WORLD FINALS FOR MINI-ROK AT SOUTH GARDA 14-17/10/2015
Jonny experienced his first taste of karting in Europe last week when he travelled to Italy for the world finals of Mini-Rok. He’d been invited to this event as a member of the US based Benik team, having emerged as a double American champion earlier in the year.
He adapted very quickly to the circuit so that, during Wednesday’s free practice sessions held in damp conditions, his lap times were much quicker than any others’. Thursday’s timed qualifying sessions took place on a dry circuit and Jonny finished 6th overall. Considering there were 121 other contenders from 37 different countries in his class, it wasn’t a bad effort.
He emerged from his first Heat in 2nd position and followed up with a 4th place finish next time out. He encountered motor problems in Heat 3 that dropped him from 3rd to 15th. That was still good enough to earn him a place in the main finals, but it meant he would be starting the first one from grid 16.
Jonny’s problems began half way around the first series of bends in this race when a kart behind ran up his back. Fortunately, he suffered no serious injury and was able to restart, eventually finishing 24th. He was involved in another first lap incident in Final 2 that placed him more than a hundred yards behind the main pack and destroyed any hopes of a top ten finish. Even so he stuck manfully to his task and eventually climbed to 19th place.
“It was a learning experience for us” said Justin. “Our main aim as the week began was to qualify for the two Finals. Jonny was actually the only member of his team to achieve that goal and so we can’t be disappointed with the result. I think it has set us up well for next season, certainly.”
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