Home > News > Latest News > BLUE PLATE BATTLES HEAD SOUTH FOR PRO TOUR PUCKAPUNYAL

19th August 2015

BLUE PLATE BATTLES HEAD SOUTH FOR PRO TOUR PUCKAPUNYAL

The return of the Rotax Pro Tour to Victoria’s Hume International Raceway in Puckapunyal for the first time since the Nationals in 2013 will mark a significant point in the series on many fronts. The event acts as round six in the series, being the penultimate race weekend for the year ahead of the Grand Finale in October. With plenty on the line in the series points, drivers will also be vying for success within the Victorian State Title following their results from Albury/Wodonga earlier in the year.

JC Kart/Holden Kart Team driver Oscar Targett holds a slender lead in the series points for Micro Max (Pic: Coopers Photography)

JC Kart/Holden Kart Team driver Oscar Targett holds a slender lead in the series points for Micro Max (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Micro Max
The battle amongst the youngest of the Rotax Pro Tour competitors continues to heat up, with this weekend marking just the third round that the Micro Max class has formed part of the series. JC Kart/Holden Kart Team driver Oscar Targett holds a slender lead in the overall points over CRG driver Adrian Haak who took out the first event that the class competed in at Warwick. Praga’s Jack Westbury showed immense pace throughout the Eastern Creek event, though a weight infringement in the final eluded his chances of picking up his first round win, a feat that the Queenslander will be looking to achieve this weekend in an effort to move up in the points order.

Mini Max
Bayley Douglas has opened up a significant points lead in the Mini Max standings following a consistent run of form throughout the 2015 race season. Douglas’ success at the Albury/Wodonga event also places him in prime position to pick up the Victorian State Title following this weekend’s racing. Tony Kart driver Jaiden Pope has secured the overall victory in the last two events at Warwick and Eastern Creek and therefore enters this weekend as a factor amongst the large field. Pope also sits third in the series points and second in the state title race, with local James Wharton hot on his heels in third. Kai Allen also remains a driver to watch, sitting second in the points entering this weekend.

Junior Max Trophy
Australia’s only one-make Karting category, Junior Max Trophy, will mark a significant point within their own series for 2015. The overall points leader at the conclusion of this weekend will be awarded a seat at the 2015 Rotax Pan American Challenge. Currently, New Zealand’s Matthew Payne holds a slender 30 point lead over Reece Cohen who has been one of Payne’s closest challengers right throughout the season. Lucas Lichtenberger was unstoppable on home soil, taking his first round victory in the class last time out at Eastern Creek and with that, the Sydney driver will be full of confidence heading into this weekend, also sitting third in the overall point score.

Victorian Reece Sidebottom will be on home soil as he chases State title success in Junior Max (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Victorian Reece Sidebottom will be on home soil as he chases State title success in Junior Max (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Junior Max
Yet another huge field of drivers are set to compete as part of Junior Max this weekend with Tony Kart driver Zane Morse holding an unassailable lead in the series points, while also currently sitting on top of the points in the Victorian State Title battle.
Reece Sidebottom has come very close to interrupting the run of Morse throughout the year, though a round win has eluded him, however on home soil this weekend and with a state title being within reach, Sidebottom is well placed overcome his round win hoodoo in Junior Max. Likewise with Sidebottom, Dylan Hollis is back racing in his home state this weekend, currently placed third in the State title points. With the entire field of 40 set to be on track together right across the weekend, the battle for spots at the front is sure to be exciting.

Rotax 125 Light
On the back of his win at the EuroMax event in Germany, Pierce Lehane enters this weekend as the hot favourite to extend his points lead overall and clinch the Victorian State title. A solid recovery at the business end of the weekend at Eastern Creek for Nathan Tigani saw the Tony Kart driver step into the top five and with this confidence, he is well placed to challenge Lehane for the Victorian title, currently sitting second. Daniel Rochford is back in his home state with the Kosmic driver sure to be a challenger for the front running positions, in addition, impressive outright speed from the BirelART pairing of Brad Jenner and Nicholas Andrews has the two team mates in a good position to again be back towards the front.

Rotax 125 Heavy
Chris Farkas and Regan Payne have formed a healthy rivalry throughout the first five rounds of the Pro Tour season, with the pair sharing the spoils along with Queensland’s Lane Moore for overall round victories. For Farkas and Payne, their battle is stretched across both the outright standings and the Victorian State title, with it all sure to come down to the wire across the weekend while for Moore, he steps back into the seat after being absent from the Eastern Creek event due to injury on the back of his win at Warwick. Clem O’Mara remains to be a driver to watch, currently sitting third in the series points as he looks to further elevate his chances of claiming more silverware.

Ryan Kennedy is a driver to watch for the DD2 Victorian title following his strong form at the first event at Albury/Wodonga (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Ryan Kennedy is a driver to watch for the DD2 Victorian title following his strong form at the first event at Albury/Wodonga (Pic: Coopers Photography)

DD2
Another healthy field in the DD2 category is sure to provide close racing for the fastest karts at the Pro Tour, with veteran and former World Number Two, Jason Pringle holding a close lead in the series points. The CRG drivers heads the overall points and the Victorian State title with Troy Woolston sitting a close second. Ryan Kennedy is currently third in the overall standings and a close second in the State title battle following his breakout event in the two speed gearbox class at the Albury/Wodonga event that saw the youngster genuinely take it up to Pringle across the weekend, including starting on the front row. Current World Number Three, Jordan Boys is just outside the World Finals seat positions in the top three following a mixed year of results so far, however the Albury Praga driver will be hot on the heels of the front runners as he looks to embark on back to back appearances for Team Australia.

DD2 Masters
The race for a place within the top three in DD2 Masters continues to hot up with each and every round. Victorian Daniel Richert currently sits on the top of the points standings in the lead up to this weekend, along with sitting second in the Victorian State title points order. A resurgent Jason Hryniuk took the win in Albury/Wodonga and will be looking to add the Victorian State title to his list of career achievements.
Queensland’s Klinton Hancey is coming on strong at the right end of the season, currently sitting second and being in line to be part of Team Australia for the first time in his career while current number one plate holder Adam Hunter will be chasing a return to the front at Puckapunyal as he looks to defend his position with the category ahead of the Ipswich event. Round 6 of 2015 Rotax Pro Tour takes place at Puckapunyal, VIC from 21-23 August.

To follow the event online throughout the weekend, Like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, Follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.rotax.com.au/streaming.html