GoPro Motorplex’s official, in-house racing series and track-based points championship, the GoPro Motorplex Karting Challenge, kicked-off its 2014 season with Round One today. With a turnout of nearly 70 karters, we were excited to see several new faces and welcome back our karting regulars who are thirsty for another strong run for the championship chase. The additional classes and purse money increased the racing action and excitement for karters and spectators alike.

Tyler Maxson, Enzo Fittipaldi, Sam Beasley, Neil Verhagen, Chase Acklam, Mike Griffith, Zack Frank, J.T. Swygert, Billy Duff, Gresham Wagner, Brian Davies and Randy Sampson all scored final wins in Round One of the GoPro Motorplex Karting Challenge this afternoon.

In the Micro Max division, Tyler Maxson was the driver to beat, winning both the pre-final and 15-lap final race. The frontrunners of William Robusto, Maxson and Bradley Zilisch were checking out on the field early on, but when Zilisch spun in Turn One, it allowed Maxson to gain a lead. This left brother and sister, William Robusto and Isabella Robusto battling hard for second and third. Isabella had been strong all day, winning the pole with a 57.517-second lap in qualifying and she was able to hold on to finish second over her brother in the final. Maxson took the checkered, followed by Isabella and William Robusto.

The Mini Max division didn’t disappoint with some great racing throughout the field. However, it was Enzo Fittipaldi who was able to secure the final win, after qualifying on the pole earlier in the day. The final was full of action, with the leaders, Alex Verhagen, Fittipaldi, Sam Luis Tisdale and Dante Tekampe all battling for the lead and swapping positions nearly every corner before the halfway flags even came out. By halfway, Tekampe suffered a mechanical issue causing him to fall out of the race early, leaving the three young drivers to battle for the win. Fittipaldi took the win, followed by Tisdale and Verhagen.

In the Rotax Senior division, it was Sam Beasley who won both the prefinal and 20-lap final, following transponder issues in qualifying. However, what is on paper doesn’t always tell the full story. Nick Losito gave Beasley a run for his money in the final, Beasley unable to shake Losito from his bumper the entire race. Beasley was able to hold off Losito to take the top spot. Losito finished in second and Sam Watson in third.

The TaG Junior division was another race that may look clear-cut on paper, but was a hard-fought, neck-to-neck battle between Neil Verhagen and Bradley Zilish in one of the best races and only two entries! The two drivers swapped for the lead literally from corner to corner, Zilisch winning the pre-final and Verhagen leading when it counted to take the win in the final.

Chase Acklam secured the win in the Rotax Junior division against a very capable and talented group of competitors. Blake Hunt earned the pole in qualifying with a 50.146-second lap, but it was Alex Sullivan who took the checkered in the pre-final. Acklam was in the right spot at the right time in the final to take the win, followed by Sullivan and Joel Norman.

Both the Yamaha Senior and Junior divisions had a strong showing in the first round of the series this afternoon. Mike Griffith, with a large lead, won the Yamaha Senior final, followed by Noah Fleming and Ben Curtis. Zack Frank was the driver to beat in the Yamaha Junior division, winning the pre-final and final races. Abby Sinon and Charles Krett finished in second and third in the final.

In an exciting, hold-your-breath, last-lap battle, Gresham Wagner was able to secure the victory in the TaG Senior division. For the first few laps, the top-three drivers of Sam Beasley, Dusty Davis and Wagner were nose-to-tail. On lap seven, Davis and Beasley began to battle closely for the lead, Davis leading laps through the middle of the race. However, the close race ended with Beasley going extremely wide in the last corner coming to the checkered flag, causing the frontrunners to brake hard, allowing Wagner to sneak by with the win, followed by Davis and Beasley.

In the TaG Masters division, Chuck Tate appeared to be the driver to beat, winning the pole in qualifying, the 12-lap pre-final and the 20-lap final. However, following a disqualification in tech inspection, Randy Sampson was given the win in the final, Justin Halliday in second and Steve Frank in third.

J.T. Swygert won the Briggs Senior Heavy division final and Billy Duff won the Briggs Senior Light division final.

Brian Davies won the Open Shifter division final.

For a complete list of final results and points standings from Round One of the GoPro Motorplex Karting Challenge, CLICK HERE.

To view the album of GoPro pictures from Round One, CLICK HERE.

The GoPro Motorplex Karting Challenge will be back in action for Round Two on April 27. Each segment of the GoPro Motorplex Karting Challenge consists of two rounds of practice, qualifying, prefinal and final races for all classes. Round Two will follow the same event schedule as today’s race, CLICK HERE.

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