1st July 2013

Barbera claims maiden state title with stunning drive - From the News-Mail

QLD CHAMP: Mason Barbera won his maiden state championships at the weekend in Clubman Super Heavy. Pic: Mike Knott

BEING a boy among men didn’t stop Mason Barbera from claiming his maiden Queensland Karting Title with a fantastic drive in the Clubman Super Heavy at Dromeside Raceway.

Starting on pole, 15-year-old Barbera pulled out the drive of his life to increase his lead as the race drew to a close over his older and more experienced opponents.

Joshua Herne challenged Barbera until lap six when Bundaberg’s latest state champion set his best lap of 38.428 to stretch his lead and drive the wheels of his kart to take the win.

Barbera said the highlight of his win was beating drivers he had looked up to as he was coming through the ranks.

“That was insane. I was racing side-by-side with people I looked up to,” Barbera said.

“As the final went on I was just watching where I was driving, I don’t remember much else.

“It was such an awesome feeling and I just kept driving hard because anything could happen.”

Barbera wasn’t Bundaberg’s only champion with Kel Treseder claiming his 10th QLD title in the Rotax Heavy class.

Treseder stamped his authority on the event and the multiple-state and national champion said taking the win on his home track ahead of Sydney driver Thomas Macdonald was a good release of pressure.

“It was a bit of a relief more than anything else to get the win.

“Being the hometown boy, I felt as though there was a little bit of pressure to perform this weekend, so it felt good to be able live up to those expectations,” Treseder said.

“Brendan (Nelson) got the jump on me at the start of the final and I knew that I had to get past him in the early laps. Once I got past him, it was all about putting in perfect laps so that he didn’t close the gap.”

As well as the win in Rotax Heavy, Treseder was runner-up in Leopard Heavy.

One of the best races of the event was in Clubman Light, when Troy Loeskow was locked in a 22-lap battle with his CIK Series team’s principal Cian Fothergill.

Loeskow didn’t give up against the former Australian champion and finished a close second to Fothergill.