POLE SITTERS DECIDED FOR VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

RJ Garage Doors racing's Daniel Rochford leading the way in Rotax Light. Pic: AF Images

Rochford, Sera and Wall claim dual front row starts

The 14 pole sitters for the Finals in the 2012 Victorian Open Sprint Kart Championships have been decided at the Beckley Park Raceway in Geelong, Victoria today.

Victorian Daniel Rochford has secured a pair of front row starts in the Leopard and Rotax Light categories aboard his RJ Garage Doors Racing entries.

Rochford dominated the Pre-Final in Rotax Light to cross the line ahead of dual CIK Stars of Karting Series Champion Pierce Lehane. Josh DeMaio held off Fujitsu Cool driver Renee Gracie to claim third place with Tony Kart driver Joel Smith rounding out the top five.

“It’s been a great weekend so far, but there’s still one big day to go tomorrow,” said Rochford.

“The Rotax kart is going well, I was fastest in both qualifying sessions and have won all three races so far – however, I think tomorrow will be even tougher than today and yesterday.

FA Kart driver James Sera has secured two front row starts for tomorrow's finals. Pic: AF Images

“You can never discount Pierce Lehane, Joseph Mawson or (Josh) DeMaio, they’re all very accomplished drivers and I’m sure that we’re all going to battle hard in tomorrow’s final.

“I’ve never raced in the Leopard category before, so I’ve spent the last couple of days getting used to the characteristics of the engine and setting up the kart to suit. I think we’re nearly on the money now and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

James Sera was another driver to secure a pair of front row starts with victory in the Leopard Light category and second place in Clubman Light.

The FA Kart driver was pressured early in the Leopard Light pre-final by Mark Domeschenz. Rochford and Lehane then found a way past Domeschenz to claim the minor positions.

In the Clubman Light category Sera was engaged in a titanic battle with Mawson for the lead with the pair swapping the lead on a number of occasions before Mawson made a pass on the last lap for the win. Sera held on for second ahead of Andrew Mercuri.

Matthew Wall leading National Champion Troy Woolston in Rotax Heavy. Pic: AF Images

Ten-time Australian Champion Matthew Wall was another driver to secure a pair of front row starts for tomorrow’s finals in the Clubman Heavy and Rotax Heavy categories.

Wall will join polesitter Brendan Nelson to make it an all Arrow kart front row in the Clubman Heavy category while Wall will lead the field away in the Rotax Heavy final.

VICTORIAN OPEN SPRINT KART CHAMPIONSHIPS
Geelong, Victoria

RESULTS
Pre-Final – Top Five

Junior National Heavy
1. Nicholas Rowe
2. Zac Soutar
3. Robert Titherington
4. Luke Bergens
5. Brodie Tilbrook

Clubman Super Heavy
1. Scott Simpson
2. Hayden Dodman
3. Jason Stania
4. Phil Straughen
5. Nick Scudds

Leopard Light
1. James Sera
2. Daniel Rochford
3. Justin Francis
4. Adam Willison
5. George Geranis

Junior National Light
1. Thomas Prasevic
2. James Abela
3. Liam McLellan
4. Jordan Boys
5. Joshua Buggy

Rookies
1. Reece Sidebottom
2. Joshua Rogers
3. Dylan Hollis
4. Alec Morris
5. Zane Goddard

Rotax Light
1. Daniel Rochford
2. Pierce Lehane
3. Josh DeMaio
4. Renee Gracie
5. Joel Smith

Clubman Heavy
1. Brendan Nelson
2. Matthew Wall
3. Dylan Collett
4. Leigh Nicolaou
5. Remo Luciani

Junior Max
1. Cameron Hill
2. Joseph Burton-Harris
3. Jake Klein
4. Jordan Boys
5. James Golding

Cadets
1. Sam Dicker
2. Harrison Hoey
3. Jai Sparey
4. Joshua Smith
5. Benito Montalbano

Clubman Over 40s
1. Remo Luciani
2. Steve Riddell
3. Phillip Smith
4. Bobby Bourke
5. Adam Bourke

Leopard Heavy
1. Kris Walton
2. Daniel Richert
3. Lee Mitchener
4. Paul Pittam
5. Scott King

Junior Clubman
1. Brock Plumb
2. James Golding
3. Thomas Randle
4. Kyle Rethus
5. Nicholas Rowe

Rotax Heavy
1. Matthew Wall
2. Daniel Richert
3. Aaron Rintoul
4. Troy Woolston
5. Rick Pringle

Clubman Light
1. Joseph Mawson
2. James Sera
3. Andrew Mercuri
4. Andrew Carey
5. Jason Burns