Aussie One-Two In Vegas!


AKA media 25 November 2013
 

plus - Jack Doohan finishes fourth in TaG Cadets as two Australian drivers finish inside the top ten in elite KZ2 category at SuperNationals XVII

Western Australian (Karratha, WA) teenager Nicholas Rowe has become the first Australian winner in the 17-year history of the Superkarts USA SuperNationals in Las Vegas, America.

With the event attracting more than 600 entries, including a record 36 drivers from Australia, the SuperNationals is the largest karting event in the world.

Nicholas Rowe on his way to becoming the first Australian driver to win at the SuperNationals in Las Vegas
Above: Nicholas Rowe on his way to becoming the first Australian driver to win at the SuperNationals in Las Vegas
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

Rowe led home 15-time National Champion David Sera (Melbourne, Vic) in the TaG Senior category to secure a one-two finish for Australia. It is the second time in four years that Sera has finished runner-up at the event.

Sera started on pole position for the race with IndyCar and NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger alongside him on the front row. After slotting into second place at the start, Sera moved his Australian-made Arrow kart into the lead on lap two. Following a red flag stoppage, due to a damaged track barrier, Sera led the way with Gold Coaster Ben Stewart in fifth and Rowe in sixth.

After dropping outside the top ten, Rowe meticulously worked his way up the order to challenge for the lead with a handful of laps remaining and claim the win ahead of Sera. In the process Rowe became the first Australian, and the youngest ever TaG Senior driver, to succeed on the temporary 1367-metre circuit adjacent to the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino.

“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life, I dropped back to 13th after the restart at some stage and then clawed my way back. It’s just unreal,” said 15 year-old Rowe.

“When I was catching Dave (Sera) I thought to myself that I’m catching one of the best drivers in the world and then I passed him, it was unreal. When I crossed the line I was overcome by emotion and then on my victory lap the emotions really flowed through.

David Sera (2nd from left) and Rowe (centre) on the podium in the TaG Senior category
Above: David Sera (2nd from left) and Rowe (centre) on the podium in the TaG Senior category
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

“The first person I saw when I came into the in-grid was Dave who came running at me to give me a congratulatory hug, it was great to be able to share the moment with another Australian.”

Continuing the success for the Western Australian drivers was the Kostecki drivers, Jake and Kurt. The pair were among the front runners throughout the weekend in the TaG Junior class, that featured some 62 competitors, before Jake finished in third place. Kurt crossed the line tenth but was given a ten-place post race penalty for a driving infringement. Victorian Luis Leeds was classified eighth.

Gold Coast youngster Jack Doohan led the way early in the TaG Cadets final before his main event was also stopped, this time for an incident where a competitor needed medical attention.

Gold Coaster Jack Doohan finished fourth in TaG Cadet
Above: Gold Coaster Jack Doohan finished fourth in TaG Cadet
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

From the restart, Doohan battled with Swedish driver Rasmus Lindh and Texan Nick Brueckner for the lead at the front of a nine-kart freight train that led the 44-driver field.

With two and a half laps remaining Doohan was dropped to third before Italian Leonardo Marseglia took the win by 0.063 seconds ahead of Malaysian Muizzuddin Musyaffa. Doohan would cross the line fourth.

In the elite KZ2 category, that featured the world’s top line drivers from the European factory teams, Kel Treseder (Bundaberg, QLD) and Jason Faint (Gladstone, QLD) finished as the best of the six-strong Australian contingent.

After setting the tenth fastest time in qualifying, Treseder recorded a pair of top ten finishes in his three heat races to line-up in 10th place on the grid for the main event. He then ran as high as fifth midway through the 25-lap journey before crossing the line seventh.

Treseder’s result is the best finish by an Australian in the feature category, improving on 2012 CIK Stars of Karting Champion Chris Hays’ tenth placing last year. He was also the first non-European driver across the line.

Bundaberg driver Kel Treseder recorded the best ever finish by an Australian in the elite KZ2 category
Above: Bundaberg driver Kel Treseder recorded the best ever finish by an Australian in the elite KZ2 category
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

In true Vegas style, Faint took a gamble in qualifying when he fitted ‘slick’ tyres to his kart when the circuit still slightly damp. He was one of only two drivers to do so, and the gamble paid off for him as he set the fourth fastest time.

He then ran strongly throughout his heat races before crossing the line 10th in the main event.

Frenchman Anthony Abbasse took the win, and the $10,000 first prize cheque that went with the victory, ahead of Dutch driver Bas Lammers and Italian Davide Fore.


Above: Gladstone's Jason Faint finished 10th in KZ2 and started on pole position in the S2 category
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

Also competing in the S2 category (Stock Honda 125), Faint started on pole position for the final and was one of the favourites for the victory. Unfortunately an issue with the clutch on his engine would be his demise. He was slow off the start line and another competitor made contact with his kart forcing Faint out of the race.

Darwin driver Bryce Fullwood was the best-placed Australian driver in the Junior Rotax category. Fullwood started from 20th position in the main event before charging up the order and eventually securing a third place finish.

Australian IndyCar star Will Power and five-time Australian Champion Kip Foster (Perth, WA), were two of the serious contenders in the TaG Masters category. Unfortunately though Power was eliminated early in the race while Foster’s wretched luck in overseas events continued when he was an innocent victim when the two drivers battling for the lead came together in front of him. Foster attempted to avoided the pair but got clipped, the impact damaged this rear axle and left rear tyre and forcing him out of the race.

Perth driver Kip Foster (left) and Australian IndyCar star Will Power on the front row in the TaG Masters category
Above: Perth driver Kip Foster (left) and Australian IndyCar star Will Power on the front row in the TaG Masters category
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

A full list of results by the Australian contingent can be found below.

SKUSA SuperNationals XVII - Las Vegas, USA

  • Full Results available here.

KZ2 (39 competitors)

#22 Jason Faint (Gladstone, QLD)
Qualifying: 4th (+0.370)
Heat 1: 12th
Heat 2: 16th
Heat 3: 5th
Final: 10th

#29 Kyle Ensbey (Sunshine Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 36th (+14.927)
Heat 1: 16th
Heat 2: 21st
Heat 3: 15th
Final: 12th

#64 Adam Hughes (Melbourne, Vic)
Qualifying: 17th (+1.607)
Heat 1: 11th
Heat 2: 20th
Heat 3: 24th
Final: 17th

#75a Kel Treseder (Bundaberg, QLD)
Qualifying: 10th (+1.216)
Heat 1: 9th
Heat 2: 15th
Heat 3: 6th
Final: 7th

#92 Ricky Capo (Melbourne, Vic)
Qualifying: 27th (+2.338)
Heat 1: 21st
Heat 2: 35th
Heat 3: 19th
Final: DNF

#99 Cameron Hill (Canberra, ACT
Qualifying: 24th (+2.338)
Heat 1: 14th
Heat 2: 22nd
Heat 3: 21st
Final: 15th

DD2 (44 competitors)

#29 Kyle Ensbey (Sunshine Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 7th (+1.018)
Heat 1: 4th
Heat 2: 11th
Heat 3: 12th
Final: DNF

#115 Joshua Crossingham (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 20th (+2.010)
Heat 1: 8th
Heat 2: 39th
Heat 3: 13th
Final: 17th

S2 (62 competitors)

#22 Jason Faint (Gladstone, QLD)
Qualifying: 12th
Heat 1: 2nd
Heat 2: 2nd
Heat 3: 3rd
Final: DNF

Junior Rotax (41 competitors)

#3 Callum Walker (Brisbane, QLD)
Qualifying: 7th (+0.259)
Heat 1: 9th
Heat 2: 10th
Heat 3: 12th
Final: 19th

#16 Bryce Fullwood (Darwin, NT)
Qualifying: 23rd (+1.687)
Heat 1: 6th
Heat 2: 38th
Heat 3: 15th
Final: 3rd

Darwin driver Bryce Fullwood with his third place trophy in Junior Rotax
Above: Darwin driver Bryce Fullwood with his third place trophy in Junior Rotax
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

#41 Jack Black (Sydney, NSW)
Qualifying: 22nd (+1.673)
Heat 1: 21st
Heat 2: 12th
Heat 3: 10th
Final: 10th

#93 Zane Goddard (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 14th (0+883)
Heat 1: 11th
Heat 2: 7th
Heat 3: 36th
Final: 11th

#96 Liam McLellan (Melbourne, Vic)
Qualifying: 19th (+1.004)
Heat 1: 8th
Heat 2: 9th
Heat 3: 34th
Final: 22nd

TaG Senior (88 competitors)

#7a Brendan Nelson (Toowoomba, QLD)
Qualifying: 82nd
Heat 1: DSQ
Heat 2: 22nd
Heat 3: 40th
Points Standing after heats: 79th (top 78 through to LCQ)

#22 Gordon Wilson (Sydney, NSW)
Qualifying: 59th
Heat 1: 13th
Heat 2: 38th
Heat 3: 36th
Last Chance Qualifier: 30th (top six through to the final)

#48a Ben Stewart (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 41st
Heat 1: 15th
Heat 2: 16th
Heat 3: 8th
Final: 10th

#61a James Allen (Perth, WA)
Qualifying: 27th
Heat 1: 40th
Heat 2: 9th
Heat 3: 10th
Last Chance Qualifier: 6th (top six through to the final)
Final: 21st

#66 Kris Walton (Brisbane, QLD)
Qualifying: 23rd
Heat 1: 14th
Heat 2: 31st
Heat 3: 6th
Final: DNF

#85 Nicholas Rowe (Karratha, WA)
Qualifying: 9th
Heat 1: 5th
Heat 2: 5th
Heat 3: 20th
Final: 1st

#94 Adam Levi (Perth, WA)
Qualifying: 28th
Heat 1: 6th
Heat 2: 7th
Heat 3: 34th
Final: DNF

#96 David Sera (Melbourne, Vic)
Qualifying: 3rd
Heat 1: 1st
Heat 2: 1st
Heat 3: 1st
Final: 2nd

TaG Junior (62 competitors)

#40 Kurt Kostecki (Perth, WA)
Qualifying: 38th
Heat 1: 15th
Heat 2: 1st
Heat 3: 6th
Final: 20th

#56 Jake Kostecki (Perth, WA)
Qualifying: 20th
Heat 1: 5th
Heat 2: 3rd
Heat 3: 5th
Final: 3rd

Perth teenager Jake Kostecki on his way to third place in the TaG Junior class
Above: Perth teenager Jake Kostecki on his way to third place in the TaG Junior class
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)

#96a Luis Leeds (Melbourne, Vic)
Qualifying: 24th
Heat 1: 9th
Heat 2: 14th
Heat 3: 9th
Final: 8th

#442y Callum Smith - Energy
Qualifying: 55th
Heat 1: 23rd
Heat 2: 26th
Heat 3: 22nd
Last Chance Qualifier: 13th (top six through to the final)

TaG Masters (44 competitors)

#5 Will Power (Toowoomba, QLD)
Qualifying: 4th (+0.580)
Heat 1: 3rd
Heat 2: 2nd
Heat 3: 1st
Final: DNF

#20a Kip Foster (Perth, WA)
Qualifying: 2nd (+0.178)
Heat 1: 2nd
Heat 2: 1st
Heat 3: 2nd
Final: DNF

TaG Cadets (85 competitors)

#5 Thomas Gasperak (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 63rd
Heat 1: 19th
Heat 2: 18th
Heat 3: 18th
Last Chance Qualifier: 27th (top six through to the final)

#15 Lochie Hughes (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 21st
Heat 1: 29th
Heat 2: 31st
Heat 3: 38th
Last Chance Qualifier: 40th (top six through to the final)

#22 Declan Fraser (Mackay, QLD)
Qualifying: 5th
Heat 1: 5th
Heat 2: 7th
Heat 3: 3rd
Final: 25th

#42 Broc Feeney (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 8th
Heat 1: 35th
Heat 2: 6th
Heat 3: 6th
Final: DNF

#43 Jac Preston (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 31st
Heat 1: 35th
Heat 2: 29th
Heat 3: 40th
Last Chance Qualifier: 14th (top six through to the final)

#89 Austin Wells (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 46th
Heat 1: 37th
Heat 2: 24th
Heat 3: 24th
Last Chance Qualifier: 18th (top six through to the final)

#97 Harrison Hoey (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 57th
Heat 1: 15th
Heat 2: 14th
Heat 3: 38th
Last Chance Qualifier: 5th (top six through to the final)
Final: 27th

#103 Jack Doohan (Gold Coast, QLD)
Qualifying: 1st
Heat 1: 3rd
Heat 2: 2nd
Heat 3: 1st
Final: 4th

#666 Sean Bolger (Brisbane, QLD)
Qualifying: 68th
Heat 1: 23rd
Heat 2: 36th
Heat 3: 20th
Last Chance Qualifier: 29th (top six through to the final)


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