Zavaglia Closes the Gap with Race 3 Win

from Mark Jones

Sam Zavaglia did the best he could for his chase of the Dave Potter Honda Australian Superkart Championship, racing the Stockman Superkarts Stockman-Yamaha to win Race 3. The win, coupled with Darren Hossack finishing the race in sixth position, has closed the championship fight to just five points.

Gary Pegoraro (RMR Superkarts / Marron Excavations Anderson-FPE) again launched quickly, this to from the front row to lead Warren McIlveen (Mac's Marine Stockman-Honda), but Zavaglia, who has slowly come to terms with racing his newer Stockman-Yamaha at Mallala Motor Sport Park this weekend, picked off McIlveen before staging a three lap battle for the lead with Pegoraro before finally pulling clear.

Pegoraro chased Zavaglia home for second, keeping himself in championship calculations and sits 13 points behind Hossack. Hossack found the revs die at the start, almost stalling, before finally slotting into the field in the mid 20's race position. The Safe Evolutions Anderson-Safe driver then was forced to drive harder than he would have liked on a racing surface compromised by fluid spills in many parts of the track. It was a big effort to salvage sixth position.

Behind McIlveen, Daniel Ramerman (KC Tools Anderson-Yamaha) won a hard fought dice with fellow South Australian Ralf Rupprecht (Rupprecht Stockman-Honda). Ramerman enters the final race of the championship in a one point battle for 'best of the rest' for sixth position in the championship with top Sprintkart racer Matthew Wall. The RMR Superkarts / Wizzer Race Engines Anderson-FPE driver was the last kart to be passed by Hossack on his recovery charge, finishing in seventh position.

Brett Purdie (Martelco Equipment Hire Zip Eagle-Yamaha) was back in the top ten in eighth ahead of New Zealand's Wayne Sprostan (Wilson Auto Services Anderson-FPE). Tenth was Perth racer, Mark Hanson (Phoenix Dental Laboratory Zip Eagle-Yamaha).

Anthony Lappas (Romeo's Foodland / IGA Supermarkets Stockman-Honda) again blitzed the 125cc class but with Brad Stebbing (Suburban Accounting Stockman-Honda) finishing in fourth position, the gap has closed to just ten points between Stebbing and Lappas.

Martin Latta (MJR Bricklaying Stockman-Yamaha) wrapped up the 250 National title, winning the class for the seventh time this season. David Yuill (Aardvark Polishing Anderson-Yamaha) was second.

For the final race if Zavaglia wins, Hossack has to finish second to win the title. If second, Hossack has to finish fourth. Pegoraro will be dependant on bad race for both even if he wins.

In the 125s if Stebbing finishes in the top five it will secure the championship.

Points: Darren Hossack 117, Sam Zavaglia 112, Gary Pegoraro 104, Warren McIlveen 97, Carlo Chermaz 71, Matthew Wall 51, Daniel Ramerman 50, Anton Stevens 39, Yiani Harpas 39, Ilya Harpas 33 etc

250 Nationals: Martin Latta 145, David Yuill 105, Frank Giglio 78, Rick Setterfield 47

125 Gearbox: Brad Stebbing 129, Anthony Lappas 119, Jarrod Lethborg 91, John Bakker 86, Tim Philp 78 etc

Home