Jake Donaldson Earns Australia #1
| press release | 19 September 2014 |
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Young Speedway Junior Jake Donaldson has continued his impressive 2014 season by taking out the 2014 AKA Australian Speedway kart Junior Light Title at Gosford Showground September 13/14.
Jake has been in hot form of late winning the recent Alan Hann Memorial event, then he backed it up with a dominant win at the KT Shootout event.
Above: Victory lap for Jake Donaldson
pic - Redline Media Plus
Heading into the Title Jake & the team headed to Lithgow City raceway to put some miles on the motor due to the lack of dirt track action because of the wet weather. Jake came away happy with the shakedown & confident that he had his best ever chance of claiming a National Title.
Normally the Junior class runs at a combined weight of 125kg but at the Titles its split into light [115] & Heavy [135]. Jake prefers the combined weight as its closer to his race weight but he still chose to enter both classes because he loves to challenge himself.
Junior Light was the bigger of both fields & the INOX Lubricants 95 driver stormed to an impressive victory in heat one. He picked up two other victories between Light & Heavy & come Sunday he was highest points in Lights & top 4 in the Heavy class.
pic - Redline Media Plus
Heading into Day 2 Jake was keen to get the job done in the pre final which sees the highest point scorer start at the rear of the field. He has been highest points heading into pre finals at the last two Nationals with mishaps in both costing him pole position as a Rookie in 2012 & in his 1st year in Junior national in 2013.
Jake had secured pole position for the Light final after racing his way from 13th to 4th in 12 quick laps.
The Junior class is one of the most competitive in Speedway karts and with famous Speedway families such as Dumsney, Green, Brown and Geering, you knew it was going to be one of the most anticipated Title races of the weekend.
For 18 gruelling laps two drivers Jake Donaldson 95 & Andrew Sayre 99 where going at it hammer & tong, at no stage was the gap more than half a second.
Above: Victory lap for Jake Donaldson
pic - JDR
The 20 lap final would come down to a two lap sprint after the yellow flag came out with one to go. Jake was able to refocus and put in two quick laps setting the fastest lap on his last lap to claim Victory & secure the green Plate and #1 for the next 12 months.
The celebration lap was something to be seen, holding the flag in one hand & drifting the kart with the other.
After the race Jake said "That was the most intense fights for a victory I have ever had & look forward to taking on the Challenge again next year.”
After securing the Light Title Jake then had to get ready for the Heavy Title. Starting out of P2 Jake tried an outside pass on the leader Mat Geering Kart 75 but it didn’t come off and he lost a spot & slotted back into 3rd. This race would go flag to flag with the top 3 only separated by 1 second. Jake had to settle for 3rd place in the Heavy class but overall he was pleased to see a good friend in Mat Geering take the win.
Jake wanted to thank his family & Sponsors for all their well wishes & support. He also stated that he needs to make special mention of his crew which consists of Dad [Scott] & Friends Brett & Chris Collins.
pic - Redline Media Plus
