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 PRE-ENTRY OPEN NOW Closes Mon, Feb 3 at 11:59 PST |
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SKUSA Winter Series
| EKN Trackside: 2025 Superkarts! USA Winter Series – Orlando 1 – Saturday Report |
| Sunday, 12 January 2025 10:28 |
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Joe Turney secured his first victory of the 2025 season in Pro X30 (Photo: EKN) The first day of racing for the 2025 season was completed on Saturday with the Superkarts! USA Winter Series completing Round One of the eighth season for the championship. The Orlando Kart Center, hosting the series for the first time, welcomed a record-setting non-SuperNationals event with over 300 entries competing in the nine categories on the day. Rain hit the area early in the morning, leaving a wet track through warm-up and it wasn’t until halfway through qualifying that drivers began switching over to the dry Evinco Tires. Cooler temperatures and strong winds kept everyone bundled up throughout the day despite the temps reaching the low 60s. One red flag on the day delayed the action by 30 minutes, pushing the final few main events under the lights at the Orlando, Florida circuit. In the end, four victories by Kart Republic led the way, including two-time SuperNationals winner Joe Turney claiming the Pro X30 victory while four-time SuperNationals winner Daniel Formal claimed victory in his Birelart debut with PSL Karting.
Daniel Formal won Pro Shifter in his debut with PSL Karting (Photo: EKN) The Pro X30 presented by Rolison Performance Group was situated in the middle of the schedule, and with the track starting to dry, one driver went to dry Evinco Tires for the session. IAME USA Grand National Champion Jakub Kolar (Vice / Kart Republic) gambled and it paid off, posting a 56.996 lap to claim the pole position in qualifying by over 1.387 ahead of Brazilian Olin Galli (CRG Nordam). The Prefinal saw Kolar get shuffled back to sixth in the race that was red flagged after two laps. It was restarted with Galli and defending SKUSA SuperNationals winner Joe Turney (JHDD / Kart Republic) moving up from third to join him at the front. Turney took the win ahead of Galli with British driver Caden McQueen (Energy Corse Americas) into third. In the 20-lap Final, Turney and Galli were able to break away as McQueen was getting shuffled back. Eventually, Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic) and Austin Garrison (SCR / CS55) led the second group. Norberg was able to run Galli down then went after Turney, taking the lead on lap eight. He and Turney were able to pull away from Galli as eventually Garrison ran with him, as they form two two-driver groups. On lap 13, Turney had studied Norberg enough and made the move to the lead. They ran nose to tail until the final lap. Norberg tried a move at the final corner, however, Turney was able to hold him off, reaching the line first by a mere 61 thousandths of a second. Norberg was second with Galli beating Garrison to the line for third, however penalties changed the podium. Norberg was hit with a three-second pushback bumper penalty as Galli was removed from the results for a spark plug issue. This promoted Garrison to second and Norberg back to third. Collin Lloyd (SCR / CS55) ran solo, ending up fourth with Canadian Jensen Burnett (REM / Kosmic) winning the battle for fifth in his 2025 Senior debut ahead of fellow Senior rookie Chace Gassiot-Lee (Nash / EOS).
Frankie Mossman claimed his first KA100 Senior victory (Photo: EKN) Similar to what we saw at the 2024 SKUSA Winter Series opening round, it was a Daniel Formal victory ahead of Brazilian Matheus Morgatto in Pro Shifter presented by PSL Karting. Formal, making his debut with PSL Karting / Birelart along side SKUSA Pro Tour and defending SKUSA Winter Series champion Morgatto, set fast time in qualifying with a 50.497, clearing Morgatto by nearly two tenths. Formal led every lap of the Prefinal with Morgatto in second and Gavin Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) in third. The 20-lap Final began the same way with Formal leading Morgatto and Bayliff. Lap nine saw Bayliff go off hard in the final corner after having a tire hub snap. Up front, Formal drove away to four-second victory ahead of Morgatto to start off the 2025 season. Justin White (Maranello USA) ended up on the podium in third with former SKUSA Winter Series champion Alan Isambard (RRC / Maranello) in fourth and Vincenzo Sarracino (Maranello USA) completing the top-five.
Tristan Murphy escaped with his first victory in X30 Junior (Photo: EKN) The day began on a damp track for the KA100 Senior presented by AKT Racing Team. British driver Kai Hunter (RPG / Kosmic) showed the way in qualifying with a 1:05.086 lap, edging out two-time SuperNationals Junior winner Sebastian Garzon (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and 2019 SuperNationals Micro winner Brad Majman (JHDD / Alonso Kart) from Australia. Hunter went on to win the Prefinal ahead of Frankie Mossman (JHDD / Kart Republic) as Garzon made contact with a barrier, bending the front end of his machine, sending him to pit lane in 40th. The opening laps of the Final were hotly contested throughout the field, including the front where Jose Carlos Hernandez (Orsolon / Tony Kart) took control. Eventually, Mossman put himself up into the second spot after Hernandez had established a healthy lead. Mossman was able to run him down with nearly two tenths a lap faster pace and by white flag, was challenging for the lead. On the final circuit, Mossman was able to grab the top spot and hold it to the checkered flag, reaching the line first by 77 thousandths over Hernandez. Majman was third in his return to the USA while Leonardo Escorpioni (Zanella / Tony Kart) fourth in his return to SKUSA competition while Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) rounded out the top-five. Garzon was able to drive his way up to sixth while Henry Wheeler (PSL / Birelart) came from the back as well after a broken chain in the Prefinal to finish 10th.
A career first win in KA100 Junior for Alexander Vanchev (Photo: EKN) The X30 Junior presented by Speed Concepts Racing class welcomed a first time winner in Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart). Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) started off the day as fast driver in qualifying with a 1:01.012 lap to clear Max Weiland (Magik Kart USA) by over four tenths. He would go on to drive away from the field in the Prefinal to win by four seconds as they battle for position behind him. In the 20-lap Final, they kept Vanchev close early with Kit Belofsky (Energy Corse Americas) taking the lead on lap four. By lap eight, Canadian Rayan Ghandour (RPG / Kosmic) was at the point with the second place position changing between Murphy, Augustus Toniolo (RPG / Kosmic) and Belofsky. On lap 19, Murphy was able to go from third to first, holding the lead through the final circuit to claim the victory. Toniolo came across the line in second with Ghandour in third. Belofsky was fourth with Vanchev recording fast lap of the race in fifth.
Defending Master Shifter champion Skitchy Barnes swept the day (Photo: EKN) The first class in the order was KA100 Junior presented by Orsolon Racing. Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) navigated the damp track quickest in qualifying with a 1:05.399 lap, clearing the two group field of 65 drivers by 1.2 seconds. Theo Salomao (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and Vanchev split the Prefinal races to set the 44-driver main event. Salomao jumped out to the lead until lap six when Vanchev and Augustus Toniolo (RPG / Kosmic) pushed him back. The top two swapped the lead a few times but really started to fight with two laps to go. This allowed the second group to close back in to make it a big battle for the lead on the final circuit. Toniolo led at the white flag but contact in turn five pushed him down the order, collecting a few others in the process. This allowed Vanchev to get away with the lead, earning his first SKUSA Winter Series victory. Salomao was second with Max Cristea (JHDD / Kart Republic) on the podium in third. Victor De Alencar (AM / Tony Kart) ended up fourth with Tyrone Kemper Jr. (SCR / CS55) in fifth.
Solid sweep of Round One in KA100 Master for Franco Crivelli (Photo: EKN) It was a clean sweep by Master Shifter presented by Velocity Racing by Sodi USA defending champion Skitchy Barnes (Maranello USA). Barnes was not trackside for practice on Friday, coming Saturday morning and taking to the track for the first laps of 2025 in qualifying, setting fast lap. He would go on to win the Prefinal and every lap of the Final to claim the victory. Luis Quinones (LFB / Birelart) made it close at the end, only eight tenths of a second back at the checkered flag. Tyler Guilbeault (DRT / DR Kart) landed on the podium in his class debut ahead of Farshad Bagheri (TB Kart) while Rene Martinelli (TB Kart) retired after seven laps.The KA100 Master presented by AM Racing Team saw a sweep on the day by Franco Crivelli (Inter MS / Tony Kart). Crivelli posted a 57.834 lap in qualifying, nearly one second quicker than form Indy Lights champion Raphael Matos (Velocity / Sodi Kart). The two battled early in the Prefinal before Crivelli went on to take the win. In the Final, Crivelli led all 20 laps, driving away to a seven-second advantage over USPKS champion Niki Coello (FMS / Merlin). Matos ended up third ahead of Scot Carapellatti (Checkered / Kosmic) with Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart) fifth.
A late move put Benja Fernandez at the top of the Mini Swift podium (Photo: EKN) The Mini Swift presented by Team Benik saw a number of class rookies battle at the front, including 2024 Micro champion Zayne Burgess (Velocity / Sodi Kart). Burgess posted the quickest lap in qualifying, a 1:00.016 to clear the field by over three tenths. After a good fight in the Prefinal, Burgess was able to claim the top spot to start from the pole position in the Final. Racing under the lights, Burgess led the field for the first half of the race until Liam Nachawati (JHDD / Kart Republic) took over. With three laps remaining, Burgess put himself back into the lead and stayed there until the white flag. On the final circuit, SuperNationals winner Benja Fernandez (SLA / Kart Republic) went from fourth to first, reaching the checkered flag first for the victory. Burgess settled for second ahead of last year’s champion Royce Vega (Team Benik). Lucca Becerril (Orsolon / Tony Kart) ended up fourth with Wynn Godschalk (Team Benik) placing fifth in his Mini debut.
A first victory in Micro Swift by Marcelo Flores (Photo: EKN) A new winner was welcomed in the Micro Swift presented by Energy Corse Americas division. Isaac Carvalho (OKP / Kart Republic) set fast time in qualifying with a 1:09.016 on a damp track. Second place qualifier Marcelo Flores (JHDD / Kart Republic) was able to come away with the win in the Prefinal and set the pace in the Final. Lenox Lockhart (Velocity / Sodi Kart) was able to run down Flores after breaking away from the field in the first half of the Final. Lockhart took the lead prior to the white flag and held the top spot into the final corner. Leaving the inside open, Flores made the move inside of turn 13, exiting the corner with the lead and able to claim his first series victory. Lockhart settled for second with Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic) on the podium in third. Rounding out the top-five was Alvaro Medeiros (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and Zev Godschalk (Team Benik).The first day complete, everyone returns to the Orlando Kart Center on Sunday for Round Two action of the 2025 Superkarts! USA Winter Series. |
