NSW Superkart Championship

2020 Motorsport Australia Motor Race Championship – Round 4
November 15, 2020
NSW Superkarts Championship

from Warren McGrouther

A warm spring day greeted the competitors at Sydney Motorsport Park. A bumper field of 28 Superkarts came out to qualify for the first race. The schedule of the day was one qualifying session and 4 races. Lucas Vitale claimed pole with a time of 1:39.2216, the second fastest time was Tony Moit. Mark Robin and Aaron Cogger rounded out the top 4.

• full results under ‘Circuit Racing’ on natsoft HERE

The drivers made a clean start for race 1, Moit quickly took command of the race leading Robin and Cogger. Two drivers put their hand up to signal others they are slowing, Paul Campbell and Lee Vella both notched a DNF. Moit built a gap from a 3- way dice for 2^nd position between Robin, Cogger and Vitale. In mid-pack Alan Dodge and Stuart Robertson were having a great battle as well.

Justin Levis had a piece of the bodywork dragging onto the ground, it drew the attention of the marshals however he was not black flagged. Arthur Magaitis was swapping positions with Michael Doherty, both drivers dicing for a top 10 position. In the end  Moit won comfortably from Robin. Cogger finished a strong 3^rd.

Class results for race 1 where as follows.

• Tony Moit 1st in 250cc International (1^st outright)
• No finishers in 250 National
• Mark Robin 1^st in 125cc Gearbox (2^nd Outright)
• Mark Vickers 1^stin 125cc Rotax Light (12^th Outright)
• Graeme Taplin 1^st in 125cc Rotax Heavy (13^th Outright)
• Arthur Magaitis 1^st in 125cc Stock Honda (7^th Outright)

Race 2 looked like a repeat of the first race, with Moit making a great start. Cogger and Robin began the pursuit trying to catch the leader. The big mover was Vella, starting from a low position he made his way up to 4^th by the end of lap 1.  Vella went past Cogger in the 2^nd lap and not long after that he found himself in 2^nd position.

Doherty, Magaitis and Dos Santos were having a spirited battle. The 3 drivers waved and signaled to the onlooking photographers in the middle of turn two as they squabble for positions; very brave. Mark Vickers was having his own private battle with Justin Levis. As the race evolved battle groups formed everywhere.

Towards the front Vella had caught up to Moit and eventually went past him with 2 laps to spare. The result was Vella 1^st, Moit 2^nd and Cogger in 3^rd.

Class results for race 2 were as follows.

• Tony Moit 1st in 250cc International (2^nd outright)
• John Dunn 1st in 250 National (9^th Outright)
• Lee Vellla 1^st in 125cc Gearbox (1^st Outright)
• Alan Dodge 1^st in 125cc Rotax Light (15^th Outright)
• Stuart Robertson 1^st in 125cc Rotax Heavy (11^th Outright)
• Arthur Magaitis 1^st in 125cc Stock Honda (6^th Outright)

During the warmup for race 3, the unfortunate Magaitis kart rolled to a halt at turn 2 to retire. Vella made the best start and was followed by Cogger, Vitale and Josh Miller. Paul Campbell had precious little luck in the previous races, however he was showing some speed in this one. He went past Vitale to be in 3^rd position and was showing good pace.

David Fimeri, Warren McGrouter and Mark Vickers had the most entertaining dice of the race, continuously trading places at various parts of the track. This race was marred by a lot of attrition, in total 7 drivers retired. The most notable retirements where Cogger (while in 2^nd) and Miller (while in 5^th). Vella had no opposition once Cogger retired and he powered away to win comfortably. A great comeback from Campbell finishing 2^nd from Vitale.

Class results for race 3 were as follows.

• No Finishers in 250cc International
• David Fimeri 1st in 250 National (6^th Outright)
• Lee Vellla 1^st in 125cc Gearbox (1^st Outright)
• Mark Vickers 1^st in 125cc Rotax Light (8^th Outright)
• Stuart Robertson 1^st in 125cc Rotax Heavy (9^th Outright)

Race 4 (trophy race) was a bit of an anticlimax, during the opening lap a safety car was released due to karts stopped at turn 3 (deemed in a dangerous position). The safety stayed out for 3 laps of the 5-lap race making it a sprint to the finish for the remaining drivers. Dylan Stephens, Mehmet Sinani and Vitale were the drivers that retired on the first lap. The unlucky Robin retired a lap later.

Only 14 runners were on the track once the safety car pulled in.  Vella made the best restart from Dos Santos and Doherty. Campbell was showing some good speed and it took him little time to move into 2^nd position. The shortened race finished with Vella winning, Campbell finished 2^nd. Jock Dos Santos claimed 3^rd ahead of the recovering Magaitis 4^th.

Class results for race 4 where as follows;

• No Finishers in 250cc International
• David Fimeri 1st in 250 National (13^h Outright)
• 1^stin 125cc Rotax Light (6th Outright)
• Stuart Robertson 1^st in 125cc Rotax Heavy (8^th Outright)
• Jock Dos Santos 1^st in 125cc Stock Honda (3^rd Outright)