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| April 10, 2012 News |
| US Rotax Max Challenge Series Profile: Bondurant Rotax Max Challenge |
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In cooperation with MAXSpeed Group, the administrator of the United States Rotax Max Challenge program, eKartingNews.com is happy to introduce the ‘US Rotax Max Challenge Series Profile’. Each month, EKN will profile one of the many Rotax series in the United States. Included in these regular overviews will be where each series races, who is racing there, and how you can become part of their program. Each US Rotax Max Challenge Series is a qualifying program toward the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals.
One of the newest United States Rotax Max Challenge series programs in the country is the Bondurant RMC. The program is run in Phoenix, Arizona at the PKRA Formula K Raceway, providing the ‘Copper State’ with a place for Rotaxians to compete within its borders, promoted by one of the most successful motorsports schools in the world. The program is developing quickly as 27 drivers are now registered for the series, making the statement that the Bondurant Rotax Max Challenge program is building a solid foundation for the future. Of the 27 USRMC memberships for 2012 thus far, only one was a renewal from the 2011 season - showing how Rotax brand is reaching a new market thanks to the addition of the Bondurant RMC series.
The Bondurant RMC series races in conjunction with the Phoenix Kart Racing Association (PKRA), a member owned and operated organization that calls the Formula K Raceway home. Their ‘Spring Series’ will host eight events that will count toward the Bondurant Rotax Max Challenge program for 2012 on the following dates: January 15, February 12, March 11, March 25, April 14, April 28, May 12, June 2. The program offers all of the Rotax Max Challenge categories, although the series thus far has seen most of its participation in Junior Max, Senior Max and Masters Max.
“Phoenix is one of the only markets where there was no Rotax series,” offered Alan Rudolph, who is the Bondurant Rotax Max Challenge Series Director. “For a couple years, the club has been trying to figure out a way to make this work. Because of my relationship with Rotax, it just became a natural fit, and it was a way to introduce Rotax to the Phoenix market.
“We started the series this year in January and, for a while, Bondurant was the leader with Rotax membership,” Rudolph continued. “For me, it has been more about doing what I know is best for the customer and karting, in general. There has always been turn over, and turmoil within karting, because of the constant change in engine packages, and classes. Rotax has a very stable platform at the club level, for sure. The customer can understand it and grow with it as they move up in age. At this point, there are three shops that are supporting the program - Innovative Karting, AZ Kart Werx, and Team AZ Karting. They, along with the PKRA, are really the driving force behind making this a success, Bondurant could not have done this without them.”
After four events in the books for 2012, Jim McKinney, Bryan Lemon and Roger Culver are the championship leaders. McKinney missed the opener but has recorded two runner-up finishes and a third to top the Junior Max standings. McKinney was a podium finisher at the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas event held at the PKRA facility in February. Canadian Zacharie Scalzo visited the program in February, preparing for the Gatorz COTA race to steal a victory, while Matt McMurry, Jake Boyle and Micah Hendricks the other winners on the season. In Masters Max, Culver also has two wins to start out the year, as he leads the standings over Rob Salthouse. Both have two runner-up finishes as well, as Derek Poirier and Curtis Ruth have also tasted victory, winning in round three and four, respectively. Just like Culver, Lemon has two wins thus far in Senior Max, taking the checker in round one and round three to lead the standings. Round four winner Bailey Murphy is second in the points chase, and is ready to fight for the title.
 | Bondurant Rotax Max Challenge Series racer Bryan Lemon
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
In each of our Rotax Max Challenge series profiles, we’ll also be selecting a series competitor to highlight, and for this initial segment, we’ll take a quick look at Senior Max point leader Bryan Lemon.
Bondurant Rotax Max Challenge Driver Profile:
Senior Max - Bryan Lemon
Age: 16
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Years Karting: 6
Chassis: Kosmic Mercury
Rotax Engine Service Center: Overdrive Motorsports/Innovative Karting
How did you learn about the new Rotax Max Challenge series? Alan Rudolph
What helped you make the decision to compete in the series this year? I wanted more time and experience with Rotax and MOJO tires to have a better effort in the Challenge of the Americas series
Do you have plans to race at the Rotax Grand Nationals or Pan American Challenge? At this time, we are planning to race in the Pam American Challenge
For more information on the Bondurant Rotax Max Challenge, visit http://www.pkra.com or contact Alan Rudolph via email alanrudolph@bondurant.com . Click over to http://www.GoRotax.com to find a United States Rotax Max Challenge near you. |
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