Jamieson Retakes Points Lead

Russell Jamieson made the best of a front row qualifying position to run away to a three second victory over defending champion Gary Pegoraro in the first race of the Rockpress/Coach Design Australian Superkart Championships at Round 6 of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals. Jamieson qualified on the front row of the grid alongside Pegoraro before outlaunching the Victorian race on the run to the first turn. Behind him battle quickly formed allowing the Coach Design Anderson-DEA to reel off a string of 1:31 lap times all the way to the chequered flag. The victory saw Jamieson regain the points lead from Anton Stevens who had a series of piston failures in practice between his two FPE engines. Stevens got the Ciscos/ArtMotorsport PVP-FPE together for the race and finished eighth, limiting Jamieson's new lead to just three points.

Pegoraro (Dunlop Kartsport/BRC Engines Anderson-BRC) pulled clear of his pursuit on the third lap and while fellow Victorian racers Matt Bass and Kristian Stebbing stepped up in the closing laps they could only match Jamieson and Pegoraro's pace. Bass in the Top Torque Engines Anderson-BRC revived memories of his debut podiums two years ago picking off Ilya Harpas and Warren McIlveen on the second lap to take third place. Stebbing (KJB Accountants & Business Advisors Anderson-DEA) was swamped off the line but was fastest kart on the track as the race finished. He climbed from eight to fourth in four laps.

Warren McIlveen (Mac's Marine/Stockman Superkarts Stockman-VM) held third early but could not hold back Bass or stebbing. Ilya Harpas was struggling for aerodynamic balance in the Your Amigo which compromised his cornering speed. Martin Latta was a distant seventh in the MJR Bricklaying/Slipstream Signs Anderson-DEA but finished ahead of Stevens. Jason Smith (Techome/Middletons Printing Anderson-DEA), Chas Maddern (Maddern Oil PVP-Yamaha) and Michael Nicholas (ShiftMN Stockman-Yamaha) also finished in 250 International, although Nicholas destroyed his engine in the process when a cylinder seized, buckling to conrod and sending slivers of metal though the engine.

Jamieson holds a three point lead over Stevens who in turn is three points ahead of McIlveen. Pegoraro is still in the picture, 13 points behind Jamieson but still in the title fight on a track he knows so well.

Despite an engine failure in practice, Jordan Ford continued his forward progress in the 250 National division, taking his fifth consecutive victory in the Peter Ford Catering/Burbank Homes Anderson-Yamaha. Second was quite the battle as his two team mate Dale and Tyle Williams fought with Queensland Tim Weier (Laser Central/Zahl 1 Karting Anderson-Gas Gas). Dale Williams (Slipstream Signs/Burbank Homes Anderson-Yamaha) pulled out a four second gap to take second but it took a final lap spin from Tyler Williams to settle third. The teenager overcomitted his Anderson at turn 4 and spun on the exit allowing Weier to take third. Aaron Cogger (Avoig Superkarts/Rat Pack Racing Avoig-KTM) finished fifth while John Pellicano's rapid qualifying pace disappeared along with the fuel lines connection to his engine in the Giova Design Avoig-KTM and coughed home in sixth. Scott Appledore (Beyal Stud Rams/Hughes Bros Romevals Anderson-Yamaha) finished while Ford's only title rival, Dan Lewis has his weekend finish in practice after the Lewis Plumbing Anderson destroyed its Gas Gas engine.

Ford leads 250 National by 29 points over Dale Williams with Lewis third although Cogger and Weier will fight out third position.

Garry Haywood kept his championship hopes alive after taking a dominant nine second win in the Ringwood Kart Centre Bakker-Honda. Haywwod steadily powered away from his rivals while Paul Campbell, Mark Robin and Lee Vella fought for second. Robin (Colourite Painting Stockman-Honda) beat Campbell (Redback Racepaint Avoig-Honda) by a single kart length in a drag race from the final corner. Vella's L & J Custom Kitchens & Joinery Avoig-TM stopped with overheating on the final lap. Geoff Lawrence (KJB Accountants Stockman-Yamaha) was fourth on debut ahead of Adam Stewart (GioVa Racing/FCS Racing Anderson-Honda) and Phil Silcock (Rockpress Avoig-Honda) with Chris Nolan (Xtreme Karting Stockman-Honda) completing the 25 finishers.

Points: Russell Jamieson 86, Anton Stevens 83, Warren McIlveen 80, Gary Pegoraro 73, Ilya Harpas 69, Matt Bass 51, Martin Latta 49, Kristian Stebbing 46, Michael Nicholas & Jason Smith 32, Charles Maddern 25, Paul Clark 18, Mark Hanson 5

250 National: Jordan Ford 105, Dale Williams 76, Dan Lewis 73, Aaron Cogger 61, Tim Weier 50, Craig Brook 47, Scott Appledore 37, Tyler Williams 13, John Pellicano 10

125 National: Mark Robin 102, Garry Haywood 75, Paul Campbell 69, Jeff Reed 50, Phil Silcock 47, Tim Philp 41, Anthony Lappas 26, Geoff Lawrence 13, Adam Stewart 11, Mehmet Sinani 10, Chris Nolan 9