Intense action on Day 1 sets up the stage to determine the champions of the 9th JK Tyre National Rotax Max Karting Championship

- Championship leaders Pradyumn V Danigond, Kush Maini, and Ameya Bafna continue their good run, dominate Day 1 to finish on top -

Hyderabad, September 22, 2012: The final round of the 9th JK Tyre National Rotax Max Karting Championship got off to a flyer at the JK Tyre-MMS Kartainment Track in Hyderabad today. The qualifying rounds and the two heats witnessed top class racing with the best karting drivers of the country giving it their all in a bid to be crowned ‘National Karting Champions'. Championship leaders Pradyumn V Danigond (Team Mohites Racing), Kush Maini (Team Maini Racing) and Ameya Bafna (Team Rayo Racing) took the honours on the day in the Micro Max, Junior Max and Senior Max classes respectively.

The Micro Max class as has been through the series was the most closely fought battle, this time between the board leader Pradyumn V Danigond and Mira Kirit Erda (Team Maini Racing). While Pradyumn got pole position in Heat 1, the end was a near photo-finish with Mira pipping Pradyumn by 0.103 seconds. Like Heat 1, Heat 2 too was a close affair with Pradyumn getting his revenge by beating Mira albeit by a margin of 0.385 seconds. Phaneesh HB (Team Mohites Racing) who is second on the standings finished third in both the Heats. With five points separating Phaneesh and Mira, the race for the second spot on the championship standing is still very much on.

In the Junior Max category the day clearly belonged to Kush Maini (Team Maini Racing). Celebrating his twelfth birthday today, the Bangalore-youngster dominated the proceedings in both the Heats, strengthening his chances to bag the title. Maini - leading the championship standings - showed class and stamped his authority by finishing 2.42 seconds and 7.481 seconds ahead of Krsiharaj Mahadik (Team Mohites Racing) in Heat 1 and 2 respectively. Dhruv Mohite - third on the leadership board (Team Mohites Racing) had an off day finishing 7th in Heat 1 and 8th in Heat 2 - would like to put the day behind him and put his best foot forward tomorrow, in the races that count.

Championship leader in the Senior Max class, Ameya Bafna (Team Rayo Racing) had a very good outing today setting the pace from the Qualifying round through to Heat 2. Keeping him company through the day was team-mate Anshuman Chatterjee, he finished 1.601 seconds and 3.391 seconds behind Bafna in Heat 1 and Heat 2 respectively. Chatterjee displayed outstanding racing temperament to stave off veterans Vishnu Prasad (Team Meco Racing) in Heat 1 and Chittesh Mandody (Team Mohites Racing) in Heat 2 to retain his second position in both the races. Second on the leadership board Mithun Ganatra (Team Maini Racing) will have to come up with a better performance tomorrow to keep the position which is being threatened by the in-form Chatterjee.

The final day of the definitive karting championship of the country promises to be a thriller where besides being crowned champions, an opportunity of lifetime - to represent India at Rotax World Finals to be held in Portugal later this year - awaits the racers!