Tony Kart Australia sponsored driver Matthew Basso headed to the second round of the Victorian Golden Power Series over the weekend. Basso has had a strong start to 2021 Cadet 12 season with a round victory at Metro Karting Series and a strong showing at the opening round of the Golden Power Series.
Goulburn Valley Kart Club hosted the second round over the weekend, a track Basso has had great success at in his younger years! Saturday racing was undertaken in warm and dry conditions. Practice showed encouraging signs for the Tony Kart driver setting strong pace while putting himself in the top 50% of the oversized Cadet 12 field. Basso had a confident mind set going into the all-important qualifying session.
Qualifying came around and Basso set the early pace putting himself to the top of the ladder. Basso had challengers Aiden Schweikert, Pip Casabene and Noah Dixon setting fast times trying to knock off the Tony Kart ace. Young Basso put his head down and through smooth driving and determination lifted another level and set improved lap times. Basso in dominating fashion, took pole position by nearly three tenths over Schweikert and Casabene.
Heat 1 and Basso in the oversized Cadet 12 class was starting off the best possible position in pole with many drivers ready to challenge him. Basso didn’t get the start he was after, dropping down to third position of the start. Down to third off the start and fellow front runners Noah Dixon and Joanne Ciconte in front of him, young Basso had work to do. Basso was able to make quick work on Ciconte at the end of lap one to go up into second spot. Basso with great cold tyre pace was back in the lead by the end of lap 2 and was looking to establish a healthy margin. Basso in his Tony Kart entry was able to set smooth consistent pace and opened up the margin to the rest of the field to come away with a dominant race victory! Unfortunately, Basso had his heat 1 victory taken away from him due to an unfortunate technical infringement resulting in disqualification. Basso finished Saturday with mixed feelings but knew he had the pace to turn things around.
Sunday presented itself with heavy rain and soggy conditions. Basso starting from pole for heat 2 was keen to turn things around after his Heat 1 result. Basso off pole lost a position to Pip Casabene and was looking to take his leading position back. Basso only needed one lap before taking the lead back and then looked to open up a lead to the rest of the field. The Tony Kart Australia driver showed his strong pace and skills in the tricky wet conditions opening up a strong lead. Basso drove away to take a dominate victory in the tough wet conditions. Such was the Tony Kart Australia’s domination, he was able to take victory by over seven seconds lapping the field up to eleventh position.
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Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions the meeting was called off with no further racing after heat 2.
Mathew reflected after the weekend. “I have been working hard over the past 4 weeks on my race pace and it showed this weekend. I had the fastest time in qualifying and won heat 1 by a huge margin only to have it taken away from me for a technical infringement. I knew I could bounce back and really set my focus on the next 3 heat races. I went out in heat 2 in the pouring rain and again won by a huge margin. My Tony Kart Australia kart was on rails. Unfortunately, the rain caused an end to the race meeting and I lost my chance to fight back for a podium finish. Thanks to everyone for their support and we are now focused on proving a point at round 3”.
Basso will next race this coming weekend at the Oakleigh Go Kart Club day in preparation for the Victorian Titles in April.
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