JK Rotax Max: Bafna, Maini and Francis win

Mumbai’s Ameya Bafna, recovering from a relapse of malaria, emerged as the winner in the Senior Max category and took the championship lead in the process after round three of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2014, at the Mohite’s Racing Academy Circuit, Kolhapur.

Starting third on the grid, Rayo Racing’s Bafna took advantage of local hero and leader Chittesh Mandody of Mohite’s Racing suffering a broken tyre rod in the opening lap and jumped into the lead, never relinquishing the top spot throughout the 20-lap race. He was followed home by teammate Nayan Chatterjee and Meco Racing’s Vishnu Prasad.

After three rounds (out of five) Bafna is leading the points tally with 109, followed by Dhruv Mohite (100) and Vishnu Prasad (99)

The Junior Max Category saw Kush Maini of Dark Don Racing maintain his consistent form over the heats and pre-final into the final race. He was a comfortable winner over BPC Racing’s Ricky R Donison and Aaroh Ravindra and also extended his lead at the top of the championship points table. Maini now has 115 points, with Ravindra in second with 106 and Akash Gowda in third place with 102.

 "Ricky was putting a lot of pressure on me throughout the race and I kad keep my game up and he gave me very tough competition," said Maini after his win.

In the first final of the day, Meco Racing’s Paul Francis passed race-long leader Yash Aradhya on the final corner of the last lap to take the top spot on the podium in the Micro Max Category as well as the championship standings.

Aradahya, who had won both the heats and the pre-final took the early lead in the final and seemed to be cruising to victory before Francis began closing the gap with three laps to go. Locked bumper to bumper in the final lap, Francis squeezed through the gap in the final corner and then raced to victory.

Also driving a brilliant final race was Shahan Ali Mohsin of Agra, who was unlucky to be served a technical disqualification in the pre-final and had to start from 11th on the grid. Mohsin scythed through the pack, eventually finishing a creditable third. However, the disqualification cost the 10-year old the lead at the top of the championship table.

 Francis with 113 points, is one ahead of teammate Yash Aradhya, while Shahan is in third place with 98.

"I did not expect to pass Yash as he had driven well in all the earler races, but when I senses him going on the defensive I took my chance and it worked," said an elated Paul Francis.

 Results:

Senior Max (20 laps)  

Ameya Bafna (Rayo Racing) 18:03.688
Nayan Chatterjee (Rayo Racing) 18:04.401
Vishnu Prasad (Meco Racing) 18:05.034

Junior Max (18 laps)

Kush Maini (Dark Don Racing) 16:02.882
Ricky R Donison (BPC) 16:04.197
Aaroh Ravindra (Rayo) 16:18.464

Micro Max (12 laps)

Paul Francis (Meco Racing) 11:58.984
Yash Aradhya (Meco) 11:59.219
Shahan Ali Mohsin (Meco) 12:02.263