Two Titles for Fothergill At AKA Nationals

press release

Gladstone (Qld) driver Cian Fothergill walked away as the big winner from the 49th Australian Karting Association National Sprint Kart Championships at the Cockburn International Raceway in Western Australia at the weekend.


Above: Cian Fothergill, 1st Clubman Light (pictured) and Leopard Light
pic - AF Images

The Tracksa-backed racer was the only driver to claim multiple victories winning both the highly competitive Clubman Light and the Leopard Light classes in style.

“This feels pretty surreal I say,” said Fothergill.

“I haven’t ever had results like this before so it’s a bit different, I haven’t got quite used to the whole idea yet but I have to really thank everyone involved at the Tracksa Team, Remo Racing and Kosmic Karts and Andrew Scott for crewing for me all weekend, without all of their support none of this would be possible.”

After qualifying fastest in the Clubman class Fothergill took out the opening heat, finished third in heat two and second in the pre-final to start on the outside front row of the 15-lap final.

The reigning CIK Stars of Karting Pro Light (KF1) Champion was shuffled back to sixth at the start of the final while pole-sitter Tyler Greenbury led the way for the opening six laps however this was when the race really began to heat up.

Sydneysider Matthew Waters took the lead briefly followed by defending Champion James Sera leading from lap 8 to lap 13.

Waters reclaimed the lead on the penultimate lap and looked set for the victory but in trying to defend his position ran wide with two corners remaining allowing Fothergill through to greet the chequers first over James Sera and Waters who recovered for third.

It was a more dominant performance from Fothergill in the Leopard Light class, again setting the fastest time in qualifying and winning every race apart from the opening heat.

Pressured all the way by local driver Amrit Kandola and three-time Australian champion James Sera, Fothergill led all the way to claim his second victory.

“I just put my head down and the kart just kept getting better and better so I was actually enjoying this one (the Leopard win) a bit more than the Clubman race, the kart was just getting quicker and quicker and was really good to drive,” said Fothergill.

Victorian youngster Anton De Pasquale was the best performing junior driver narrowly missing a double victory winning the Junior National Light class and finishing second in the Junior Clubman category.

“It’s a great feeling and I was a bit nervous right at the end there as Brock (Plumb) was coming but then he sort of died off so I was able to take the win – it’s a great feeling,” said De Pasquale.

“It’s always hard to get one win at the nationals and two is even harder but I’m happy with a first and a second.”

Local racer Jesse Elliott took the victory in the ultra competitive Junior Clubman final with fellow West Aussie driver Jason LeCocq third.

Jesse Elliott
Above: Jesse Elliott crossing the line for victory in Junior Clubman
pic - AF Images

The were two other winners from WA with Kip Foster a popular victory over outgoing Champion Shayne Piper in Clubman Heavy. The victory is Foster’s fifth at the prestigious event. Stuart Verco, who recently returned to the sport after a lengthy break, led home the outgoing Champ of Josh Brooker in Clubman Super Heavy.

Victorian Lee Mitchener was the only driver to retain his number one plate triumphant for the second year running in the Leopard Heavy class.


Above: Kip Foster
pic - AF Images

After leading both the Clubman Light and Senior National Light finals and narrowly missing out on the win, the tesa-tape backed driver of Matthew Waters broke through for a victory in the Senior National Heavy class.

Waters broke away early in the Senior National Light final but when rain fell around the halfway point Nicholas Ellen reeled him in to snatch the win.


Above: Matthew Waters
pic - AF Images

Rain also fell mid-way though the Senior National Heavy final however this time Waters had a large gap and wasn’t about to let another victory get away crossing the line comfortably ahead of Ashley Quiddington.

James Golding was a runaway winner in Junior National Light over South Aussie Luke Marquis.

2012 will see the 50th running of the prestigious National Sprint Kart Championships held in Darwin at the Hidden Valley Raceway complex.

49th National Sprint Kart Championships
Cockburn International Raceway, Perth, WA

CLUBMAN SUPER HEAVY
1. Stuart Verco
2. Josh Brooker
3. Luke Morton
4. Scott Simpson
5. Anthony Higgs

JUNIOR NATIONAL HEAVY
1. Anton de Pasquale
2. Brock Plumb
3. Joseph Mawson
4. Nicholas Rowe
5. Todd Hazelwood

CLUBMAN LIGHT
1. Cian Fothergill
2. James Sera
3. Matthew Waters
4. Jordan Ford
5. Tyler Greenbury

LEOPARD HEAVY
1. Lee Mitchener
2. Brad Fitch
3. Michael Griffiths
4. Lloyd Billick
5. Guy Webster

JUNIOR NATIONAL LIGHT
1. James Golding
2. Luke Marquis
3. Jordan Boys
4. James Abela
5. Damon Strongman

CLUBMAN HEAVY
1. Kip Foster
2. Shayne Piper
3. Zeke Edwards
4. Adam levi
5. Shay Mayes

SENIOR NATIONAL LIGHT
1. Nicholas Ellen
2. Matthew Waters
3. Aaron Borg
4. Ashley Quiddington
5. Jarryd Ebzery

JUNIOR CLUBMAN
1. Jesse Elliott
2. Anton de Pasquale
3. Jason LeCocq
4. Joseph Mawson
5. Todd Hazelwood

LEOPARD LIGHT
1. Cian Fothergill
2. Amrit Kandola
3. James Sera
4. David Sera
5. Adam Willison

SENIOR NATIONAL HEAVY
1. Matthew Waters
2. Ashley Quiddington
3. Nicholas Ellen
4. Daniel Chandler
5. Simon Minton

The full results can be can be viewed by clicking here and then selecting WA in the State drop down menu and the Tiger Kart Club in the Club drop down menu.

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