Double Victory for CRG at CIK Stars of Karting Opener

press release

The 2011 Australian CIK Stars of Karting Series has seen the CRG Racing Team walk away with a double victory after the opening round at the Ipswich circuit in Queensland taking out both the Pro Junior (KF3) category and the Yamaha Clubman Challenge.

Reigning Pro Junior (KF3) CIK Stars of Karting champion Pierce Lehane started his title defence in the best possible fashion by qualifying on top before winning two of the three heats.

Day two of competition saw Lehane’s domination continue with a comfortable victory in both 25-lap finals to leave the opening round of the five round series with maximum points.

"My CRG kart was faultless all weekend, this is a great way to start my title defence off with a win but it wasn’t easy out there," said Lehane.

"I got a good gap early in the race but with about seven laps left in the second final I could hear the engine starting to make some unusual noises and I lost about 10km/h an hour on the back straight."

"After that I really had to push in the slower sections of the track to make sure I maintained my gap."

Jake Coleman also raced strongly for the CRG team in the Pro Junior (KF3) category recording a fine fifth placing in final two after finishing in sixth in final one.

Cairns driver Lydon Dodge claimed the second victory for the CRG Racing Team racing from the front row of the grid to claim the first place trophy.

Earlier in the day, the pre-final saw Dodge move forward to give himself the best possible chance in the final while fellow teammate Brett Robinson also showed good pace to finish fifth.

“I struggled a bit early in qualifying but was able to move forward in the heats and pre-final to start the final on the front row and from there my CRG was real good and I was able to get the victory,” enthused Dodge.

The CRG team was right on the pace in the 27-kart Pro Gearbox (KZ2) field with both Kel Treseder and Jason Pringle pressing for the lead aboard their CRG Road Rebel chassis throughout the finals.

Treseder, the 2010 series runner up looked set to defend his Queensland Pro Gearbox (KZ2) state title after finishing final one in second place Treseder then got the best possible start in final two leading the field across the line on the opening lap.

The battle for the top three positions was a red hot one however when leader Matthew Wall made a mistake and overshot a corner late in the race it caused a chain reaction with Tyler Greenbury and Treseder all ploughing into the back of each other propelling Wall into a race winning lead.

Treseder from Bundaberg shadowed Greenbury for the remainder of the race and was visibly faster over the closing stages however some defensive driving saw the CRG racer have to settle for third.

“This is a good way to start the series, my CRG kart felt real good and I think I had the pace to win however when Wallie (Matthew Wall) over shot the corner, Tyler (Greenbury) hit him and then missed a gear which was crucial allowing Wallie to clear out ending our chance of victory” said Treseder.

“I went hammer and tongs over the last couple laps but Tyler was on the defence and I couldn’t make the pass to get second.”

Pringle was also flying the flag high for the CRG Racing Team finishing final one in fifth before going one better in final two to take fourth place.

Like Treseder, Pringle also had good speed late in the race and crossed the line right on the rear bumper of his teammate.

“I didn’t get the best of starts and then spent a few laps trying to get by Scott Auld but my kart felt good early and I was able to start pegging the leaders back in before a slight tyre pressure issue stopped me from being able to attack when I really needed to,” explained Pringle.

“Overall it’s a good result for me and I feel confident heading into round two in Adelaide and even more so round three at my home track at Todd Road.”

The CRG Racing Team looks forward to continuing their success at round two of the CIK Stars of Karting Series at  Southern Kart Club's Bolivar Raceway in South Australia on April 2 - 3.

 

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Defending Pro Junior (KF3) Champion Pierce Lehane #1 carries the Stars of Karting flag for the victory lap
Pic : AF Images

Pro Junior (KF3) Podium
L to R - Joesph Mawson (TopKart), Pierce Lehane (CRG), Jake Klarich (Lenzo Kart)
Pic : AF Images

Lyndon Doge was victorious for CRG in the Yamaha Challenge Clubman category
Pic: AF Images


Kel Treseder #75 and Jason Pringle #35 finished Third and Fourth respectively in Final 2 of Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
Pic: AF Images

 

 

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