Junior Max Round 8 Saturday

Lee Napolitano set out his credentials for the day with fastest time in the qualifying session, followed along by Matt Parry, Ollie Varney and Ashley Hand.  Lee Napolitano was simply untouchable in the Pre-fInal from start to finish, he was out ahead.  Matt Parry maybe lost a little time in not passing Ollie Varney until the downhill right-hander on lap two, with Andy King soon following him.  Ash Hand and Henry Hunter were next to demote Varney.  Alex Magee vaulted over both, as Hand managed to recover fifth from Hunter by the flag.  Lee Napolitano started well for the Final, putting several kart lengths on Andy King who rapidly gained a large following of karts, all eager to find a way past.  Matt Parry broke the dam, and started to narrow the now extensive gap to the leader, Ashley Hand and King quite unable to keep in touch.  Alex Magee slithered past Henry Hunter on the trick downhill right-hander, but had Hunter right on his bumper in the closing stages.  By now Parry had caught Napolitano napping at the Boot complex, vaulting into a lead he would keep to the chequer.  “I’d already won the championship, so just had to keep it steady, I chased Lee and slipped up the inside.”

Junior Max Round 9 Sunday

Sunday’s timed qualifying found champion elect Matt Parry well established at the top of the list, over Ollie Varney, Ashley Hand and Lee Napolitano.   Now sporting his new number one, Parry led Hand, Varney and the rest of the pack into the long 21 minute final with Napolitano mixing in and soon taking second.  Hand’s kart came on song, as he leapfrogged Napolitano and started to close down on Parry.  The rest of the pack was strung out behind, in the order Napolitano, King, Varney with a threat approaching in the shape of Josh Parker.  Henry Hunter was enjoying a little dice with Jamie Fegan and Luca Hirst.  Hand reached Parry and sliced into the lead, starting a lively ding-dong exchange of first place, whilst further behind Varney leapfrogged Napolitano at Chapman, but then overshot at Ashby to run on the grass.  Parker was taking advantage, vaulting over them to third.  Now on the penultimate lap, Parry retrieved first at Christmas Corner, then defended strongly at Ashby, Hand trying round the outside at Chapman then slipping up the inside at the Boot as they came out side by side for a nail biting photo finish, Parry on the grass in his effort to get ahead, but Hand was given the win.  “I made a stupid mistake at the end, I didn’t slow him down enough,” admitted Parry.



Bradley Ellis’ “Hard Charger” Award

Round 8: Fraser O’Brien

Round 9: Adam Parsley