Jack Doohan what he knows

JACK Doohan couldn’t have asked for a better pit crew.

The nine-year-old rookie kart racer has his father Mick in his corner as he takes his first tentative steps into motorsport in Geelong this weekend.

He is competing in the Cadets class of the Victorian Open Sprint KartChampionship. The move into karts avoids the twowheeled challenge that snared his father but also led to massive injuries while capturing five 500cc world championships.

Jack is racing 25 other hopefuls and was 18th after his first qualifying session, reaching speeds in excess of 80km/h on the 785m track.

‘‘Jack’s having a great time, and that’s the most important thing right now,’’ Mick Doohan said.

‘‘This is his first big meeting like this and he’s enjoying not only the racing side of it but having fun with all of the other kids when they’re not racing.’’

A total of 333 keen karters are competing in this year’s championship event.