Hoooton Park was the venue for the last two rounds. Mike was in 5th place, 20 points behind Luke Caudle in 3rd and almost the same distance behind Stephen Napier in 4th. The track was short and narrow and at just 35 seconds a lap with limited overtaking. A new MSA circuit, it was a shame that with the land available, it wasn't 50% longer and wider. Most drivers feared the damage it would cause being the final couple of rounds with everything to play for.
In Friday practice Mike was as fast as any and then ran engines in. On Saturday the weather turned, so timed qualifying was a gamble, with Mike on Slicks and most of the runners on wet tyres. Mike was seconds fastest while all those around him were on wets. A fantastic show of skill to keep the kart on the track in such difficilt conditions. In the race, Mike progressed from almost last to 2nd within 8 laps, and then a braking error from 'team mate' Matt Bell, took Mike off the track and back to last. On a difficult track to pass, he regained his composure and clawed back to 4th. By now Mike had moved into 3rd in the Championship, by a sim margin.
On Sunday morning practice was wet, but again Mike gambled on slicks in the damp, and was the fastest, gaining maximum points. For the final round all Mike needed to do was to keep close to Messers Caudle and Napier. Mike somehow got caught up in a mid-field tangle at the start, so Luke got away, but Mike caught and passed Stephen and would have got close to Luke, but was knocked off by young Napier who needed Mike to DNF in order to beat him. Mike got back on and caught him and took him, only to get knocked to one side again by him on the last lap. By then Mike had secured 3rd and will collect his various prizes at KartMania, which is the National Kart show being held at Stonleigh near Kenilworth in a couple of weeks.
Congratulations to Martyn Lyell, who drove well all season and to James Tucker who was also quick at times. Hard luck to Luke Caudle, who just missed out on his Super 1 championship and then finished 5th in this. Unfortunately the TKM class won't be run in 2008, but we have a free entry, so we will have to consider another class of Kart.
Finally brilliant work by Alan Taddie and his team. A really good series.
In Friday practice Mike was as fast as any and then ran engines in. On Saturday the weather turned, so timed qualifying was a gamble, with Mike on Slicks and most of the runners on wet tyres. Mike was seconds fastest while all those around him were on wets. A fantastic show of skill to keep the kart on the track in such difficilt conditions. In the race, Mike progressed from almost last to 2nd within 8 laps, and then a braking error from 'team mate' Matt Bell, took Mike off the track and back to last. On a difficult track to pass, he regained his composure and clawed back to 4th. By now Mike had moved into 3rd in the Championship, by a sim margin.
On Sunday morning practice was wet, but again Mike gambled on slicks in the damp, and was the fastest, gaining maximum points. For the final round all Mike needed to do was to keep close to Messers Caudle and Napier. Mike somehow got caught up in a mid-field tangle at the start, so Luke got away, but Mike caught and passed Stephen and would have got close to Luke, but was knocked off by young Napier who needed Mike to DNF in order to beat him. Mike got back on and caught him and took him, only to get knocked to one side again by him on the last lap. By then Mike had secured 3rd and will collect his various prizes at KartMania, which is the National Kart show being held at Stonleigh near Kenilworth in a couple of weeks.
Congratulations to Martyn Lyell, who drove well all season and to James Tucker who was also quick at times. Hard luck to Luke Caudle, who just missed out on his Super 1 championship and then finished 5th in this. Unfortunately the TKM class won't be run in 2008, but we have a free entry, so we will have to consider another class of Kart.
Finally brilliant work by Alan Taddie and his team. A really good series.
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