Ryan Norberg won the opening rounds in his title defense in the X30 Pro category (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

It was a successful opening event for OTK drivers and teams at the United States Pro Kart Series Southern Grand Prix. The opening two rounds of the 2022 championship program was hosted at the Orlando Kart Center, just minutes for the home base of OTK USA in Orlando, Florida. Picture perfect weather greeted the over 300 drivers in the seven categories where OTK competitors collected over half the victories for the two days of racing. In total, OTK drivers earned nine wins, 26 podium finishes and 42 top-five results.

Danillo Ramalho doubled up in the X30 Masters class for his first USPKS victories (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

The defending champion in the X30 Pro division, Ryan Norberg (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic), was able to begin his bid for a second straight with two victories in Orlando. Each day ended with Norberg on top of the podium, earning the $5,000 weekend purse top prize with his two wins. Senior rookie Paul Bocuse (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) joined him on the podium in Round One in third place with Nate Cicero (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) and Aaron Benoit (URace / Redspeed) rounding out the top-five. Benoit was the only other OTK finisher inside the top-five in Round Two, improving to fourth.

It was another sweep of victories for OTK in the X30 Masters class. Brazilian Danillo Ramalho (Racing Edge Motorsports / Kosmic) was able to double up in the win column, earning his first career USPKS victories. Saturday was an OTK sweep of the podium and top-five, with Ramalho edging out two-time defending champion Scott Kopp (Franklin Motorsports / Exprit) with Mario Barrios (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) in third. Florida drivers Scott Roberts (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed) and Robert Maier (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) were fourth and fifth. It was a top-four OTK on Sunday with Danny Robertson (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) improving up to second ahead of Roberts and Kopp.

Ayden Ingratta put himself on top of the podium in the X30 Junior division in Round Two (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

Two drivers were able to split the wins in the X30 Junior category for OTK. Caleb Gafrarar (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) was able to secure victory on Saturday with a last lap maneuver over Ayden Ingratta (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed). Leonardo Escorpioni (Zanella Racing / Tony Kart) drove to his first USPKS podium in third with Christian Miles (Mike Doty Racing / LN) placing fifth. It was the same two at the front, this time with Ingratta pulling off the last lap pace for the victory over Gafrarar. Escorpioni held his spot in third with Teddy Musella (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) in fifth.

Throughout the weekend the KA100 Senior category saw intense racing with many OTK drivers toward the front of the field. Scoring victory in the Sunday round of action was Alex Stanfield (GWR / Tony Kart), pulling out the win in a final corner pass. Aaron Benoit (URace / Tony Kart) ended up third with Gia Cicero (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) in fifth. Jeremy Fletcher (GWR / Tony Kart) was among those in contention on Sunday until contact prior to the white flag took him out of contention. Fletcher led the OTK contingent on Saturday, placing third ahead of Alex Dancho (Mike Doty Racing / LN) with Stanfield completing the top-five.

Steven Miller secured his first USPKS victory in KA100 Junior in Round Two (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

For the KA100 Junior division, Steven Miller (CDR / Kosmic) gave OTK a victory. Miller was able to shine in Sunday’s main event, earning the victory after a hard-fought 18-lap race for his first series triumph. Helio Meza (Iron Rock Motorsports / Tony Kart) ended up second with Caleb Gafrarar (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) in third. Parker DeLong (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) ended up fourth on Sunday after leading the way for OTK in Saturday’s main event, classified in the second position. Cooper Shipman (Iron Rock Motorsports / Tony Kart) joined him on the podium in third with Landon Skinner (Speedsportz / Redspeed) and Lucas Szabo (Mike Doty Racing / LN) completing the top-five on Saturday.

Marco Summut (Mike Doty Racing / LN) was able to earn his first USPKS victory in the Micro Swift class. Summut won a hard-fought Final on Saturday to record the first USPKS win for the new LN Racing Kart. Jackson Gibson (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) joined him on the podium in third after winning the Prefinal. Asher Ochstein (Supertune / Tony Kart) garnered two top-five results in the Mini Swift class, placing fourth Saturday and improving to the podium in third on Sunday. Gianmatteo Rousseau (Supertune / Tony Kart) climbed four spots to fourth in the Sunday Final.

Marco Summut gave LN Racing Kart its first victory at the USPKS, winning Round One in Micro Swift (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

The second event of the 2022 United States Pro Kart Series is slated for the April 29-May 1 weekend at the popular GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina. Rounds Three and Four of the championship program will be contested in ‘Race City USA’.

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.

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