Daily Report by: ROK Cup USA
Photos by: Canadian Karting News
With rain threatening the area throughout the week, it was damp and dreary start at the Orlando Kart Center (OKC) this morning. In a day that featured a single practice session for all classes followed by qualifying, a handful of ROK Cup USA Florida Winter Tour classes would see one heat race while others would be on track for a pair of wheel-to-wheel races.
ROK VLR Junior – Nash Motorsportz
Qualifying Results
- Caleb Gafrarar (RPG) – 55.612
- Charlie Smith (Nash Motorsportz) +.275
- Helio Meza (Iron Rock)
- Steven Miller (CDR)
- Oscar Iliffe (Iron Rock)
Heat #1
Heat one for the ROK VLR Junior drivers saw Gafrarar maintain his position at the front of the field as Miller was able to gain two positions on the opening lap while Cooper Shipman (Iron Rock) gained three to move to fourth by the end of lap two. Gafrarar set fast lap after fast lap for the first four circuits stretching his lead to nearly 1.5 seconds over Miller, Smith, Shipman and Iliffe. Gafrarar was in a league of his own as he drove to the victory but behind him the battle remained tight. Miller was able to break away from the battle behind him to finish second while Shipman and Iliffe were able to get by Smith for third and fourth on the results sheets.
Heat #2
Gafrarar started heat two the same way that he finished heat one and quickly jumped out to the lead, but the attack was on behind him. Gafrarar opened a small gap by the end of lap one but by lap three, found himself back in the fifth position as Meza, Iliffe, Shipman and Miller had all moved their way by. Looking to get back up front, Gafrarar was back to fourth on lap four, but his progress was stalled until lap seven when he moved back to third. Upfront, Meza and Iliffe ran nose to tail as they looked to stretch away from the rest of their competition, but it was Gafrarar who would match their pace as Shipman got by Miller for fourth on track. In a last lap that featured no drama, it was Meza scoring the win ahead of Iliffe, Gafrarar, Shipman and Smith. Following the heat, Gafrarar was in the penalty box and was relegated to fifth on the results sheets.
ROK VLR Senior – RTD Media
Qualifying Results
- Gia Cicero (RPG) – 55.711
- Jeremy Fletcher (Gary Willis Racing) + .137
- Victor Schoma (RPG)
- Cedrik Lupien (RPG)
- Wes Duchak (RPG)
Heat #1
In his first Florida Winter Tour start of 2022, Cicero earned the pole position and led the opening lap in the ROK VLR Senior class as Schoma was able to get by Fletcher for second on the opening lap. The front five would remain close with Fletcher moving to second on lap three as he set the fastest lap of the race to that point. Fletcher would close down the one second gap over the next five laps to get to the bumper of Cicero as they were clear of Lupien in third. Fletcher made his successful bid for the lead on lap ten disposing of Cicero but three corners from the end, Cicero was able to get back by and take the win ahead of Fletcher, Lupien, Schoma and Duchak.
Heat #2
Fletcher rebounded in heat two and found his way to the front of the VLR Senior field and eventually to the top of the results sheets. Victor Schoma was the biggest loser of the opening lap as he went from his P3 starting position back to 16th on the opening lap while pole position winner Cicero slotted into second behind Fletcher. Wes Duchak, Gracian Rzedzian (Tecno Kart USA) and Nicholas D’Andrea (Leading Edge Motorsports) rounded out the top-five by mid-race distance as they all advanced forward from their starting positions. The top-four would remain unchanged for the last half of the race but Cedrik Lupien was able to work his way back forward and earn himself a fifth place finish. After post-race video review, Cicero was given a two-position penalty and relegated to the fourth position.
LO206 Senior – Briggs & Stratton
Qualifying Results
- Mike Valente (Premiere Karting) – 104.976
- Jed Perkins (Perkins Racing) + .154
- Alexander Dal Bon (Los Brothers)
- Greg Campos (Piquet Sport)
- Matthew Walsh (SLA)
LO206 Masters – Briggs & Stratton
Qualifying Results
- James Perkins (Perkins Racing) – 106.232
- Eli Yanko (VSR) + .001
- Alex Dal Bon (Los Brothers)
- Jason Abrams (VSR)
- Ruben Cherres (SLA)
Heat #1
The combined LO206 Senior and Masters heat one would see the top three of the Senior class battle hard while the top-five in Masters were locked wheel-to-wheel for the majority of the nine lap heat. Mike Velente, Greg Campos and Jed Perkins would all lead on occasion in the Senior class. Velente would take the win by .176 over Perkins and Campos as he and Alexander Dal Bon were the only two drivers to swap positions in the top-five. Matthew Walsh held on to fifth. Following the heat, Perkins was given a two-position penalty and relegated back to the fourth position.
In the Master class, it was Jason Abrams who rocketed his way to the top of the results sheets to take the heat one win as James Perkins and Eli Yanko each fell one spot to finish second and third ahead of Barry Gilsenan (Celtic Racing) and Alex Dal Bon.
Heat #2
Heat two saw a close finish in the 206 Senior class as Valente was able to take the top position by a scant .012 when the checkered flag flew as the top-two finished where they started. It was Greg Campos, Matthew Walsh and Nicolas Villanueva (SLA) who all gained one position to finish third, fourth and fifth respectively.
With Jed Perkins finishing second in the Senior heat, it was the elder Perkins who would top the results sheets in the Master heat as James Perkins took the win ahead of Eli Yanko. Ruben Cherres (SLA Kart) gained two positions to finish third in class ahead of Dal Bon in fourth and Jason Abrams in fifth.
ROK Mini – SpeedLab Racing
Qualifying Results
- Asher Ochstein (Supertune) – 59.730
- Kai Johnson (PSA Check) +.096
- Isaac Malcuit (AKT)
- Oliver Wheldon (JC Karting)
- Carson Weinberg (Speed Concepts)
Heat #1
With two aborted starts, the front row would be moved back to the third and fourth place starting positions much to the delight of the row two starters. Isaac Malcuit would lead lap one ahead of Ochstein and Oliver Wheldon as he and Carson Weinberg jumped a position each to run third and fourth after lap one. It did not take Ochstein long as he moved back to the front on lap two as he and Malcuit opened a small gap. By the end of lap four, the top-five were separated by nine tenths of a second with Kai Johnson in fourth setting the fastest lap of the race. Malcuit, Johnson and Weinberg would all close lap six in front of Ochstein as it was a hard-fought battle up front. The top-five karts ran two by three at the start of the final lap as the youngsters put on a show. Ochstein would take the win after a masterful defense on the final lap as Wheldon would come home second after Weinberg would make contact only three corners from the end. Johnson and Malcuit scored the P3 and P4 positions on track as Keelan Harvick (Harvick Racing) crossed the stripe in fifth.
Heat #2
Kai Johnson jumped to the point during the opening lap of the second ROK Mini heat as Asher Ochstein was able to settle into second and attach himself to the bumper of Johnson. Carson Weinberg moved from fifth to third in the opening lap while Gainmatteo Rousseau (AM Racing) was also up a pair of positions into fourth. Weinberg was the quickest kart on the track on lap four as he was able to run down the lead duo en route to the fastest lap of the race while Oliver Wheldon was back by Rousseau for fourth. Lap six saw Weinberg move to second as Wheldon was also able to get by Ochstein for third. Johnson went on the defensive to keep a hard charging group of ten drivers behind him. Weinberg and Johnson would make contact in the final corner that saw Johnson spin and opened the door for Ochstein to secure the heat race two win. Weinberg finished second on track ahead of Max Cristea (PSL Karting), who gained nine to finish third while Ty Fisher (Speed Concepts) gained six to finish fourth. Oliver Wheldon was fifth. While Fisher had one of his best drives of the season, he was penalized following the race for on track contact to finish 16th.
ROK Shifter Master – PSL Karting
Qualifying Results
- Jordon Musser (PSL Karting) – 51.973
- Patrick-Otto Madsen (Ansa Motorsports) +.381
- Daniel Dibos (ANSA Motorsports)
- Rene Martinelli (TB Kart USA)
- Cole Mathewson (ANSA Motorsports)
Heat #1
The Jordon Musser show continued in ROK Shifter Master as he jumped from his pole position to the lead and never looked back. Patrick-Otto Madsen slotted into the second position as Martinelli, Mathewson and Hernando Sanchez (Goodwood Kartways) all were by Daniel Dibos on the opening lap. The field would remain static for the first half of the race with Musser opening a three second gap over his closest rival. Musser scored a dominating win ahead of Madsen and Mathewson who was able to get by Martinelli during the final two laps while Sanchez finished fifth.
Heat #2
Musser continued his roll in heat two driving to another dominant victory setting the fastest race lap in the process. He took the heat two win by 3.261 over Patrick-Otto Madsen and a hard charging Cole Mathewson who gained two positions throughout the nine-lap race. Rene Martinelli was once again in the top-five holding his fourth position on track to remain consistent on the day as Daniel Dibos rounded out the top-five.
ROK Senior – Racing Edge Motorsports
Qualifying Results
- Matheus Morgatto (AM Racing) – 53.205
- Jack Jeffers (Speed Concepts) +.121
- Diego Ramos (Racing Edge Motorsports)
- Marijn Kremers (PSL Karting)
- Cameron Weinberg (Speed Concepts)
Heat #1
Matheus Morgatto would maintain his lead at the start of the first ROK Senior heat of the weekend as Marijn Kremers jumped to second ahead of Jack Jeffers on the start. Cameron Weinberg was involved in a first corner incident and fell from fifth to the tail of the field as Patrick Woods Toth (Prime Powerteam) moved to fourth while Jeremy Fletcher (Gary Willis Racing) jumped four positions to fifth. Woods Toth advanced to third on lap five as Gianluca Savaglio (Racing Edge Motorsports) moved by Fletcher for fifth. Morgatto and Jeffers would run lock and step for much of the race as they matched each other’s lap times lap after lap as Kremers was able to get back by Toth for third. With rain falling on the final lap, Jeffers would spin three corners from the end opening the door for Kremers and Toth to slip by for second and third ahead of Jeffers as Guilherme Do Vale (Racing Edge Motorsports) finished fifth.
Heat #2
Morgatto was out to the lead early in heat two, but it was Kremers who would sneak by after slight contact close to the end of the opening lap. Morgatto would get back by Kremers the next lap, but Kremers would repay the favor a few corners later. Cameron Weinberg threw his hat in the mix as he and Patrick Woods Toth battled hard in the top-five and Jeremy Fletcher had the best seat for all the action in fifth. Jeffers was able to get by Fletcher on lap five to move to P5 with Morgatto setting the fastest lap of the race that lap and retaking the top spot on lap six. The Senior drivers were putting on a show in the last on track session of the day with the top-six nose to tail swapping positions every lap. Kremers would get by Morgatto down the back straight on the final lap to score the win ahead of Morgatto by .074. Woods Toth was third while Jack Jeffers salvaged his run to finish fourth ahead of Fletcher in fifth.
ROK Master – Orsolon Racing
Qualifying Results
- Antonio Pizzonia (Orsolon Motorsports) 54.497
- Danillo Ramalho (Racing Edge Motorsports) +.037
- Renato David (Orsolon Motorsports)
- William Isaias (International Motorsports)
- Adriano Pizzonia (Orsolon Motorsports)
Heat #1
The front three in Master ROK remained unchanged throughout the first eleven laps of heat one as former Formula One driver Antonio Pizzonia led before Danillo Ramalho snuck by for the win. Pizzonia finished second ahead of Renato David in third with Ramalho scoring the fastest lap of the race. Scott Roberts (Speed Concepts) was the biggest mover in the front half of the field gaining three positions to earn a fourth place result ahead of William Isaias in fifth.
ROK Micro – Mosport Kart Centre
Qualifying Results
- Rocco Simone (Parolin USA) – 101.741
- Alex Procuna (FLC) + .109
- Nico Orbezo (Iron Rock)
- Matheus Ramalho (Racing Edge Motorsports)
- Tyrone Kemper Jr. (AKT)
Heat #1
Rocco Simone would lose the lead on the opening lap but regain it during the final corner to lead the opening lap. Nico Orbezo, Matheus Ramalho, Tyrone Kemper Jr. and Decklan Deonarine (Goodwood Kartways) all moved forward one position each in the opening few laps as Alex Procuna fell four spots to sixth. Orbezo would slip by Simone on lap six to take the point as Kemper, Decklan and David Zhao (Goodwood Kartways) all were by Ramalho on the same circuit. Simone was back to the lead by the end of lap seven as the front four ran nose to tail in the late stages. Orbezo would fail to complete lap eight as an issue on track sent him plummeting down the running order while Kemper, Deonarine, and Zhao were all able to get by Simone to claim the first through third place positions. Simone slotted back into fourth ahead of Drew Walz (Mottazsport) in fifth.
ROK Junior – Rolison Performance Group
Qualifying Results
- Teddy Musella (RPG) – 53.969
- Steven Miller (CDR) + .002
- Sebastian Wheldon (JC Karting)
- Ayden Ingratta (Speed Concepts)
- G3 Argyros (Speed Concepts)
Heat #1
It was Sebastian Wheldon who jumped to the lead of the ROK Junior heat as he pushed Teddy Musella back one spot during the opening lap. Caleb Gafrarar (RPG) and Jorge Ortiz (Supertune) each moved forward three positions to third and fourth by the end of lap three as Ayden Ingratta was back to fifth. A lap later Gafrarar (RPG) was up into the second position bringing Ortiz with him. Steven Miller rebounded from an early race fall back as he recovered to P4 with Musella in fifth. Wheldon earned the heat race win ahead of Gafrarar and Ortiz. Following the heat, Wheldon was given penalty for contact on track that relegated him down to the fourth position and advanced Gafrarar, Ortiz and Ingratta to the top-three.
ROK VLR Master – ROK Cup Canada
Qualifying Results
- Laurentiu Mardan (Tecno Kart USA) 57.353
- Rob Maier (RPG) + .052
- Martin Stone (Team Benik)
- Cristian Vomir (Tecno Kart USA)
- Charlie Fonseca (Orlando Kart Center)
Heat #1
Laurentiu Mardan was untouched in the VLR Masters first heat as he continued his dominance of the class at the Florida Winter Tour. Martin Stone kept him honest all race long and finished less than half a second in arrears of Mardan. Rob Maier was the victim of Stone’s advancement as he fell one position to come home third. Charlie Fonseca was the best of the rest earning the fourth position and the fastest lap of the race ahead of Cayden Goodridge (Goodwood Kartways) in fifth.
ROK Shifter – PSL Karting
Qualifying Results
- AJ Myers (Magik Kart USA) 50.946
- Jake French (PSL Karting) + .021
- Danny Formal (Leading Edge Motorsports)
- Collin Daley (DRT Racing)
- Michael Stevens (Stevens Barbosa Racing)
Heat #1
It was all AJ Myers in the first ROK Shifter heat of the weekend as he rocketed off the line to keep the lead and let the rest of the field battle it out behind him. Jake French was able to get by championship point leader Danny Formal on lap three for the second position. Myers would take the heat race win by more than a second as French and Formal would go wheel-to-wheel on the final lap with French holding Formal at bay. Davide Greco (PSL Karting) moved forward two positions to cross the line in the fourth position ahead of Michael Stevens and Vincenzo Sarracino (VS10 Karting) in fifth and sixth respectively.
*All results unofficial at time of posting
