2025 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Team USA – Friday Report
Five drivers from USA set to battle in Finals on Saturday
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Friday at the 2025 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals was the penultimate day of action at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit. It was a short day on-track, with warm-ups starting at noon prior to the Rotax Drivers Parade, featuring the 394 drivers from over 60 countries. Once the ceremony was completed, it was racing with all the Prefinals for the eight categories contested to set the grids for the Finals to run on Saturday.
Mini MAX was the first Prefinal for Team USA drivers with Enzo DiGennaro able to advance and avoid any issues. The Rotax Winter Trophy champion is looking to better his 24th finish in Sarno, Italy last year. The lone Junior MAX driver on Team USA Davin Roberts will not be able to better his 19th place result from last year. After qualifying outside the top-50, Roberts was shuffled back in the opening lap scramble, and the Rotax Winter Trophy champion was unable to earn enough points to transfer to the Final.
Pauly Massimino continues to be the bright side of Team USA. Starting his Prefinal in seventh, Massimino was able to avoid any issues early. Moving up to fifth by the midway point, he ran fast lap of the race at one point. As the leaders battled on the final lap, the US Trophy Final runner-up was able to grab fourth in the last corner. He starts top 10 in the Final, attempting to become the fifth USA driver to finish on the podium in DD2. Macy Williams, in the same race, was involved in a spin early but began working her way forward until contact due to a brake failure put her out of the race, and out of transferring to the Final.
It was tough day for the trio in the Senior MAX division. Charlie Smith was dropped to last on the opening lap of Prefinal A. Cooper O’Clair moved forward through the race, with eventually Smith climbing up to him near the top 20. Both ended up outside the top 25 and unable to transfer to the main event. Hodgson started Prefinal B in fourth and was spun around at the opening corner, smashed later by another driver coming through. He continued on and finished outside the top 25. Also involved in contact was Ellis Spiezia in E20 Senior. Racing for position another driver turned into him, causing them to stop for a brief moment as the field continued on. Pushback bumper was the issue for Christopher Mann in DD2 Masters as he continues to fight for inside the top 20.
With the results nearly official, five of the nine drivers for Team USA will be racing on Saturday in the Finals.
Scheduled start time for the main events (local time is GMT +3)
E20 Senior / E20 Masters: 10:37am / 2:37am EST / 11:37pm PST (Friday)
Micro MAX: 11:07am / 3:07am EST / 12:07am PST
Mini MAX: 11:40am / 3:40am EST / 12:40am PST
Junior MAX: 12:45am / 4:45am EST / 1:45am PST
Senior MAX: 1:25pm / 5:25am EST / 2:25am PST
DD2 Masters: 2:05pm / 6:05am EST / 3:25am PST
DD2: 2:45pm / 6:45am EST / 3:45am PST
Below is a breakdown of each driver’s results and some comments on the day’s action.
Bahrain International Karting Circuit
Be sure to follow CanadianKartingNews.com to follow the action of Team Canada.
DD2 – Birelart (72 Drivers)
#467 – Pauly Massimino
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Qualified: RMC US Trophy Final Runner-Up (Senior MAX)
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 0
Qualifying Overall: 11th
Heat Race Points: 13th – 94 points
Prefinal: A (Row 4)
Warm-up A: 25th – 54.971 +2.115
Prefinal A: 4th +0.645 – 52.552
Final Points: 8th – 160 points
“Today was a good and long day. I still need to keep working on myself, but I feel like today was a step in the right direction. The drivers parade was a cool experience to be with my team and represent USA. I am looking forward to tomorrow. We will make one final push.”
#466 – Macy Williams
Hometown: Littleton, Colorado
Qualified: Max Karting Group Canada Final Winner
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2021 (Senior MAX)
Qualifying Overall: 22nd
Heat Race Points: 41st – 45 points
Prefinal: A (Row 11)
Warm-up A: 10th – 53.208 +0.352
Prefinal A: 33rd +3 Laps – 52.912
Final Points: 51st – 49 points (-26 points from Final)
Senior MAX – Sodi Kart (72 Drivers)
#367 – Oliver Hodgson
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: RMC US Trophy Final Winner
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 4 – 2012, 2013, 2023 (Team GBR), 2024 (Team USA)
Wins: Senior MAX (2013)
Qualifying Overall: 11th
Heat Race Points: 8th – 106 points
Prefinal: B (Row 2)
Warm-up B: No Time
Prefinal B: 25th +11.872 – 54.434 (Provisional)
#366 – Cooper O’Clair
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: RMC USA West Champion
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 4 – 2021, 2022 (Junior MAX), 2023 (Senior MAX), 2024 (DD2)
Qualifying Overall: 32nd
Heat Race Points: 55th – 31 points
Prefinal: A (Row 14)
Warm-up A: 2nd – 54.084 +0.084
Prefinal A: 28th +16.896 (+5sec. PBB) – 54.208 (Provisional)
“Long week, tough races. Came into the week with some strong potential and I feel that the two poor results that put us into that spot were difficult to avoid. I still don’t understand the weight situation. Prefinal was good until it evolved into everyone driving wide and going back in front when you try and pass them. Pretty disappointing for a race this big.”
#347 – Charlie Smith
Hometown: Orange County, California
Qualified: BNL Karting Series Championship – Fourth Place
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 0
Qualifying Overall: 18th
Heat Race Points: 61st – 29 points
Prefinal: A (Row 16)
Warm-up A: No Time
Prefinal A: 31st +17.450 (+5sec. PBB) – 53.734 (Provisional)
DD2 Masters – Barrichello Kart (36 Drivers)
#535 – Christopher Mann
Hometown: Vancouver, Washington
Qualified: RMC USA West – Third Place
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 0
Qualifying: 19th – 53.378 +0.821
Heat Race Points: 28th – 17 points
Warm-up: 18th – 54.747 +1.175
Prefinal: 20th +15.137 – 53.884 (Provisional)
“The Prefinal was pretty chaotic starting from the back with a big pack of karts. I tried to keep it clean, but I made contact early, and the bumper was down from lap two onward, so the rest of the race was about managing pace and making up what positions I could, knowing I’d take a penalty at the end. Even so, it was a productive run, and I feel good about the car over a longer distance — now it’s about repeating that performance or improving on it in the main. Earlier in the day, the driver parade was an incredible experience. Representing Team USA alongside so many countries on the final day was surreal and a reminder of just how special this event is. A lot of us had tough races, but in that moment, we were simply drivers taking it all in. Rotax has created something truly remarkable, and it makes you appreciate what it means to race here and represent your country.”
Junior MAX – Praga (72 Drivers)
#212 – Davin Roberts
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Qualified: Rotax Winter Trophy Champion
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2024 (Junior MAX)
Qualifying (even): 26th – 55.617 +1.274
Heat Race Points: 37th – 56 points
Prefinal: A (Row 10)
Warm-up A: 6th – 54.940 +0.336
Prefinal A: 19th +11.038 – 54.968
Final Points: 40th – 74 points (-8 points from Final)
“The fifth day of Rotax Grand Finals was long and too draw out to have only one race today. I did not race until after 5pm. The Prefinal was more smashing and bashing with continued inconsistent officiating. I have never been to an event with such terrible racing standards and lack of good race craft. This Rotax Grand Finals was a let down after looking forward to racing this event all year long. I can’t wait to get back to good hard racing in the States!”
Mini MAX – Formula K (72 Drivers)
#136 – Enzo DiGennaro
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York
Qualified: Rotax Winter Trophy Champion
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2024 (Mini MAX)
Qualifying Overall: 24th
Heat Race Points: 17th – 79 points
Prefinal: A (Row 5)
Warm-up A: 12th – 59.020 +0.347
Prefinal A: 5th +1.259 – 58.577
Final Points: 15th – 139 points
“The Drivers Parade was good. Henry the announcer makes a lot of the stuff more fun for us too! Prefinal went well. I had to recover a spot from the start, which then put me out of the lead pack but I ran fast laps to stay in touch and when the fighting got going mid race I was able to close in and get involved. Picked up some points for the Final classifications and look forward to giving my all in my last Cadet race!”
E20 Senior – Sodi Kart (19 Drivers)
#609 – Ellis Spiezia
Hometown: Hoboken, New Jersey
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2021 (E20)
Qualifying: 13th – 54.225 +0.595
Heat Race Points: 12th – 52 points
Warm-up: No Time
Prefinal: 18th +18.267 (+5sec. PBB) – 55.821
Final Points: 17th – 72 points
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