JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2015 

Double for ghorpade and bafna; gowda and umashankar win too

Chirag Ghorpade and Ameya Bafna emerged toppers in both heats of the Micro Max and Senior Max categories respectively, while Akash Gowda and Nirmal Umashankar were the toppers in the Junior Max category in the third round of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on Saturday. 

Earlier, Bangalore’s Ghorpade (Team BPC Racing), Chennai’s Nirmal Umashankar (Team Meco Racing) and Bangalore’s Ricky Donison (Team BPC Racing) led in the qualifying round in the Micro, Junior and Senior Max categories respectively. In the first heat of the Micro Max category, it was a close fight between Ghorpade and Agra’s Shahan Ali Mohsin (Team Meco Racing) with the former prevailing in the end. Third was Bangalore’s Aditya Swaminathan (Team Meco Racing). Heat 2 witnessed a fight between Ghorpade and Mohsin again but the top three positions remained the same as in Heat 1.

In the Junior Max category, Team Meco Racing’s Gowda outpaced pole sitter Nirmal Umashankar and clocked the best time. Umashankar finished second and they were followed by Team Rayo Racing’s Mohammed Nallwalla. Later, following a bumper to bumper 15-lap race, Umashankar emerged first in Heat 2 beating Gowda. Nallwalla finished third.

The battle in the Senior Max category was an intense one. Heat 1 witnessed exciting action as Donison, Chatterjee and Bafna battled it out throughout the race for the first place. Donison was leading in the first few laps with Chatterjee and Bafna in tow. Mumbai lad Bafna (Team Rayo Racing) subsequently wrapped up the race in style, with Donison and Chatterjee taking the next two spots. 

Bafna was again in control in the second heat. Chatterjee and Donison finished second and third respectively.

Provisional results:
Micro Max (10 laps): Heat 1: 1. Chirag Ghorpade – 7:48.263; 2. Shahan Ali Mohsin – 7:48.328; 3. Aditya Swaminathan – 7:56.044.
Heat 2: 1. Chirag Ghorpade – 7:21.109; 2. Shahan Ali Mohsin – 7:25.228; 3. Aditya Swaminathan – 7:29.452.

Junior Max (15 laps): 1. Akash Gowda – 10:08.289; 2. Nirmal Umashankar – 10:08.583; 3. Mohammed Nallwalla – 10:13.250.
Heat 2: 1. Nirmal Umashankar – 10:17.554; 2. Akash Gowda – 10:17.655; 3. Mohammed Nallwalla – 10:20.621.

Senior Max (15 laps): 1. Ameya Bafna – 9:26.075; 2. Ricky Donison – 9:26.293; 3. Nayan Chatterjee – 9:26.851.
Heat 2: 1. Ameya Bafna – 10:06.143; 2. Nayan Chatterjee – 10:06.362; 3. Ricky Donison – 10:06.853.