ROCHFORD READY TO END HIS TITLE DROUGHT

Daniel Rochford in action aboard his Monaco kart at the City of Melbourne Titles (Pic: MC/Gould)

Six drivers in the Rotax Light category at this weekend’s Rotax Nationals in Puckapunyal have been crowned Australian Champion, but Victorian Daniel Rochford is not one of them.

This is a statistic the Melbourne-based driver is aiming to change.

The long-time racer has been the most consistent driver in the category over the past three years, having only been classified lower than fourth on one occasion – last year’s Rotax Nationals where he failed to finish the final.

This consistency has already secured him a spot on the grid to compete at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in New Orleans later this year through the Rotax Rankings system for the third time in his career. So while a number of other drivers will be focused on accumulating points to finish inside the top three in the standings, Rochford has only got one goal in his mind this weekend – National Championship glory.

“I’ve really been on a good consistent run over the past couple of years, but haven’t managed to stand on the top step of the podium at the Nationals – hopefully that will change this weekend,” said Rochford.

“In 2011, I won all three heat races only to get beaten by Dave (Sera) in the final and last year I didn’t finish. With no pressure to conserve points to make it to the World Final, hopefully this year will be my year.”

With 45 drivers on the entry list in the category, Rochford believes the category is extremely deep in talent but at the top of the list of talent is 14-time National Champion David Sera and reigning Rotax Light Champion Pierce Lehane.

“Dave hasn’t done a lot of racing this year, some have said that he might be a bit rusty but I’ve got no doubt he’ll be right up there at the front of the field. He’s just got an amazing amount of talent,” said Rochford.

“Pierce is one of the best Rotax drivers in the world, he’s shown that with his success both here in Australia and with his racing in Europe this year. Then there’s likes of Andrew Carey, Tyler Greenbury and Brad Jenner, who are always tough to beat in Rotax. There’s also Jess Golding who has been fast lately and also those guys who have proven themselves in other categories like James Sera, Joey Hanssen and Jordie Ford.”

Rochford will take to the Hume International Raceway at Puckapunyal, Victoria for the first day of practice today, which will continue tomorrow. Qualifying and the heat races will be contested on Saturday ahead of the finals on Sunday.

The Hume International raceway is located on the Seymour-Tooborac Road, approximately eight kilometres west of Seymour.

2013 ROTAX NATIONALS – Entry List
August 31-September 1, 2013
Hume International Raceway, Puckapunyal, Victoria

JUNIOR ROTAX – 51 entries
2 Drew RIDGE – NSW
3 Callum WALKER – QLD
4 Aaron SETON – QLD
5 THOMAS SCHOU – WA
6 Isaac VACCARELLA – NSW
7 Nicholas ANDREWS – QLD
8 Jordan BOYS – VIC
9 Aaron CAMERON – VIC
10 Stefan STANKOVIC – NSW
11 Zac SOUTAR – VIC
13 Troy ALGER – VIC
14 Michael FABRI – QLD
15 Braydon NORTH – VIC
16 Bryce FULLWOOD – NT
17 Benjamin REDJEPI – SA
18 Jayden SHARRAD – SA
19 Spencer ACKERMANN – VIC
20 Justin FORD – VIC
23 Lachlan MCHUGH – QLD
30 JOSHUA WOOD – WA
31 Dylan DRYSDALE – NZ
32 Joseph BURTON-HARRIS – NSW
33 Maddison WISE – NZ
37 Jack BELL – VIC
41 Jack BLACK – NSW
44 Ashton ANDALORO – VIC
45 Jonathon BRADSHAW – VIC
51 Jordan MURPHY – SA
54 James ABELA – NSW
58 Alexander PERONI – TAS
62 Alexander RULLO – WA
70 Joshua FIFE – NSW
75 Jayden GRECH – WA
76 Christopher SANDRONE – NSW
81 Thomas PRASCEVIC – VIC
87 Russell WHITTAKER – QLD
88 Thomas STEELE – QLD
89 Daniel ZANDT – VIC
90 Zane MORSE – NSW
91 Brodie COOK – SA
92 Mitchell MADDREN – QLD
93 Zane GODDARD – QLD
94 William HAWKES – VIC
95 NIKOLA MITIC – WA
96 Liam MCLELLAN – VIC
97 Stephanie STONES – NSW
98 Hunter MCELREA – QLD
99 Cody GILLIS – NSW
106 Jake KLEIN – VIC
TBA Thomas RISE – NZ
TBA Campbell JOYES – NZ

ROTAX LIGHT – 45 entries
1 Pierce LEHANE – NSW
2 Joshua CROSSINGHAM – QLD
4 Aaron BORG – NSW
5 Bret MULLAVEY – VIC
6 Luke BALDRY – QLD
8 Luigi CATANESE – VIC
10 Troy MORRISSEY – QLD
12 Mark DOMASCHENZ – VIC
13 Joey HANSSEN – VIC
14 Jack RICHARDSON – VIC
20 Jordan FORD – VIC
21 Thomas JEFFREY – NSW
22 Daniel CONOR – NZ
26 Andrew MERCURI – VIC
27 Blaine DENSLEY – VIC
28 Jamie ROBERTSON – VIC
30 Mathew KINSMAN – NZ
31 Daniel KINSMAN – NZ
36 Daniel ROCHFORD – VIC
37 Ryan KENNEDY – QLD
41 Adam MERCER – QLD
44 Andrew CAREY – VIC
47 Matthew SMITH – VIC
48 Jessica GOLDING – QLD
49 Brenton MOUNTJOY – VIC
52 Isabella THOMAS – VIC
54 Michael BUCKLEY – VIC
59 Nicklaus LICHTENBERGER – NSW
60 Liam BELLAMY – VIC
63 Reece DAVIDSON – NSW
65 Tyler GREENBURY – QLD
71 Andrew PETROU – VIC
83 Mitchell GRIFFIN – QLD
84 Daniel EDMONDS – VIC
85 Andy SIMPSON – VIC
87 Mitchell HEWITT – NSW
89 James MACKEN – QLD
91 Jaxon EVANS – QLD
92 Luke BERGENS – VIC
94 Bradley JENNER – VIC
95 James SERA – VIC
96 David SERA – VIC
97 James CORNFOOT – VIC
98 Wayne BOURKE – VIC
147 Tyler CRAMER – VIC

ROTAX HEAVY – 22 entries
1 Matthew WALL – VIC
2 Brendan NELSON – QLD
3 Chris FARKAS – QLD
7 Lane MOORE – QLD
8 Michael SALLER – NSW
9 Troy WOOLSTON – VIC
10 Paul RODGERS – VIC
12 Mark GILLESPIE – VIC
16 Shay MAYES – QLD
22 Anthony CICCONE – VIC
32 James REID – VIC
33 Rick PRINGLE – VIC
37 Dylan COLLETT – VIC
42 Mason BARBERA – QLD
53 Travis KODRIC – VIC
72 Brock GREEN – VIC
73 Matthew GREENBURY – QLD
75 Kel TRESEDER – QLD
82 Rylee WALTON – QLD
90 Lee MITCHENER – VIC
97 Zach ZOLOUM – NZ
98 Joshua WILLETT – VIC

DD2 – 21 Entries
1 Lucas WARD – QLD
4 Joshua CROSSINGHAM – QLD
5 Nathan TAYLOR – NSW
6 Troy BRETHERTON – QLD
7 Lane MOORE – QLD
9 Troy WOOLSTON – VIC
10 Thomas MACDONALD – NSW
17 Mathew HARRIS – NSW
22 Mathew ERDMANN – NSW
25 Brent LOGAN – NSW
27 Mark FLOOD – NSW
35 Jason PRINGLE – VIC
42 Harrison KNIGHT – NSW
51 Michael STEWART – NSW
67 Clem O’MARA – QLD
75 Kel TRESEDER – QLD
88 Shannon MCLAINE – NSW
90 Lee MITCHENER – VIC
93 Travis MILLAR – VIC
96 Jaie ROBSON – NSW
97 Glenn CROXFORD – VIC

DD2 MASTERS – 21 entries
1 Daniel RICHERT – VIC
2 Hamish LEIGHTON – VIC
3 KIP FOSTER – WA
5 Brent COGHLAN – NSW
7 Jose RUIZ – NSW
11 Tony PRENDERGAST – NSW
18 Jason GRANT – NSW
20 Peter VIRGULTI – QLD
21 Klinton HANCEY – QLD
22 Danny WRIGHT – VIC
24 Adam HUNTER – NSW
31 Tony BREGONJE – NSW
32 Trevor WHITBY – NSW
38 Stephen HAMPSON – NSW
42 Lee ADAMS – NSW
44 Luke WALL – NSW
64 Clinton MENEGAZZO – NSW
70 Glen STALLBAUM – QLD
75 Cameron HARCH – QLD
83 Owen GUTHRIE – NSW
88 John BAILEY – NSW

JUNIOR ROTAX TROPHY – 15 entries
4 Chris BREGONJE – NSW
5 Joshua CAR – NSW
6 Jye HOPKINS – QLD
7 Jordan MCGREGOR – QLD
22 Ashleigh STEWART – NZ
25 Charlotte POYNTING – NSW
27 Kyle ANGEL – NSW
28 Maddy STEWART – NZ
47 Glen ORMEROD – NSW
58 Tyra MARANIK – NSW
64 Liam FORD – VIC
67 Timothy COLOMBRITA – NSW
77 Mathew BYRNE – QLD
94 Christopher COOPER – NSW
98 Alec MORSE – NSW

ROTAX NATIONALS HONOUR ROLL
Rotax Light
2001 – Matthew Wall (Vic) – Arrow
2002 – Josh Arandt (Vic) – Arrow
2003 – Bart Price (Vic) – Arrow
2004 – Scott Auld (Qld) – Arrow
2005 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2006 – Hayden McBride (NSW) – Gillard
2007 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2008 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2009 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2010 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2011 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2012 – Pierce Lehane (NSW) – Exprit

Rotax Heavy
2001 – Damien Meyer (NSW) – CRG
2002 – Brett Davidson (Vic) – Arrow
2003 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2004 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2005 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2006 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2007 – Kel Treseder (Qld) – Top Kart
2008 – Kel Treseder (Qld) – Kosmic
2009 – Matthew Wall (Vic) – Arrow
2010 – Simon Meyer (NSW) – CRG
2011 – Troy Woolston (Vic) – Intrepid
2012 – Matthew Wall (Vic) – Arrow

Junior Rotax
2009 – Ben Jurczak (Qld) – Redspeed
2010 – Jonathan Venter (NSW) – Kosmic
2011 – Joseph Mawson (NSW) – Arrow
2012 – Thomas Randle (Vic) – FA Kart

Venues
2001 – Eastern Creek, NSW
2002 – Todd Road, Vic
2003 – Newcastle, NSW
2004 – Ipswich, QLD
2005 – Geelong, Vic
2006 – Newcastle, NSW
2007 – Ipswich, QLD
2008 – Todd Road, Vic
2009 – Eastern Creek, NSW
2010 – Ipswich, QLD
2011 – Geelong, Vic
2012 – Dubbo, NSW