AUS: Victorian Championships Friday notes

VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS KICK OFF AT PUCKAPUNYAL

After being postponed due to the tragic bushfires in the region during early February, the Victorian Open Sprint Kart Championships blasted into action at the Hume International Raceway in Puckapunyal today.

With 400 competitors from all across the country assembled for the Championships this Event is one of the largest to be held in Australia during 2009.

Echuca youngster Reece Sidebottom set the pace for the Midgets category, for drivers aged between seven and 11 years of age, to qualify on pole position. It is Sidebottom's third attempt at a State Championship since following his father Brett into the sport of karting two years ago.

"I'm really happy to get pole position and after finished second at the South Australian State Championships last year, it would be great to break through for a win this weekend," said eight year-old Sidebottom.

With the Midget competitors not competing at the National Championships this weekend's Event will be the most prestigious Event they will compete in during 2009.

Qualifying second behind Sidebottom was fellow Victorian Giulian Dichera followed by Tom Hughes and Nicholas Larry.

In the fastest junior category being contested this weekend it was Sunbury (Victoria) resident Jordan Ford who qualified on pole position. Second fastest was Adam Lindstrom ahead of Bendigo driver Jarrod Egan.

Melbourne driver David Sera secured two pole positions during the day by setting the fastest time of the day in both the 100cc Clubman Light and 125cc Rotax Light categories.

Qualifying behind the eight-time Australian Champion in Clubman Light was Jordan Sanderson, who upstaged some of his more fancied rivals -- including his older brother Ryan - to claim a front row starting position for the heat races.

In Rotax Light, Shepparton driver Luigi Catanese is set to take the challenge to Sera after posting the second fastest time narrowly ahead of Sydney drivers Jason Hryniuk and David Whitmore.

The opening round of heat races began this afternoon and will continue tomorrow before the Championship Finals will be contested on Sunday.

-credit: karting.net.au