Pro Tour Rivalries Set To Resume At Albury


press release 28 April 2015
 

This weekend’s third round of the 2015 Rotax Pro Tour Series kicks off the Victorian State Championship points, and also begins the chase towards the half-way point of the race season as drivers continue their focus on the invitational prize of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal in November.

  • official program online HERE

Following his return to full-time competition in the Pro Tour, Victorian Daniel Richert is showing that he will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the year. Competing in an Ultimate Karting prepared Praga DD2 Masters Kart, Richert leads the rankings ahead of the Albury event and his consistent race results are shaping up to be crucial for overall success. The winner of the Rotax Nationals in 2014 for DD2 Masters, Adam Hunter has again loomed as a regular front runner and sits second in the rankings. The Karting World driver is just 25 points ahead of Queenslander Klinton Hancey. Danny Wright is on home soil this weekend with the Praga driver placed just outside the top three, with local track knowledge providing the opportunity for him to climb the order this weekend.

Victorian Daniel Richert #90 leads the DD2 Masters rankings on his full-time return to the Pro Tour
Above: Victorian Daniel Richert #90 leads the DD2 Masters rankings on his full-time return to the Pro Tour
pic - Coopers Photography

After taking victory in Dubbo at round two of the Pro Tour, Queensland’s Bayley Douglas will return in Albury, also leading the rankings in the Mini Max field. Douglas’ maiden round victory placed him on top of the series standings, on equal points with Todd Road round winner Nathan Williams, though the Victorian has since made the step to the Junior Max Trophy Class. Kai Allen now becomes Bayley’s nearest challenger in the points with Tasmanian Callum Bishop sitting close behind in fourth.

Bayley Douglas took his maiden round win in Mini Max at Dubbo
Above: Bayley Douglas took his maiden round win in Mini Max at Dubbo
pic - Coopers Photography

Chris Farkas’ round win in Dubbo in Rotax Heavy helped to secure him a commanding lead in the Rotax Heavy rankings ahead of the Albury event. Clem O’Mara currently sits second following his consistent performances throughout the first three events with Queenslander Lane Moore returning on the back of his success in claiming the New Zealand National Rotax Heavy title at the beginning of April. Moore sits less than 100 points ahead of Scott Simpson with Todd Road round winner Rick Pringle making a comeback after sitting out of the Dubbo event.

Queensland’s Lane Moore heads to Pro Tour Albury on the back of his victory in Rotax Heavy at the New Zealand National Kart Championships
Above: Queensland’s Lane Moore heads to Pro Tour Albury on the back of his victory in Rotax Heavy at the New Zealand National Kart Championships
pic - Coopers Photography

Junior Max Trophy Class’ Reece Cohen became another driver to take their maiden Pro Tour round win in Dubbo and the result helped to open up a 400 point lead for Cohen over West Australian Aaron Love. An overall podium result for Love at Dubbo in addition to victory in the pre-final helped to boost his position in the points as he sits just ahead of New Zealander Matthew Payne. Victorian Joshua Smith is narrowly behind Payne in fourth with the closeness in the points reflecting the increased competition in the Junior Max Trophy Class in 2015.

Reece Cohen leads the points in the Junior Max Trophy Class after his first win at Dubbo
Above: Reece Cohen leads the points in the Junior Max Trophy Class after his first win at Dubbo
pic - Coopers Photography

The battle for top placing’s in Rotax Light is growing in intensity as the mid-way point of the season approaches. Reigning Australian Champion Brad Jenner is on top of the standings with the BirelART driver currently just ahead of fellow Victorian Daniel Rochford who is displaying a strong return to the Pro Tour in 2015. The Kosmic DPE pilot has Pierce Lehane chasing close behind in the rankings with Lehane returning after his success at the opening round of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge.

After stepping up to Rotax Light, both Cody Gillis and Nicholas Andrews have taken up to their more experienced opposition in fine style with Gillis sitting fourth in the Rotax rankings and Andrews taking a comfortable round win in Dubbo.

Daniel Rochford will be on the hunt for success in Albury as he currently sits second in the standings for Rotax Light
Above: Daniel Rochford will be on the hunt for success in Albury as he currently sits second in the standings for Rotax Light
pic - Coopers Photography

Another bumper Junior Max field for Pro Tour Albury is sure to provide a wealth of close racing around the tight and complex 785 metre circuit. Current Australian Junior Max Champion Zane Morse holds a convincing lead in the Junior Max points following a clean sweep in Dubbo. Morse’s nearest challenger is Kiwi Dylan Drysdale whose impressive beginning to the Australian Rotax season has him as one driver to continually watch as he chases a second appearance at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals following his debut in Spain in 2014. Victorian Reece Sidebottom and Todd Road round winner Joshua Car sit third and fourth respectively in the points order, with the oversubscribed heat race format sure to provide a multitude of intriguing battles throughout the event.

Canberra’s Zane Morse was unstoppable in Dubbo, opening up a commanding lead in the Junior Max points race
Above: Canberra’s Zane Morse was unstoppable in Dubbo, opening up a commanding lead in the Junior Max points race
pic - Coopers Photography

DD2 veteran Jason Pringle returned to his trademark form in Dubbo, taking the round victory, subsequently placing him at the top of the Rotax rankings ahead of this weekend’s event. Troy Woolston and Lee Mitchener, who sit second and third respectively, currently make it an all Victorian top three as the chase for a place in Team Australia begins to intensify. After being part of the Rotax Light team at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in 2014, Queensland’s Ryan Kennedy has showed good early season form, being within 200 points of the top three, with Kennedy being just ahead of DD2 debutant in 2015, Will Brown.

Lee Mitchener is one of three Victorians who lock out the top three placings in the DD2 series points
Above: Lee Mitchener is one of three Victorians who lock out the top three placings in the DD2 series points
pic - Coopers Photography

The Rotax Pro Tour Manufacturers Cup continues to gain increased interest in its second year as part of the Series. Tony Kart currently holds a strong points lead over Praga and BirelART with CRG and Kosmic currently rounding out the top five after two rounds.

Round 3 of 2015 Rotax Pro Tour takes place at Albury Wodonga, VIC from May 1-3.

To follow the event online throughout the weekend, Like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, Follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.ustream.tv/channel/internationalkarting

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