Rooney Keeps His Winning Bayley's Record Intact

Rooney Keeps His Winning Bayley's Goldstar Class Record Intact

Young Palmerston North karter Jackson Rooney kept his winning record intact at the third round of the 2015/16 Bayley's WPKA Goldstar Series in Wellington on Sunday, claiming his third class win in a row with four heat race victories from five starts.

Heading into the round, hosted by the KartSport Wellington club at its Wynn's Raceway facility at Kaitoke, Vortex Mini ROK class pace-setter Rooney was one of three drivers who had claimed class wins at both previous Bayley's Goldstar series rounds.

At Kaitoke though he ended up the only one to make it to three from three, with New Plymouth ace Brad Still slipping to second in the 125cc Rotax Max Light class behind Palmerston North driver James Higgins, and fast-rising young female driver Rianna O'Meara-Hunt ending up second on Sunday to fellow Wellingtonian Ryan Wood in the Formula Junior class with Tom Greig and Riley Jack from Palmerston North thrid and fourth respectively.

There was a familiar ring, meanhile, to the names of the drivers who finished seventh and eighth overall, Ronan Murphy and Zac Stichbury. Ronan is the son of former V8 Supercar ace and now television pundit Greg Murphy, while Stichbury is the son of Murphy's great kart and early car career rival, the late Ashley Stichbury.

The Cadet ROK class was all about Liam Sceats, the young Auckland driver claiming his second victory in as many rounds from Sebastian and Logan Manson, Mason Potter and first round winner Louis Sharp. He then made his weekend complete by winning the standalone Cadet ROK clsss Grand Prix race from Sharp and Sebastian Manson.

In the senior classes Palmerston North driver James Higgins came out on top in the 125cc Rotax Max Light class with three heat wins. Brad Still was second, Ethan Hourigan third.

After finishing second at the two previous rounds, meanwhile, Nelson driver Brendon Gridley went one better in 125cc Rotax Max Heavy, claiming a debut class round win from first round winner Ashley Higgins from Palmerston North and second round winner Kevin Barker.

There was also a new winner in the Open class, recent Junior class graduate Jacob Cranston from Palmerston North. He won two of the five heats to claim a close class victory from Jamie Gaskin and first round class winner Daniel Rine.

It was Rine who went on to win the standalone Senior GP race, however, from Gaskin, Cranston and Clint Beaumont.

Finally victory in the ClubSport 120 class went to Braden Parsons from Brent Hickmott and Brenden Print.

KartSport Hawke's Bay was originally down to host Sunday's round but the club swapped the March 06 date with KartSport Wellington because of a previously unforeseen date clash with the Horse of The Year event in Hastings.

The Hawke's Bay club will now host the fourth round of the Bayley's WPKA Goldstar series on Sunday May 01.

ENDS

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