(Photo: EKN)

EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Florida. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.

15 Years of the SKUSA Pro Tour

The SKUSA staff for 2024 (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

It was April 2010, and a gathering of karters took place at the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. It was the start of the inaugural Superkarts! USA Pro Tour. Roughly 100 racers took part in the first SpringNationals event that launched the new championship program before heading to Shawano, Wisconsin for the first SummerNationals. The 2010 SuperNationals concluded the series that year, as it was not until 2017 that the WinterNationals began with its first trip to the NOLA Motorsports Park.

Speaking with Superkarts! USA Tony Leone, who has been part of SKUSA prior to the start of the Pro Tour, he mentions how different the landscape of the sport is. At the beginning of the SKUSA Pro Tour, the focus was on the Senior and Master categories. Now, the youth movement has taken over with the large numbers in Cadet and Junior competition. Leone – who started as a part-time employee for SKUSA then, is among the nearly 10 full-time staff members that help operate the day-to-day business. Technology is a big part and been his focus throughout the 15 years, including the scoring, registration, and of course the video marshal system that was implemented years ago.

For us at EKN, it’s been an exciting 15 years of racing across the country, featuring a number of karting stars, motorsports stars, and more. To see where the organization itself has grown, with the professionalism of our sport beginning with the SKUSA Pro Tour and continues today. A lot has changed in 15 years, but SKUSA is committed to the sport of karting.

Sodi Racing USA Looking Long Term

Zayne Burgess with Thierry Germanovich of Sodi Racing USA (Photo: Sodi Racing USA)

Announced this week, Zayne Burgess has signed on to a long term contract with Sodi Racing USA and Sodikart Group. The seven-year-old Jamaican driver born in the USA is coming off three win championship performance at the SKUSA Winter Series in the Micro Swift class. Burgess began karting back at the end of 2020 and was quickly out of the kid kart to the cadet size, making his debut last season at many of the major championship programs.

Thierry Germanovich speaks very highly of the young driver. “I really believe this kid is a special talent behind the wheel, even though he is still extremely young. But it reminds me some kids I managed with Sodi many years ago like Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Alex Baron. Zayne is perhaps an even more natural talent for now.”

As we are seeing in Europe, factory teams and manufacturers are looking at the younger categories to lock in potential talent that will bring them wins and championships in the future. This could be one of those as we see Burgess as one of the top Micro drivers to start off the 2024 season.

Kremers in Rolison Performance Group Colors

Marijn Kremers making his OTK RPG debut this weekend (Photo: EKN)

Two-time defending SKUSA Pro Tour Pro Shifter champion Marijn Kremers is in new colors for 2024. Following his stint with Birel ART and PSL Karting here in the United States, the Dutch driver moved to Tony Kart factory team in Europe. He’s enjoyed his new home in the first few months of the season, feeling out the different structure within the team and the company itself. A deal just weeks ago came together to come to the SKUSA Pro Tour and compete under the Rolison Performance Group. He’s teammates now with four-time SuperNationals winner Danny Formal, and RPG new drivers Cooper Becklin and Anthony Martella. The foursome is already breaking down data together after the opening practice sessions.

Speed Concepts Racing Preparing for Move to CS55

Confirmed this weekend, Speed Concepts Racing will be moving their chassis brand to the new CS55 that recently launched from OTK. The Carlos Sainz inspired kart features different colors from the standard OTK karts, something team owner Mike Speed is looking forward to. They are set to debut the new karts and colors at the USPKS Texas Grand Prix event in April. Mike and Alex Speed along with top X30 Pro driver Austin Garrison continue working with their Senior and Junior drivers providing sound and experienced coaching. The tent is busy this weekend as well, welcoming GFC Karting team under the drivers. Their four Pro Shifter pilots along with KA100 Junior driver Jaxon Young.

Expanded Roster for Trinity Karting Group

Josh Bergman joins Trinity Karting Group (Photo: EKN)

The tent has grown since the SKUSA Winter Series for Trinity Karting Group. Among the new drivers is Mini pilot Josh Bergman, moving over to the Kart Republic brand for the first time in 2024. Cameron Marsha joins TKG and making his first Kart Republic start in his first outing for the KA100 Junior division. Add in Gabe Bellanca and Cooper Lisle from Australia in the X30 Pro division and the TKG tent is back full for the 2024 SKUSA Pro Tour. This sets up well for the Ohio based team, as the SpringNationals will make its debut at TKG’s own Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati this June.

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