31st City Of Melbourne Titles


  4 August 2015

The GKCV's annual City of Melbourne Titles attracted just over 200 entries to the Todd Road circuit on the weekend. While that number is down on previous years, it should be noted the 2015 edition only catered for 12 classes, so the field sizes were actually quite respectable.

The club got through the races before Sunday's winter clouds burst, something the interstaters would have been appreciative of.

  • lots of photos from Saturday can be found in Paul Feely's gallery HERE
  • full results on CMS HERE
  • JNH win-n-spin photo sequence HERE

 

report of the finals by Mitchell McLellan, MMS Commentating

Cadet 9
Jack Lawson started off pole position but Christian Cowie got the jump off the start with pole sitter Lawson dropping back to fourth position. Cowie lead the early stages leading a five kart train until an incident between Anton Hortis and Brodie Thomson which put Hortis out of business and Thomson back in the field. Sharp to the lead for a few laps until Cowie got him back allowing Lawson to follow him through. Lawson and Sharp both had shots at getting through on Cowie but in a close finish Cowie was able to hold on over Lawson and Sharp. Thomson recovered to come home in fourth ahead of Lachlan Brady in fifth.


Above: It's all very lonely when you break down. P-Plater Fraser Carr, Cadet 9
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Cadet 9 winner Christian Cowie made the trek from South Australia worthwhile
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Anton Hortis rides over Brodie Thomson as Jack Lawson (17) and Lachlan Brady slip through
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: New Zealand's Louis Sharp was third
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

Cadet 12
Jay Hanson got the jump off the start and was able to lead Cooper Webster into turn one ahead of Ryan Wood. Webster to the lead a couple of laps in and a five kart train started to form of Webster, Hanson, Tex Starr-Mckoy, Wood and Kai Allen. Webster and Hanson started to break clear of the next three with Hanson then making a pass back for the lead. Webster was back to the lead in the next laps with Wood jumping up to position three and going in chase of the top two. Hanson was all over the back of Webster as the final lap began, throwing everything he had at Webster but Webster able to hang on in a thriller over Hanson and Wood. Allen was able to move up to fourth spot with Starr-Mckoy in fifth.


Above: Cooper Webster ahead of Jay Hanson, Cadet 12
pic - Adam Willison

Junior National Light
Angelo Mouzouris got the jump off the start with Joshua Smith out of second position going back to sixth. Mouzouris and Jordan Caruso traded fastest laps at the front and broke clear as Smith made his way back to third over Nicholas Schembri and Benito Montalbano. Mouzouris slowly edged the gap out over the race in a very consistent pace over Caruso with the gap getting out to around a second at one point. Caruso got the gap back down to around half a second but Mouzouris was able to hold off the challenge from Caruso. Smith was able to hold on to third over Montalbano in fourth and Schembri in position five.


Above:
Junior National Light fire into turn 1
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: The Junior National Light podium, Angelo Mouzouris, Jordan Caruso and Joshua Smith
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Tasmania's Tate Frost, JNL
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

Junior National Heavy
Simon Fallon got the jump at the start with Dylan Hollis slotting into second. Fallon led after one lap with Cody Donald, who started in last, up to ninth already. Hollis took the lead with Montalbano following him through, Fallon dropping to third with John Doria next. These four broke clear of the rest - but a charging Donald was up to fifth. Hollis and Montalbano both had chances at leading the race but a move from Hollis on Montalbano pushing both drivers wide allowed Donald to enter the battle on the last lap! All three had a chance at winning with Donald leading with two corners until Hollis made a move. Montalbano then made a last corner move on Hollis allowing Donald to make an inside move on both drivers and take the win after starting last in what many spectators said was the best race they had ever seen! Montalbano come home in position number two ahead of Hollis, Michael Clemente and Fallon in fifth.


Above: Benito Montalbano, Dylan Hollis and Simon Fallon nose to tail in the JNH pre-final
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Cody Donald got up to take a sensational win and spin that drew gasps from the crowd
pic - Adam Willison

Junior Clubman
Matthew Iredale charged to the front into turn 1 but ran wide handing Oscar Piastri the lead. Dylan Hollis slotted into second spot ahead of Harrison Carr with Iredale slotting into fourth position. Piastri and Hollis broke clear, the two state champions trading fastest laps in the early stages with Iredale and Carr battling for third position. Piastri then startd to break clear of Hollis at the front while Iredale made his way into third position and set off after Hollis. Piastri took home the win in a break away victory with Hollis and Iredale rounding out the top three.  Carr come home in position number four with Christian Pancione rounding out the top five.


Above: Not long back from Europe, Oscar Piastri won both the pre-final and final in Junior Clubman
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

Clubman Light
James Sera got the jump at the start with Justin Francis and Braydon North slotting into second and third spots. Sera immediately opened up a margin leaving Francis, North, Jordan Nicholau and Matthew McLean battling for the minor positions. Francis was hassled by North in the early stages with McLean and Nicholau swapping spots in fourtht. Sera took another comfortable victory in Clubman Light with Francis and North rounding out the podium. Nicholau was able to come home in fourth spot ahead of McLean in fifth.


Above: What can be said that hasn't already been said about James Sera? Two consecutive CoM Titles for JS and undefeated all weekend
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Justin Francis, 2nd in Clubman Light
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

Clubman Heavy
Glenn Riddell got the jump off the start with Leigh Nicholaou slotting into second from P3 ahead of Remo Luciani. Nicholaou and Luciani hung onto the back of the race leader, but Riddell started to open up the margin as Luciani got ahead of Nicholaou for second spot. Nicholaou quickly fought back to second as Riddell puts himself in a commanding position up front. Riddell took the victory as Nicholaou was able to hold off Luciani in third. Christopher Thomas came home in position number four with Trevor Whitby rounding out the top five.


Above: Christopher Thomas leading the opening laps of the Clubman Heavy pre-final ahead of the acrobatic Leigh Nicolaou and eventual winner Glenn Riddell (64)
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

Restricted Light
Braydon Flood got the jump off the start ahead of Timothy Rankin and JordanRae. Flood opened up margin straight away leaving the battle between Rae, Jacob Zahra and Rankin. Zahra went up to second spot ahead of Rae with Rae making a move back allowing Rankin to go pass both of them back up into second spot. Flood was over six seconds ahead and took another commanding win in 2015 over Rankin in second. Zahra and Rae came together on the last lap allowing Ali Uluturk onto the podium over Jarryd Veale in fourth and Rae recovering for fifth.


Above: Jack Scanlan
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: R125L first corner
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Restricted 125 Light winner Brayden Flood
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

Restricted Heavy
Peter Gigis got the jump off the start with Joshua O’Conner starting out of fourth jumping to the lead on the exit of turn one. O’Conner and Gigis broke way with the battle for the minors being between Christopher Szysz, Adam King and Matthew De Stefano. Gigis made a move for the lead as King got up to third position with De Stefano also getting ahead of Szysz. O’Conner tried everything he could to get back ahead of Gigis but Gigis was able to hold on for the win. De Stefano was able to round out the podium with King and Szysz rounding out the top five.


Above: Matthew de Stafano puts the pressure on Peter Gigis
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

TaG 125 Light
Jason Pringle got the jump off the start with Jace Lindstrom slotting into second spot . Pringle led a five kart train in the early goings with Lindstrom, Michael Carless, Alex Baker and Brad Marsh in tow. Leaigh Nicholaou was charging his way through the field after starting off the back. Pringle and Lindstrom broke clear of the chase group and started trading fastest blows. Baker made his way up into third position while Nicholau up to sixth. In an exciting few laps, Pringle was able to hold off Lindstrom for the win. Baker rounded out the podium with Carless fourth and Nicholau charging through to fifth position.


Above: Start of the TaG Light Pre-final which would see Leigh Nicolau (14) thrown from his kart after contact with Jason Pringle towards the back end of the race
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Jace Lindstrom chases Jason Pringle, TaG 125 Light final
pic - Adam Willison


Above: James Cornfoot #97 TaG Light in the grass on lap one
pic - Adam Willison

TaG 125 Heavy
Glenn Riddell got the jump off the start on the outside of the front row over pre-final winner Scott King. Riddell and King one and two in the early stages with Troy Stone on a charge chasing after the top two ahead of Ryan Aitken and Dylan Slits. King got to the lead with Riddell applying pressure all over the back of the number four kart. King started to open up a fraction of a margin with Stone dropping back into the clutches of fourth and fifth. King was able to hang on and take his maiden City of Melbourne crown ahead of Riddell and Stone. Aitken was able to beat Slits home for fourth.


Above: TaG Heavy winner Scott King removes his engine for post-event tech inspection
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Troy Stone, 3rd TaG Heavy
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

TaG Masters
Steven Riddell in the battle again and is able to get the jump off pole with Ashley Seward dropping into second spot and Paul Mapperson into third. Many thought the early buffer Riddell was able to build was going to be enough but when Mapperson got into second spot he chased after the race leader. With two laps to go Mapperson finally reached the back of Riddell and started looking to challenge the final lap. The two came together together at Corplex corner with Mapperson going into the tyre barrier and Riddell through the cut through. Riddell was able to take the victory over Seward and Stephen Simpson. Anthony Ciccone come home in position number four with Mapperson recoviering for fifth.


Above: Ashley Seward and Paul Mapperson, TaG Masters
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews


Above: Steven Riddell won the pre-final and final in TaG Masters
pic - Mark Wicks, KartSportNews

 

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