(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)

eKartingNews.com, the Official Media Partner of Superkarts! USA, is proud to present the Preview Series for the SKUSA SuperNationals XIX. In the coming days, EKN will preview each of the nine categories that will compete outside the Las Vegas Convention Center and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino from November 18-22.

For complete coverage of the SKUSA SuperNationals XIX, visit the EKN Event Page and head to eKartingNews.com/live for live audio and live timing throughout the five days of competition.

There is no questioning the talent level that exists in this year’s S1 Pro Stock Moto field. Just one short of the record 30 drivers from last year, the 2015 SuperNationals field is among the best of the best from North America and around the world. Just 15 drivers from a year ago are in this year’s field, with new S1 rookies and other international stars making their debut in the category.

Championship Chase: International Stars Leading the Way Once Again

Rick Dreezen – Fritz Leesmann
Billy Musgrave – Patrik Hajek

The title chase is down to four drivers. Belgian Rick Dreezen is trying to become the third international driver to win the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour S1 championship. Dreezen swept the SpringNationals, earning a perfect score both days to establish his point lead. Moving over from the BirelART to Ricciardo Kart, Dreezen enters the SuperNationals with a 90 point advantage over two-time champion Fritz Leesmann. The CRG driver has been right there all season, not yet able to claim the top position on the podium, and is the only championship contender returning as a podium finisher. A SuperNationals victory eludes the 2010 and 2012 champion, and a victory this year would be even more special to claim his third SKUSA title.

American Billy Musgrave and Czech driver Patrik Hajek, two winners at the SummerNationals remain in the championship chase entering the SuperNationals. Musgrave (Praga) is only 105 points out of first, and with a full field of drivers, anything is possible. Hajek gave Formula K its first major United States victory at New Castle, and could be the driver to land the brand on top of the at the SuperNationals.

Who to Watch: Anyone Can Land on the Podium

Danny Formal joins DRT Racing once again, looking to improve on a P3 last year (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Twenty-nine deep, anyone could finish SuperSunday in the top-five and on the podium. Four of last year’s podium finishers return, including defending champion Jordon Lennox making his first SKUSA start in 2015. Lennox piloted his CRG machine to five straight main event wins, including the SuperNationals, to score the $13,000 payday for the victory and title. Five-time world champion Davide Fore is returning to SKUSA competition after finishing runner-up to Lennox at the SuperNationals and in the point standings. The CRG driver is hoping to make it three-straight for the brand in the category. It was an impressive drive by Danny Formal in last year’s S1 division, and the Coast Rican is returning back to the United States where he molded his talent. Joining back with the DRT Racing operation aboard a DR Kart, Formal is sure to be a contender once again.

A number of familiar faces with new colors are making their SuperNats debut. 2013 winner and Fikse Wheels Pro Tour champion has joined with Phil Giebler Racing to pilot a Ricciardo Kart. Wimsett has been out of the seat for much of the year competition wise, but has spent a vast amount of time with lead-follow sessions with the number of drivers he has been coaching. Jake French, coming off an eighth place finish at the Rotax Grand Finals Saturday, is set to land in Las Vegas, piloting a SodiKart. AJ Myers is doing the double, racing the American-made iKart chassis in both KZ2 and S1. This is the Florida driver’s S1 debut. Texas native Connor Wagner is partnering up with the 3G Kart Racing operation and will pilot a BirelART machine. The same for NorCal star Nic LeDuc, joining forces with the Cambrian Go-Karts team. Hawaiian native Cody Hodgson has been gearing up for the event, testing the Aluminos chassis over the last few months.

International stars also include 2011 Fikse Wheels Pro Tour S1 champion Daniel Bray (Team GP / VCI), also coming from the Rotax Grand Finals where he represented New Zealand with a 15th-place performance. Matt Hamilton won the S4 main event at the SuperNationals in 2013, giving Aluminos its first Las Vegas triumph. Hamilton was right there with the front runners at the SpringNationals. Italian Francesco Celenta and Croatian Kristijan Habulin are making their SuperNationals debut. Celenta joining Russell Karting Specialties aboard a Parolin, with Habulin a TB Kart.

Podium Predictions:

Defending champion and race winner Jordon Lennox dons new colors for 2015

Rob Howden – EKN Editor-in-Chief
1. Jordan Lennox
2. Fritz Leesmann
3. David Fore
4. Billy Musgrave
5. Rick Dreezen

We’ve witnessed some great racing in the S1 category this year, and three different winners on the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour.  Rick Dreezen, Patrik Hajek and Billy Musgrave all scored victories.   The SuperNationals always attracts additional players and this year’s S1 line-up may be the best we’ve ever seen.  It’s jammed with the best Pro Tour drivers this year (Dreezen, Hajek, Musgrave, Leesmann), former SuperNationals winners and Pro Tour champions (Lennox, White, Bray, Dyer, Wimsett, Carlton), world champion Fore, potent one-off players (Formal, Myers, Lane) and the best S2 grads from the last three years (Campbell, Wagner, Kotyk, French, Gumpfer).  There is going to be great racing from front to back.  As the reigning SuperNats winner in S1, I see Lennox being tough to beat on this new layout, although I expect him to be challenged by CRG pilots Leesmann and Fore.  Musgrave continues to raise his game and I predict that he bags a podium result over Dreezen, who will finish fifth to win the Pro Tour championship.

David Cole – EKN Managing Editor

Another year of racing the Stock Honda package, Davide Fore is destined to win at the SuperNationals (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

1. Davide Fore
2. Danny Formal
3. Rick Dreezan
4. Fritz Leesmann
5. Jordon Lennox

This is the year American drivers get to see the five-time world champion Davide Fore finally win at the SuperNationals. Fore has won all over the world, but never at the Las Vegas spectacular event. It is going to be a hard fought battle for sure, with the aggressive and always quick Danny Formal losing out to the five-time champ. Rick Dreezen finishes as the top championship contender, securing the title with a third place result. Fritz Leesmann finishes as the top American, ending what has been a solid season, but just short on the title. Defending winner Jordon Lennox is in the mix, finishing fifth.

S1 Pro Stock Moto Provisional Entry List

Share on Facebook

Tweet