Four tickets to the 2026 RMC Grand Finals were awarded following the final rounds of the RMC America's Trophy (Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)

The final event of the inaugural RMC America’s Trophy championship was contested over the June 5-7 weekend at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati. Hosted by Race Rotax and Karting Solutions Group, the Batavia, Ohio facility welcomed Rotax drivers for two rounds of racing with and the FZ Shifter pilots completing their second and final round of the championship program. Tickets to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals as well as the RMC Trophy Final in August were handed out to champions in their respective categories. Among those set to travel to Portimão, Portugal and the RMC Grand Finals this November include Ayden Ingratta, William Bouthillier, Nicolas Orbezo and Mason Brody.

It was a near sweep of the weekend and the Senior MAX championship for Canadian Ayden Ingratta (REM / Kosmic). The two-time winner in Tucson opened up the Round Three action in qualifying with fast time of 56.014 to edge out championship contender Macy Williams (CB / EOS) by only 73 thousandths. Ingratta and Williams shuffled for the lead in the Prefinal until she was pushed back to fourth with Ingrattan controlling the last 10 laps over Blake Nash (Factory Karts) and Finnegan Bayliff (TKG / Birelart). Bayliff was the challenger early into the 20 lap Final, leading a few laps before Ingratta returned to the point. Ingratta led the final 14 laps, securing a third straight victory. Bayliff was second at the line but removed following tech inspection. This promoted UK driver Sean Butcher (RPG / Kosmic) to the second spot over Williams. Bouthillier and Isaac Malcuit (MDR / LN Kart) completed the top five.

Canadian Ayden Ingratta won all four main events in Senior MAX (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Ingratta continued to pace the field going into Round Four on Sunday with fast time of 56.066 in qualifying, this time quicker by 76 thousandths ahead of Bayliff and Nash. Williams was fourth, however, was a DNS with mechanical issue for the Prefinal. That is when the streak that began in qualifying for Round One in Tucson came to an end for Ingratta as he came 18 thousandths short of the race win with Nash taking the win. By lap four of the Final, Ingratta found his way back to the point, taking the lead and showing the way to a five-second margin of victory to claim a fourth straight triumph, clinching the RMC Grand Finals ticket. Nash drove to second with Butcher beating out Bayliff at the line for third, only to be penalized for contact. This put Bayliff on the podium with Malcuit fourth and Williams up nine spots to fifth.

Ingratta secured the championship and ticket by 248 points over fellow Canadian William Bouthillier. For Bouthillier, the RMC Grand Finals ticket will be in the DD2 category. Willaims, despite her comeback efforts in Round Four, came just 19 points short to end the standings in the third spot. Malcuit and Butcher made up the top five in the title chase.

Maxwell Macha doubled up in the Junior MAX division (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

The Junior MAX field featured 28 drivers gunning for the wins and podiums over the two rounds of competition, with the absence of the two winners from Tucson in Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) and Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic). It was California driver JohnJohn McLellan (CB / EOS) leading the drivers in qualifying for Round Three, edging out Canadian Brandon Ng (Factory Karts) by 99 thousandths. Fourth in the session was Maxwell Macha (Parolin Motorsport USA), making his first start on the season. Macha worked his way to the lead and the win in the Prefinal before a start penalty dropped him down to 10th in the order. This moved Nicolas Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart) to the race win. Orbezo was able to lead the opening 16 laps of the 20-lap Final until a charging Macha reclaimed the lead. Through the final three laps, Macha was able to drive away to a four tenths advantage to become the third different winner in three rounds. Orbezo settled for second, his first podium over the first three rounds. Enzo DiGennaro (Parolin Motorsport USA) improved four spots to stand on the podium, edging out Canadian Marco Fazari (REM / Kosmic) with Ben Gleberman (RPM / Tony Kart) in fifth – both making their first RMC America’s Trophy start.

Macha returned the next day to sweep the action in Round Four. He began in qualifying with fast time of 56.650 to clear the field by over a tenth. Macha went on to lead all 10 laps of the Prefinal before battling in the Final. After getting shuffled back to fifth early, Macha charged back to battle with English driver Kai Clarke (REM / Kosmic) – making his series debut on the weekend – for the lead. After the halfway point, the challenge was from Orbezo as he and Macha swapped the lead multiple times. Macha was able to secure the position late, driving on to his second straight victory. Orbezo settled for second with Clarke on the podium in third. McLellan and DiGennaro completed the top five.

The two runner-up performances for Orbezo put the Texas driver at the top of the championship standings and earning the RMC Grand Finals ticket to Portugal. Canadian Leo Da Silva (REM / Kosmic) – already a ticket holder from the RMC Winter Trophy – finished second in the standings, back by 100 points. Rounding out the podium was DiGennaro in third with Woon fourth and McLellan fifth.

Mason Brody swept Round Three helping him to earn the ticket to the RMC Grand Finals (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

A total of 17 drivers competed on the weekend in Mini MAX with a tight championship going down to the wire, featuring four different winners over the four rounds of competition. Mason Brody (RPM / Nitro Kart) set the tone for the weekend, clearing the field in qualifying by over two tenths. Brody went on to lead all 10 laps of the Prefinal and wire-to-wire in the 20-lap Final. Round One winner Hudson Howard (MPG / Alonso Kart) was second with Round Two victor Yousef Adi (MPG / Alonso Kart) on the podium in third. Dalton Sears (Kidix USA / Kart Republic) was fourth with Slate Harrell (MPG / Kart Republic) in fifth.

Qualifying was tighter in Round Four, still led by Brody. His time of 59.341 was better by only 58 thousandths over Adi with Howard third in the session. Brody continued to show the way in the Prefinal, leading all 10 laps as the rest of the group battle for the second spot with Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik). The Final went the wrong direction for Brody as he fell back to fifth at one point. Up front, Aidan Go (Parolin Motorsport USA) took over the lead and led the final 13 laps to claim the victory by six seconds. Westbrook won the battle for second as Brody worked up to third. Howard and Costa Rican Samuel Chaverri (PSL / Birelart) rounded out the podium.

The championship and the RMC Grand Finals ticket went to California driver Mason Brody, taking the title by 55 points over Howard. Adi was a close third over Go and Westbrook in the final standings.

Jack Kotowski was named the winner in Micro MAX for Round Four (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

It was a competitive weekend in the Micro MAX division that welcomed two new winners, making it four drivers in four rounds. Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) made his series debut with fast time in qualifying. The top three including Round One winner Alessio Tosti (MPG / Kart Republic) and Canadian Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) were only separated by six thousandths. Kotowski was moved to the win in the Prefinal after a close photo finish with provisional winner Tosti penalized for a start infraction. After leading the first 11 laps to begin the Final, Kotowski was overtaken by Beau Wyatt (Team Benik). He led the next three laps before Kotowski returned to the point. From there, Kotowski took the checkered flag as the provisional winner before a penalty for a start infraction. This promoted Wyatt to the victory and Dusty Strayer (TKG / Birelart) into second as Kotowski was classified third. Privateer Grant Heckman and Shepp Sullivan (Team Benik) completed the top five.

Kotowski returned to the top of the order for Round Four, setting fast time in qualifying to edge out Tosti and Sullivan. Tosti was able to come up to the lead late in the Prefinal, pushing Kotowski back to fourth behind Francisco and Heckman. Tosti was able to lead the first 15 laps before Francisco put on the fight. They exchanged the lead multiple times over the final few laps with Tosti crossing the line in front as Kotowski slipped by Francisco. Tosti was penalized 10 seconds for a start infraction, thus promoting Kotowski to the top of the podium and Francisco into second. Tosti was classified third ahead of Heckman with Sullivan once again in fifth.

When the championship points were tabulated, Tosti earned the series championship by 60 points over Francisco, taking the ticket to the RMC Trophy Final. Strayer was classified third in the standings ahead of Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart) with Wyatt in fifth.

Gavin Bayliff swept the action in FZ125 Senior (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Home track advantage went on the side of Gavin Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) in his debut for the new FZ125 Senior category. Bayliff set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 54.548 to clear Round One winner Gage Korn (Maranello USA) by over two tenths. After an early battle to begin Heat One with Korn, Bayliff was able to come away with the win and repeated in Heat Two, this time ahead of Theo Kekati (Factory Karts). Bayliff was able to lead all 10 laps in the Prefinal on Sunday as well as the 20 laps in the Final for the victory and sweep on the weekend. Korn settled for second with Kekati completing the podium in third. Kyle Drysdale (TKG / Birelart) and Mason Mitchell (Factory Karts) completed the top five. Korn was able to secure the series championship and ticket to the RMC Trophy Final, taking the title by 130 points over Kekati with Mitchell third step on the podium.

Brandon Ng came away with the victory and championship in FZ85 Junior (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Seven drivers made up the FZ85 Junior field on the weekend, led in qualifying by local driver Homer Hehemann (TKG / Birelart). A lap of 57.597 was two tenths clear of the field and Hehemann continued that pace through the opening heat race. JohnJohn McLellan (CB / Factory Kart) was able to grab the top spot from Hehemann in the second heat. Brandon Ng (Factory Karts) picked up the pace on Sunday, as he climbed up to the win in the Prefinal over RJ Brown (R3SpeedFab / Factory Kart) and Hehemann. The Canadian battled with Brown over the opening few laps before Ng secured the top spot. Ng led the final 18 laps, driving away to a six-second advantage for the victory. Brown drove to third with McLellan third in his class debut. Hehemann was fourth in the order ahead of Wyatt Kroeger (Factory Karts). With the victory, NG took the victory and the ticket to the RMC Trophy Final. Brown finished second in the standings with Kroeger placing third.

Mike Rolison won both main events in Masters MAX (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Masters MAX welcomed 2006 US Rotax Grand Nationals champion Mike Rolison (RPG / Kosmic) back to the top of the podium. Rolison put in a near sweep, after missing qualifying on Saturday. Jose Delagarza (RPG / Kosmic) put in the only lap of the session with a 59.237. Rolison went on to win the Prefinal and Final ahead of two-time race winner Billy Cleavelin (REM / Kosmic) and Delagarza. Rolison put in a 57.647 lap in qualifying on Sunday before going on to win both the Prefinal and Final. Cleavelin was once again second with Delagarza in third. Cleavelin secured the championship and the RMC Trophy Final ticket with Delagarza second in the standings.

The season will continue with the fifth edition of the RMC Trophy Final, scheduled for July 31-August 2 at the New Castle Motorsports Park. A total of six tickets to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals will be on the line for this one-off event in New Castle, Indiana. EKN will be trackside for the entire weekend with full coverage from the 2026 RMC Trophy Final.

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