Kyle Gregg (left) and Mario Mair battle it out. - Photo by LeVaughn Flynn
After yesterday's bumper-to-bumper rivalry and intense battle on the track, the action continues today at the Palisadoes Raceway, Kingston, where Jamaica and seven other countries are battling for supremacy, to be crowned international go-kart champions.
President of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club, Errol Anderson, gave the meet his blessings and said the future for karting in Jamaica looks positive.
"This is a sport that promotes Jamaica as a motorsport destination. I am hoping that the respective authorities are making the observation that this meet, in particularly, is pulling in a number of tourists," said Anderson.
"Thomas Issa, in the Rotax Mini-max, and Colin Daley Jr, in the Rotax Junior Class, are looking very good," says Neil Williams, vice-president of the Jamaica Karting Association.
Although they might have looked impressive during practising, it will not be an easy task for them to take the chequered flag. Issa will have to stave off the challenge of fellow countryman Jonathan Law and Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi Da Cruz. The 13-year-old Brazilian is undoubtedly one of the most experienced karters in that class and, therefore, should be among the top three finishers.
Colin Daley Jr will be facing the biggest challenge of his career, on local soil. His main rival seems to be Canadian Jesus Rios, who is rated among the top 10 karters in Canada.
main threat
Jamaica's Kyle Gregg promises to give it his all and, hopefully, come out on top in the Rotax Senior Class. His main threat are the Jacksons - Joel, Sean and Justine - Carlos Duenas and Thomas Silva of the United States and Jonathan Arendas of Aruba.
"They are running good and we are expecting to take home a couple trophies," commented Andrew Jackson, manager of the Jetcon-sponsored Jackson team.
The clash everybody will certainly looking forward to is the showdown between the United States' Matthew Mair, Canada's Fritz Leesman and Oliver Sirola, and Jamaica's Joel Jackson, in the ICC Shifter Class. Leesmann and Mair are expected to be involved in some close finishes.
Leesmann is from Sacramento. Earlier this year he finished second in the Florida Winter Tour Pro Shifter series, a title he won last year. He was also the Canadian National Champion in 2008, plus, he finished second in the Stars of Karting National ICC championship in 2007.
His colleague, Sirola, is from Quebec and was the junior champion of that Province in 2003; he won the title again the following year. In 2005, he finished second in the Rotax Junior Championship. Last year he won the Rotax Senior Championship.
The Caribbean Karting of Carnival race meet will climax this afternoon with a party at the track.
Thomas Issa
Contributed
Colin Daley Jr