAM 11
14 Jackson SOUSLIN-HARLOW 10
14 Zachary HEARD 10
16 Darcy INWOOD 9
17 Rhys KEMP 8
17 Thomas SARGENT 8
19 Samuel DOWNING 7
20 Jaiden POPE 5
20 Kynan BROOKS 5
22 Benjamin D’ALIA 4
22 Blake FARDELL 4
22 Declan MATTHEWS 4
25 Nicholas SCHEMBRI 3
26 Nicholas TREBILCOCK 2
27 Adam Jr SLATTERY 1
27 Jai BROWN 1
27 Kurtis READ 1
30 Angus WALLACE 0
30 Blayke WAGNER 0
30 Brayden EVERITT 0
30 Casey CLEAVER 0
30 Elise RADDATZ 0
30 Emerson HARVEY 0
30 Finn CASSIDY 0
30 Jack PENNACCHIA 0
30 Jackson BURTON 0
30 Jordan MALCOLM 0
30 Lachlan DALTON 0
30 Lachlan MINEEFF 0
30 Mak HOLDEN 0
30 Mia BOLTON 0
30 Nathaniel HARRISON 0
30 Reuben GOODALL 0
30 Russell MAYO 0
30 Ryan JENKINS 0
30 Skaife WARD 0
30 Tommy HARRADINE 0
KA2
1 Lachlan HUGHES 104
2 Jack DOOHAN 79
3 Harrison HOEY 76
4 Broc FEENEY 72
5 Cameron LONGMORE 58
6 Dylan HOLLIS 58
7 Jace MATTHEWS 46
8 Cody BREWCZYNSKI 39
8 Jordyn SINNI 39
10 Angelo MOUZOURIS 33
11 Jack WINTER 32
12 Christian PANCIONE 21
13 Antonio ASTUTI 19
13 Ryan SUHLE 19
15 Luke WANLESS 17
16 DAMON PAPASERGIO 16
16 Zak HUDSON 16
18 Jackson CALLOW 11
19 Nathan HADLOW 8
20 Taine VENABLES 8
21 Thomas SMITH 8
22 Thomas TURNER 5
23 Valentino ASTUTI 2
24 Flynn JACKES 0
KA3 Senior
1 Cody DONALD 95
2 Jordan NICOLAOU 94
3 Matthew MCLEAN 73
4 Justin FRANCIS 64
5 Dean O’BRIEN 58
6 Joseph TIGHE 53
7 Spencer ACKERMANN 42
8 Beck CONNELL 41
9 Harrison CARR 39
10 Luke WRIGLEY 37
11 Toby POPE 33
12 Matthew WATERS 23
13 Glenn RIDDELL 20
14 Declan FRASER 18
15 James LITZOW 13
16 Thomas DAVIES 13
17 James O’MALLEY 11
17 Brett ROBINSON 10
19 Sarah COLLINS 10
20 Jack BELL 8
20 Nicholas RILEY 8
22 Hamish RIBARITS 6
23 Kody GARLAND 6
24 Luke MAY 5
25 Bryce WOOLLARD 2
25 Jacque ISARIN 2
25 Michael RILEY 2
25 Robert THORBURN 2
29 Jarva SHEERANS 1
29 Jason SEVERINO 1
29 Matthew PIPER 1
29 Raith SHEERANS 1
33 Aaron JACKSON 0
33 Cameron MCLEAN 0
33 Clayton RICHARDS 0
33 Cory ARNETT 0
33 Jack O’SULLIVAN 0
33 Lucas WALTERS 0
33 Luke GRASSO 0
33 Melissa WHITMORE 0
33 Nathan CARR 0
33 Nicklaus LICHTENBERGER 0
33 Peter O’NEILL 0
33 Tayla HEATH 0
33 Trevor WHITBY 0
33 Tyler DOWTON 0
TaG 125
1 Brendan NELSON 140
2 Mitchell HEWITT 80
3 Luke VAN HERWAARDE 52
4 Brooke REDDEN 43
5 Joshua CAR 42
5 Liam FORD 42
7 Kody GARLAND 40
8 Bryce DAVIDSON 39
9 Hamish RIBARITS 38
10 William HAWKES 35
11 Damon SCHOFIELD 29
12 Thomas HUGHES 28
13 Shane KUBACKI 18
14 Nicholas DALTON 17
15 Aaron HINDLE 14
16 Nikolaj THOMAS 13
17 Rick PRINGLE 12
18 Paul RODGERS 11
19 Alexander RINALDI 10
20 David BOYD 7
20 Joshua THOMAS 7
22 Toby WEBB 4
23 Ali ULUTURK 3
23 Liam SHEPPARD 3
23 Scott WITHERS 3
26 Elly MORROW 2
27 Phil SMITH 2
28 Daniel PEGG 1
28 Samuel MORROW 1
30 Daniel WALLIS 0
30 Stephen SIMPSON 0
30 Jaymi MACKAY 0
X30
1 Daniel ROCHFORD 113
2 Adam MERCER 93
3 Morgan FEAST 69
4 Joshua CAR 64
5 Adam LINDSTROM 61
6 Marijn KREMERS 52
7 Ben HARDERS 41
8 Shay MAYES 36
9 Zac SOUTAR 32
10 Bradley STEWART 26
11 Ben STEWART 25
12 Leigh NICOLAOU 24
13 Jordi MARCON 23
14 Nathan ZUJ 16
15 Tommy QUINLAN 15
16 Nikolaj THOMAS 14
17 Brenton SIMONDS 12
17 Toby POPE 12
19 Brody APPLEBY 8
20 Matthew BENINCA 7
21 Luke FLYNN 6
22 Thomas MCCULLOCH 6
23 Bryce DAVIDSON 4
23 Matthew DISTILL 4
23 Rohan KINENS 4
23 Russel PROVAN 4
27 Alex BAKER 3
27 James CORNFOOT 3
29 John SHEPPARD 1
30 Luke VAN HERWAARDE 1
31 Alexander RINALDI 0
31 Brent BLAKEY 0
31 Byron WOOLNER 0
31 Christopher PROVAN 0
31 Daniel WALLIS 0
31 Franc ASPINALL 0
31 Graham PRAJBISZ 0
31 Jarrod SPENCER-HARPER 0
31 Leon MRAMOR 0
31 Nariko MCDONNELL 0
KA1
1 Reece SIDEBOTTOM 123
2 Scott SORENSEN 97
3 Liam MCLELLAN 90
4 Marijn KREMERS 55
5 Daniel EDMONDS 53
6 Cory ARNETT 47
7 Thomas STEELE 45
8 Marc TULLOCH 36
9 Harrison KNIGHT 19
10 Brock LANNOY 13
11 Blaine DENSLEY 4
12 Ben STEWART 3
13 Reece DAVIDSON 0
KZ2
1 David SERA 130
2 Joshua FIFE 89
3 Christopher HAYS 56
3 Troy LOESKOW 56
5 Kyle ENSBEY 53
6 Daniel PRICE 52
7 Ryan GRANT 44
8 Jonathon MANGOS 40
9 Jason PRINGLE 36
10 Pierce LEHANE 31
11 Aaron CAMERON 30
12 Jaie ROBSON 25
13 Troy WOOLSTON 22
14 Jason FAINT 20
14 Marijn KREMERS 20
16 Drew RIDGE 16
16 Macauley JONES 16
18 Mathew ERDMANN 11
19 Matthew SMITH 9
20 Graeme SMYTH 6
21 Sam HOUSTON 6
22 Kris WALTON 5
23 Benjamin REDJEPI 4
23 Jarryd EBZERY 4
25 Stelios TRIANTAFILLIDIS 2
26 Lachlan SACCARDO 1
26 Mitchell MACKAY 1
28 Jack WESTCOMBE CASEY 0
28 James GOLDING 0
28 Rory EVANS 0
28 Tim FARRELL 0
