MSquared Rotax International
Class champion Wes Phillips took pole, but by a mere tenth from Calspeed winner Cameron Jocelyn, who had a similar margin in hand from Dylan Stalker, winner of last month’s race at the Streets of Willow.
Phillips and Jocelyn checked out from the start of the heat race, while Taylor Castle made life interesting further back by spinning out in the fourth corner of the race. Phillips was in control with Jocelyn shadowing him, but four laps in, Phillips retired with a mechanical problem, leaving Jocelyn to take the win ahead of Matt Ostiguy and Stalker.
Jocelyn checked out at the start of the final, with Stalker, Ostiguy, Ari Baquet and Mike Garcia embroiling themselves in a battle for second. Starting in the back, Phillips made progress through the field to quickly latch on to the back of the group.
Things began to get interesting as Ostiguy made his way past Stalker with an outbraking move into turn one to take second place. This battle had championship implications, as Stalker and Ostiguy were effectively battling for third place in the final points standings. Two laps later, Stalker returned the favor with the same move – and two laps after that, Ostiguy passed Stalker again going into turn one. However, he made a slight mistake exiting the first complex that gave Stalker an opportunity into turn three. The two karts made contact, with Stalker’s going in the air high enough to rip the front fairing of Ostiguy’s free from the kart.
In the ensuing mess, Baquet came from fourth to pass both and momentarily hold second place. Ostiguy was out of contention and retired a few laps later. Baquet held onto second place for one lap until his motor hiccupped exiting turn four, and Stalker retook second. Baquet would then fall again to a charging Phillips, who then picked off Stalker a few laps from the end to finish in second.
Oblivious to all of this, Jocelyn easily took his second MSquared Rotax International win of the season, with Phillips second and Stalker