Urban Quickest As Karters Take To The Track In Invercargill

2011 Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand National Sprint Championships
Macaulay Ford Kart Raceway
Sandy Point Domain
Invercargill
Southland
Easter weekend
April 22-24
2011

DAY 1 REPORT

22-04-10

Urban Quickest As Karters Take To The Track In Invercargill

Aucklander Ryan Urban set the pace in qualifying today at the 2011 Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand National Sprint Championships meetimg in Invercargill.

Fastest KZ2 class qualifier Ryan Urban. Photo: Fast Company/Ian Edwards

With a best lap time round KartSport Southland's recently extended 703 metre Macaulay Ford Kart Raceway of 30.756 seconds Urban claimed pole position in the KZ2 class from fellow Aucklanders Mathew Kinsman and Daniel Bray, and Wellingtonian Karl Wilson.

With lap times just a whisker over the half minute mark the 125cc/6-speed gearbox KZ2 karts were the quickest round the fast, flowing Sandy Point Domain, Invercargill track.

Next best in the mixed dry/wet conditions today were the direct drive 125cc Rotax Max Light karts, Mathew Kinsman's younger brother Daniel topping the time sheets in that class with a best lap of 32.344.

This weekend's Sprint Nationals meeting in Invercargill has attracted over 170 entries from as far north as Auckland - as well as expat Lane Moore from Australia - with ten class titles to be contested tomorrow and on Sunday.

Moore made the trip from his Gold Coast home worthwhile by claiming pole position in the 125cc Rotax Max Heavy class, his best lap of 39.486 just pipping the 39.554 of 2009 class champion Simon Hunter from Christchurch and the 39.708 of former North Island class title holder Aarron Cunningham from Auckland.

Meanwhile, defending Junior 100cc Yamaha champion James Penrose got his title defence off to a good start with the fastest qualifying lap in that class, while upholding local honours was Invercargill's Damien Leach who set the quickest lap time in the Open class.

Ten class titles will be contested over the three-day event with Cadet, 100cc Junior Yamaha, 100cc Yamaha Heavy, 125cc Rotax Max Light and KZ2 on Saturday, and 100cc Junior Restricted Yamaha, KF3, 100cc Yamaha Light, 125cc Rotax Max Heavy and Open on Sunday

Over 170 karters plus family members and supporters have made the trip south for the 52nd National Sprint Championship meeting which is being televised by Southland TV channel Cue TV with two one hour shows (Sky digital channel 110 and Freeview satellite channel 23).

The first will air on Saturday May 7 at 8.00pm with repeats on Saturday May 14 at 3.30pm, Saturday May 21 at 3.30pm and Sunday May 29 at 2.30pm.

The 2011 Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand National Sprint Championship meeting is being run with the assistance of class sponsors, Invercargill Oil Shop, Kiwi Karts, Macaulay Ford, Mainland Karting, SBS Bank, Southland Brakes and Driveline, The Southland Times, The Rock and Transport Engineering Southland.

Ends

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