Podium places for female racers at Bushy Park

Two female racers stood on the end-of-day podiums for the first time at Sunday’s (September 21) fifth round of the Barbados Karting Association’s (BKA) Sectus Technologies Championship. Hailey Brathwaite and Ava Mayers were the third-placed points-scorers in their respective classes.

  With his second clean sweep for the season of four race wins in the Easykart 125cc class, Calem Maloney increased his points total to 485 and his lead in the overall standings to 54. Easykart 60cc leader Jordyn Hinkson (431pts) remains second, with class rivals Jaydn Brathwaite (351pts) and Edward Norris (333pts) now third and fourth, as reigning Champion Driver Jacob Mayers drops out of the top six.

  The BKA podium ceremonies reward drivers based on the points scored across the day’s four races. In the 125cc class, Maloney claimed the maximum 100 points, with Aaron Blackett second (78 pts) and Hailey Brathwaite third, her 66 points coming from one third – her best result to date – and three fourth-place finishes.

  In the 60cc Cadets, Hinkson (88pts) was the top scorer, Brathwaite and Norris tied on 75 points and Ava Mayers had the third highest total of 64; like Hailey, she claimed a debut third-place race finish, with two fourths and a sixth.

  While Maloney was fastest in 125cc Practice, Blackett topped the Qualifying timesheets, two milliseconds ahead of Cody Mark. Maloney was into the lead by lap three of the first race, however, easing away while Mark and Blackett disputed second place; after four changes of position, Mark prevailed, also clocking the fastest lap.

  Maloney won the second race, Mark retiring at half-distance while lying second, promoting Blackett and Hailey Brathwaite to the podium places. While Maloney led the remaining two races from start to finish, Blackett and Mark continued their battle, sharing the second and third places. Although dropped scores are yet to be applied, Maloney now has 485 points, while Blackett (319pts) has moved to second in class ahead of Jacob Mayers (288pts), who did not contest Sunday’s event.

  Absent for last month’s fourth round, early-season points leader Brathwaite returned to the 60cc Cadet class on good form. He was fastest in Practice and Qualifying, beating Hinkson to the line by just two-tenths in the day’s opening race, with Norris third, despite a 5secs jump start penalty.

  While he won race two by a more comfortable margin of 10secs on the road, Brathwaite was disqualified in post-race scrutineering for being underweight. Hinkson inherited the win, with Norris second and Ava Mayers third for her first top three race finish in only her third race meet.

  Hinkson led off the line in both races three and four, but Brathwaite passed him for two more wins, Norris completing the top three each time. After a day of close battles right through the field, Hinkson now leads the class with 431 points. Brathwaite (351pts) is second, with Norris (333pts) third, while Jaylan Priddee (294pts) passed reigning class champion Shamir Eversley (275pts) for fourth.

Championship points (after five rounds):

Overall:

1st Calem Maloney, 485 points

2nd Jordyn Hinkson, 431pts

3rd Jaydn Brathwaite, 351pts

4th Edward Norris, 333pts

5th Aaron Blackett, 319pts

6th Jaylan Priddee, 294pts

etc

60cc Cadets: 1st, Hinkson, 431pts; 2nd Brathwaite, 351pts; 3rd Norris, 333pts; etc 100cc Juniors: 1st, Aeden Bruce, 240pts; 2nd Oliver Judd, 186pts; 3rd Sebastien Clarke, 134pts 125cc Lights: 1st, Maloney, 485pts; 2nd Aaron Blackett, 319pts; 3rd Jacob Mayers, 288pts; etc

Remaining rounds: October 19, November 8, all at Bushy Park Barbados, St Philip. Other dates may be added to replace lost rounds

For media information only. No regulatory value.

For further media information: e-mail –2015bka@gmail.com