Amazing Start to the 2022 Season for OTK Products at SKUSA Winter Series Opener
Total of 11 victories to begin the new season for OTK teams and drivers in south Florida
Oliver Wheldon was a double winner in the Mini Swift category (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
The 2022 season is officially underway with the first major event of the year taking place in the state of Florida, with a host of OTK USA race teams and competitors competing at the Superkarts! USA Winter Series opener. The January 7-9 weekend held Round 1 and Round 2 of the program at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex presented by MG Tires. Despite the challenging weather conditions all weekend with rain on and off, including a downpour that delayed the start of Saturday’s action, OTK rose to the top with 11 victories in the 18 main events on the weekend, including 27 podium results and 45 top-five finishes.
Steven Miller earned two victories in Round Two, claiming the top spot in both X30 Junior and KA100 Junior (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
OTK products swept the top-five in two categories for both days of competition. The first came in the KA100 Junior division with Caleb Gafrarar (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) picking up his first career win in his first start in the category. Austin Jurs (Franklin Kart / Redspeed) was second with Valentino Garbarino (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) a close third for his first podium. Steven Miller (CDR / EOS) was hard charger and fast time driver, up 17 spots to fourth with Max Taylor (Mike Doty Racing / Kosmic) placing fifth. On a wet track with dry tires, Miller put in a solid performance to claim his first victory in the category. He held off Luke Welcome (Orsolon Racing / Tony Kart) for the win with Jurs gaining another podium finish. Gafrarar was just off the podium in fourth while Garbarino added a fifth-place result to his series debut.
Michel Garrido helped OTK grab both victories in the X30 Master division, winning Round One (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
The same five drivers aboard OTK products finished within the top-five both days in the X30 Master class, with two different winners. Michel Garrido (Alessandros Racing / Tony Kart) powered through in the Final to claim his first series victory, holding off Danillo Ramalho (Racing Edge Motorsports / Kosmic). Defending SKUSA Pro Tour champion Mario Barrios (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) was third with Luis Schiavo (SVK / Exprit) and Diego Rodriguez (Alessandros Racing / Tony Kart) completing the top-five. Sunday was Ramalho’s turn to make a statement in the Final, passing Garrido in the closing laps to secure the victory. Barrios repeated his trip to the third step of the podium as Rodriguez improved to fourth, dropping Schiavo to fifth.
In both the dry and the wet, Carson Morgan won in the KA100 Senior division for two victories on the weekend (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
A total of three drivers claimed two victories on OTK product over the weekend. Carson Morgan (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) escaped a wild battle on Saturday in the KA100 Senior division to win his first Senior level race. Aiden Levy (Harvick Racing / Tony Kart) held his ground in the Saturday final, starting fifth and placing fifth. Sunday was four OTK drivers in the top-five with Morgan leading a 1-2 finish with fellow Senior rookie Jeremy Fletcher (GWR / Tony Kart). Peyton Phillips (Core Karting / Redspeed) was fourth with Calvin Wetzel (Mike Doty Racing / Kosmic) improving 21 positions to fifth in the wet race.
Oliver Wheldon was able to add to his win total in the Mini Swift division with two victories on the weekend. Each round ended up as a sweep to earn maximum points toward the series championship. Wheldon (JC Karting / Kosmic) led 17 of 18 laps in the Final toward victory. Luis Umana (Supertune USA / Tony Kart) joined him on the podium in third. After setting fast time in qualifying and winning the Prefinal, Wheldon crossed the line in second to end the Sunday Final, only to be named the winner after penalties were handed out.
Sebastian Wheldon fought strong in X30 Junior, escaping on Saturday with his first victory in the class (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
Older brother Sebastian Wheldon (JC Karting / Kosmic) added his own victory on the weekend in the X30 Junior category. Racing in the lead pack throughout the main event, Wheldon was able to slip from third to first on the exit of the final corner to take the checkered flags. Steven Miller drove to fourth with Gafrarar placing fifth. Miller came back the next day to charge forward in the late stages of the Final, crossing the line first to earn his second victory of the weekend. Canadian Ayden Ingratta (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed) was runner-up with British driver Brandon Carr (Team Benik / Kosmic) making it a full OTK podium. Junior rookie Enzo Vidmontiene (Team Benik / Kosmic) enjoyed his first career top-five result in the class, placing fifth.
The final victory of the weekend came in the Pro Shifter division with Alan Isambard (International Motorsports / Tony Kart). After placing third on Saturday, he found the extra speed to boost himself to the top of the podium for his first victory of 2022. Justin Salazar (AKT / Kosmic) added a top-five result, pending the weekend fourth in Sunday’s Final.
Alan Isambard grabbed two podiums in Pro Shifter, including victory on Sunday (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
Three podium results with six top-five finishes highlighted the headline X30 Senior class. Brazilian Matheus Morgatto (AM Engine / Exprit) led the way both days with a runner-up finish to establish the championship lead. Defending SKUSA Pro Tour champion Hannah Greenemeier (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) was third on Saturday and fifth Sunday. Senior rookie Jeremy Fletcher added another top-five finish, placing fifth on Saturday while Diego Ramos (Racing Edge Motorsports / Kosmic) finished fourth on Sunday.
The SKUSA Winter Series finale weekend is scheduled for the February 11-13 weekend at the same AMR Motorplex facility.
Drivers looking to compete with the most popular kart brand in the world or purchase OTK karts and components can contact their local OTK USA dealer. Head to www.otkusa.com for a complete list of dealers and details on the entire brand roster.
