EKS Italian driver Moritz Ebner in action (Pic: Pace Images)
Italian karting star, Moritz Ebner has taken all three KZ2 heat race wins at the opening round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, presented by Castrol at Port Melbourne’s Todd Road circuit on a cracking day to open the 2025 season.
He was supreme in each of his starts from the front row to establish a lead and convert each of them to a win.
Conversely, defending two-time Champion Sam Dicker’s title defence got underway in terrible circumstances.
After qualifying down the order, Dicker was forced onto the sidelines after contact from Jack Webster in the first heat, performed strongly in the second and before in heat three, he again only completed one lap before another collision saw him push the kart away onto the sidelines.
The premier junior category saw new heat race winners crowned. The most spectacular was their final heat when Cooper Folley took his first KA2 win. The BirelART driver jumped straight from Cadet competition into KA2 this year and has already amassed some impressive results to date. Others to win were fastest qualified Liam Carr (who also scored two second places – being the most consistent driver), the other being new Tony Kart Australia recruit, Hamish Campbell.
The always hectic Cadet 12 category is living up to its reputation once again this weekend.
Alana Gurney leading the Cadet 12 field (Pic: Pace Images)
Female racer, Alana Gurney didn’t just win her first AKC race, she won two races to be toward the top of the order when points are calculated ahead of tomorrow. Also collecting a double from the 58-strong entries were Jay Kostecki and Jensen Damaschino.
The combatants from last year’s Cadet 9 Title – Ollie Armitt and Oliver Williamson are looking strong as is Championship debutant Oscar Calisici, Cooper Anderson and Aston Mills.
The TaG 125 Championship is already shaping as one of the most hotly contested of the year. With entries over track capacity, four groups were struck. What has been established is that current Champion, Harrison Hoey and regular front-runner Jackson Souslin-Harlow will be fighting it out through the five rounds.
The pair won’t meet until one of Sunday morning’s heat races after both won each of their heats today.
Jordi Butler won two of the KA3 Junior heats, the others won by Max Johnston and Joseph Bianchini, Johnston finishing second in the other. Others, including Jai George, Paddy Buckley and Zach Tucker are performing strongly.
Jett Adamson took out the two heats of the KA3 Senior category with Josh Elliston, Zach Turner and a rapid Will Thompson keeping him honest.
Pip Casabene shared the X30 wins with Jace Matthews, with Jayden Pope and Brodie Whitmore also looking racy heading to Finals day.
Milan Sami has set himself up for Sunday after winning all three of the Cadet 9 races. The racing from the youngest class was, at times, frantic.
Ari Djemil – who was penalised after qualifying – had to come from the rear of field in each race and scored two second places – and will be in with a great shot of the win tomorrow, but his cousin Cooper, Felix Sim and Luke Robinson, along with Ryder Xiong were all in the mix during each of the tightly contested races.
For the full results visit https://speedhive.mylaps.com/events/2954262
Tomorrow, action begins at 8am on track, with a free live stream beginning at 11:30am covered via karting.net.au, Karting Australia’s YouTube channel and watchmysportlive.tv
