by Mitchell McLellan, MMS Commentating
The Karting Victoria Metro Karting Series began over the long weekend at Oakleigh Go Kart Club.
Under clear skys and a dry track, nearly one hundred karters across eleven classes took to the race track to try and start the series with a win!
- full results are on speedhive HERE
Young Matthew Basso was one of the dominant drivers of the weekend in the highly competitive Cadet 12 class. Basso put it on pole position and went on to clean sweep the weekend to grab maximum points. Basso had challenges from Harrison Strik and Hamish Campbell in the early stages of each race but would go in to win by over six seconds in the final!
Victorian Champion Paul Rodgers flexed his karting muscles in TAG Heavy, proving why he is the Victorian Champion. Rodgers racing in the TAG Heavy and VIC Combined Masters combined field put his entry on pole and won all three races in a dominant display. It was a warning for his rivals at the Victorian State Titles in a months’ time.
Former Victorian Champion Ian Branson dominated the Vic Combined Masters event by also having a clean sweep and taking maximum points in his class respectively.
KA3 Senior Light was one of the most exciting finals of the day with Joshua Hocking, multiple time state and national champion James Sera and Xavier Kokai all in with a shot at victory. Sera managed to put his Melbourne Kart Centre entry on pole position for the final after both heat wins but Hocking put the challenge down! Hocking had a determined Sera and Kokai chasing after him in the final but was able to hold on for a surprise victory. Kokai came through to finish second with Sera rounding out the podium places.
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KA4 Junior Heavy was a two kart battle with current state champion Zach Findlay and Tony Kart Driver Thomas Patching. Patching took pole position with a last lap effort but then shared the heat wins with Findlay setting up a fascinating final between the two. In a strong display Patching was able to run away with the final and take the round win over Findlay and Lachlan Sharpe rounding out your podium.
Eden Foik and Nicholas Flodstrom both had clean sweeps in their respective classes, Vic Combined Light and Vic Combined Medium. Foik displayed dominance by winning all races and the final by over five seconds over former State Cup winner Alexander Grutteria and Tyronne De Silva rounding out the podium places. Flodstrom had an equally good day winning all races by comfortable margin over Dylan Stubbings and Zachary Marshall, rounding out the podium spots.
Samuel Gibson and Benjamin Munro had a titanic battle in the the KA3 Senior Medium class, both had a chance at victory over the weekend. Munro put his kart on pole position in a tight battle with Gibson setting up some great heat races. Gibson took the lead in heat 1 but Munro was hot on his tail all race looking to overtake back for the race lead. Gibson held on to take heat 1 but Munro was looking to fight back in heat 2. Munro led throughout with Gibson making multiple overtakes at pit corner but Munro was always able to hold his nerve and get back in front taking heat 2. The final was another intense start with the two battling hard for the race win. Gibson was able to break away and win by over two seconds, taking the round win over Munro and Justin Bonacci rounding out the podium places.
James Flynn was the young charger to beat in the Cadet 9 class after taking pole position over Cayden Beacham and Jai George. Flynn took control and won both heats in over Beacham and George both having a second place finish in the heats. Flynn led of pole position but Cayden Beacham was able to come away with the win in the final in a great fightback! Flynn came home in second spot collecting maximum points for the round with George rounding out the podium in the Cadet 9 field.
KA4 Junior Light was another class that had a great battle at the front of the field throughout qualifying and races. Nate Young took first blood by taking pole position over Benjamin Munro, Lachlan Cutting and Hunter Salvatore with the top four only being separated by 0.114 in qualifying. Cutting was able to get a great start in heat 1 and take victory by over two seconds to Munro and pole sitter Young in third. Benjamin Munro then took over winning heat 2 in a close battle with Cutting again. Munro was able to continue his strong form by taking out the final making it two wins from three races and the round win. Young fought back to be hot on the heels of Munro coming home in second spot in the final with Salvatore coming home in the final podium spot in third.
KA3 Junior was without a doubt one of the most completive classes of the weekend with at times up to five drivers in contention for victory. In a hot qualifying session Giancarlo Artho was able to take a tight pole position over Aydin Karadagli, Matthew Domaschenz, Benjamin Munro and Harrison Draffon setting up some close racing. Domaschenz was able to get a great start in heat 1 to get to the lead and take victory by over one second to Draffin and Munro. Artho and Karadagli made contact in heat 1 resulting in both drivers down the order. Draffin was able to turn the tables on Domaschenz and Munro in heat 2 coming away with victory with Karadagli fighting his way back up to position four. The final was another intense battle with a five kart train battling for victory at times throughout the race. Draffin was once again able to hold on in a close once over Domaschenz and Munro rounding out your podium.
Round 2 of the Karting Victoria Metro Karting Series will take place at the Eastern Lions Kart Club on the 16th of May where the championship battle will reignite!
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