by Graham Smith | 10 July 2014 |
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SSM Super One Rotax Series Round 3: Larkhall 12/13 July 2014
For the halfway stage of the ABkC National Championships the Super One visited showery Scotland, the Summerlee circuit easily accessible from the motorway between Carlisle and Glasgow. It’s a challenging circuit, needing bravery for overtaking. At the top of the hill on the back straight, or into one of the hairpins is a favourite, whilst a last gasp move into the last corner can come unstuck.
MiniMax
A sudden heavy shower just before the first final forced a quick move to wets for the protagonists. The Scotsman Dean MacDonald held pole position over Alex Quinn, Tyler Chesterton and Jonathan Hoggard. But Quinn snatched the lead at the start and thereafter was never headed, MacDonald failing to find a safe passage past. Whilst Hoggard held station in third, Ed Hack bypassed the opening lap incidents to finish fourth, pipping Adam Smalley and Jack Young. An unlucky Chesterton only completed two laps. For the second final MacDonald swept past Quinn on the second lap and retrieved the lead twice, firstly from Hoggard and secondly from Young, who fell to seventh after receiving a five place penalty. That promoted Smalley, Hoggard and Thomas Turner. Quinn was the unfortunate driver on the receiving end of the contact and fell to sixth.
Above: Dean McDonald leads the MiniMAX points
pic - kartpix.net
Honda Cadet
With Kiern Jewiss on pole from Zak Rogers for the first final the former had to fight hard for the win against strong challenges from Harry Thompson and Myles Apps. Rogers faded to ninth whilst Jenson Butterfield was placed last after a penalty. He stormed up to an impressive fifth in the second final where Mark Kimber took the honours. Thompson skipped past Jewiss to claim second with Apps on their tail.
Above: Honda Cadet Final 2 winner Mark Kimber
pic - kartpix.net
Junior Max
A Welshman in Harrison Thomas and a Scotsman in Sandy Mitchell shared the front row for the first final, with Thomas in the driving seat for the first 14 laps. But then he was spun by Lucas Vaus who was given the black flag, leaving Will Shaw leading to the finish. Stefanos Charambolous and Sandy Mitchell fought over second and third, finishing in that order. Jonathan Paylor followed Charambolous from their grid 15 and 16 start, and he reached fourth. Mitchell surged into the lead for the second final, never headed until the chequer. Josh Skelton kept him honest throughout whilst the American driver Darren Keane leapfrogged leapfrogged several drivers, finally relieving Shaw of third.
Above: Sandy Mitchell, Junior MAX
pic - kartpix.net
Senior Max
Jack Bartholomew and local driver Kyle Fowlie battled very hard but finished in that same order in both finals. The following drivers in both finals were Gary Donnelly and Josh Price, but in the second final they came together with Price beached and Donnelly out of touch with the leaders. Previous round winner Joe Reilly had a heat exclusion and had to battle through the repechage to reach tenth in the first final, and fifth in the second with John Stewart leaping up the points order with a fifth and fourth place.
Above: Jack Bartholomew was the only double winner for the round to now lead the Senior MAX points
pic - kartpix.net