12th September 2014

Barbera fights for the top step of the podium - From Bundaberg News-Mail

TOP SPOT: Bundaberg driver Mason Barbera came back from Ipswich with a win in the Rotax heavy's and fourth in the DD2 from the prestigious Rotax Nationals in Willowbank. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

WHEN Mason Barbera lined up at the start of the final in the Rotax Heavy class at Willowbank Raceway he knew his kart was one of the best in the field and his preparation had been as good as it could be.

But these things would have been nothing without an intense will to win.

Which was lucky for Barbera as he fought his way back from a crash to win the Rotax Nationals (Rotax Heavy) in one of the best races ever seen at Willowbank.

Barbera showed amazing patience as he watched fellow Bundaberg driver Kel Treseder go head to head with Brendan Nelson, and when Barbera caught up with Treseder he thought the race was his.

But the two Bundaberg drivers came together and Barbera ended on the grass while he watched the front of the field fly past.

Barbera said there was one feeling that pushed him to the top step of the podium. “When me and Treseder came together and went to sixth or seventh it made me a lot hungrier,” Barbera said.

“I went back there and thought we’re only going to get third or whatever and I’m not going to get back. But I ended up pushing and the kart was awesome and we ended up working for it and getting the result felt better.

“Everyone was saying it was probably one of the best races in history, by far.”

Backing up from the Rotax Heavy race Barbera line up in the DD2 final from 25th and picked his way through the field to finish fourth.

Every fibre in his body was alive with the thrill of winning the previous race and he said a podium spot might have been on offer if the race was a bit longer.

“I’d just won the national title so my adrenalin was pumping so we ended up driving through the field to fourth,” he said.

“We ended up catching up to Treseder in second and trying to hunt him down and we ran out of laps.”

Barbera will be back in action September 20-21 in the final round of the CIK Stars Of Karting Series in Newcastle in the KZ2 class and he is looking forward to the chance to race again.

He will take confidence and plenty of competitiveness into the round and he said he couldn’t wait to push his way through the field.