Riley Jabke went to the second round of the Golden Power Series at the Goulburn Valley Kart Club over the weekend. Jabke in his PCJ Data & Electrical sponsored entry missed the opening round of the series due to Australian Kart Championship commitments. The Nankang Tyres Australia backed entry was competing in the TAG 125 Light division and was looking to gain valuable experience on the MG Red tyres.
Jabke started Saturday practice in strong form, immediately being in the top ten drivers and showing promising pace. The Shinners Plumbing supported entry put himself in position six overall just outside the top five in opening practice after very little time in class and on the tyres. Timed practice was next up and Jabke was again showing good promise and improving pace in his AWC Motorsport entry. The Black Tie Toilets sponsored entry again hovered around the top five drivers showing promising improvement and that he was right in the battle. The Berwick Taxation services supported entry finished fifth overall in time practice with an improved effort and promising signs going into qualifying. Jabke was fifth out the gate for qualifying and was looking to push for another strong top five result. Riley in his Bartlett Integrated Towing Solutions sponsored entry set strong times in the early stages of the session but went slight backwards in pace from timed practice. The Dandenong Gate Company sponsored entry came home in position eight overall still inside the top ten.
With Jabke knowing he had stronger paces within him set up changes was made for heat 1. Jabke out of position eight for the opening heat, unfortunately didn’t get the start he was after having a shunt at turn one and going to the rear of the field. The Digital Eagles sponsored entry put his head down and made his way back into the top ten and continued to improve pace throughout the race with encouraging signs towards the rest of the weekend. Riley in his Trev’s Autobody supported entry come home in position ten overall and was looking for improvement going into Sunday’s racing. The heavy rain arrived over night making for extremely wet and poor conditions for Sunday’s racing. Jabke elected with the team to forgo heat 2 due to wet tyre limits available to them.
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The Bolts and Moore backed entry due to the worsening conditions didn’t take to the track again for the weekend. Due to poor weather the race meeting was called off.
Jabke noted down the struggles of Sunday but his overall happiness with Saturday’s progression. “Sunday morning was raining and I elected to forgo Heat 2 because I didn’t want to waste a new set of wet tyres when I wasn’t here to compete for the championship. I was ready to use an old set of tyres for Heat 3 but due to the continuation of the rain the track became dangerous and the Chief Steward and Clerk of Course wisely decided to call and end to the racing. All in all, I am happy with the data I was able to get on the MG Red tyres on Saturday”.
Jabke will now prepare for the Victorian State Championships at his home track, the Oakleigh Go Kart Club in April.
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