2025 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Team USA – Saturday Report
Top 10 results for Massimino, Hodgson and Spiezia in Bahrain
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
The final day of action at the 2025 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals was contested on Saturday at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit. Following warm-up sessions for the eight categories, the main events were contested to decide this year’s Rotax champions. Five of the nine drivers from Team USA earned spots in the main events, competing in five classes.
Team USA was led by Pauly Massimino in DD2, Oliver Hodgson in Senior MAX, and Ellis Spiezia in E20 Senior recording top 10 results. Massimino kept within the top 10 all week, while Hodgson had to overcome a near DNF in the Prefinal to work his way up into the top 10 in the Final. After contact in a heat race and Prefinal, Spiezia fought forward to claim the best result of Team USA for the 2025 event. Enzo DiGennaro (Mini MAX) and Christopher Mann (DD2 Masters) battled one final time in Bahrain, both receiving penalties in the main event result.
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
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
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
Final Points: 8th – 160 points
Warm-up: No Time
Final: 7th +8.376 – 52.800
“The final didn’t go as expected. Some sort of problem happened with the front left brake that was causing it not to work. But 7th overall is nothing to hang our heads about. For a class that I have never raced, as well as never driving with front brakes. I think we proved the speed we had all week as well as the talent that USA has. The event was very cool to be a part of and I would definitely go back if I had the chance again.”
#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
Final Points: 51st – 49 points (-26 points from Final)
Senior MAX – Sodi Kart (72 Drivers)
#367 – Oliver Hodgson
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
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
Final Points: 21st – 117 points
Warm-up: No Time
Final: 10th +10.011 – 53.723
#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
Final Points: 59th – 40 points
#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
Final Points: 64th – 35 points
DD2 Masters – Barrichello Kart (36 Drivers)
#535 – Christopher Mann
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
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
Final Points: 30th – 31 points
Warm-up: 15th – 54.037 +0.899
Final: 26th +24.422 (+5sec. PBB) – 53.808
“The crux of my weekend came down to pushback penalties. Because of them, I started farther back in the field for the Final and really had my work cut out to make up positions. The kart setup felt optimized for the high grip, but as I moved through the field, getting offline to make passes created a few mistakes in the next corners, which often undid the progress I had just made. That slowed my forward momentum, and I didn’t make the most of the opportunities in front of me. I would have liked to finish where my true pace was — I believe higher in the order — but racing is what it is. The competition is world-class, everyone is pushing to their limit, and sometimes the final results don’t tell the full story. The event as a whole was incredible to be part of while representing Team USA. The team was supportive all week, and everyone worked hard to keep spirits high, even as luck varied from driver to driver. This truly is a pinnacle opportunity in karting, and Rotax delivers an event that feels special from start to finish — from the driver parade to the ceremonies, right down to the F1-style presentation. It’s a template for how international karting should be, and I’m grateful to have experienced it. Thank you to my wife, Kristen, for your love and support throughout this endeavor — none of this would be possible without you.”
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
Final Points: 40th – 74 points (-8 points from Final)
Mini MAX – Formula K (72 Drivers)
#136 – Enzo DiGennaro
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
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
Final Points: 15th – 139 points
Warm-up: 10th – 58.801 +0.224
Final: 30th +11.268 (+5sec. contact) – 58.727
“I was able to get away from any issues through the opening laps, however, I was taken out in turn one about the midway point. The week did not shake out how we wanted against a tough international field. The speed was there, we just were not able to capitalize on that. I hope to be back again in the future.”
E20 Senior – Sodi Kart (19 Drivers)
#609 – Ellis Spiezia
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Hoboken, New Jersey
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2021 (E20)
Qualifying: 13th – 54.225 +0.595
Heat Race Points: 12th – 52 points
Final Points: 17th – 72 points
Warm-up: 13th – 57.068 +1.465
Final: 6th +8.477 – 55.399
“The final race was mega. After being crashed out of two of the three heats, I started P17 in the final with nothing to lose. With 11 overtakes in only 10 laps I’m super proud of a P6 finish overall. It was so great to come back to the Grand Finals once again in Bahrain, to be back in the Project E20 and to represent Can-Am as an ambassador. Being in the box with Henry Baudette to commentate the Senior races was super cool too. I can’t think of a better way to end the 2025 season.”
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