Bumgarner, Tuason gain pre-final pole in Asian karting

CARMONA — The Philippines kept its hopes alive behind defending champion Michelle Bumgarner of M&M Racing and Mike Tuason of Tuason Racing-Addict Mobile who took the pole in their respective divisions for today’s pre-final heat of the 2004 Casino Filipino-Shell Asian Karting Open Championship at the Carmona Circuit Philippines here.

The 15-year-old Bumgarner topped the first and third heats and finished runner-up in the second heat to assure herself of the top spot in the Formula 100 Open class in this event event sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) and sponsored by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Bridgestone, Denso, PCSO, Casino Filipino-PagCor Sports, Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Tourism, Palmer-Asia, Bellevue-Manila and Aviva Insurance.

Tuason, on the other hand, topped the two qualifying heats of the Rotax Seniors Max class.

Topping the other classes were Malaysian Calvin Wongwengman, who upstaged Matteo Guidicelli and fellow Malaysian Jazeman Firhan Jaafar in the Junior Intercontinental A class; Malaysian Mohammad Nabil, who bested Bradon Angel and Naqiyuddin Bin Nor Azahar in the Formula Cadet class; and Indonesian Armaan Ebrahim. who ruled the Rotax Max Junior over Matteo Guidicelli anf Alexandra Asmasoebrata.

The pre-final heat, which starts at 9:30 a.m., will determine their positions for the final heat set this afternoon.

Bumgarner really had a tough time against two Malaysians — Victor Cheong Kim Foong and Imran Zaharias Shaharom — who stuck close to her almost throughout the race and at some point, snatched the lead from her.

In the second heat, Shaharom stuck close to Bumgarner that his front kart went up on her back and broke his bumper. The incident relegated Bumgarner to fourth place but she quickly got back and finished second to Foong.

In the final heat, Bumgarner trailed behind Foong through the first 11 laps but found an open door on the second curve of the last lap to claim the third qualifying heat.

Taking the spots behind Bumgarner are Foong, Malaysian Charlie Charlez, Birel-Fila’s Indy Villalon and Malaysian Melvin Moh.

Tuason, on the other hand, was dominating in the combined Rotax Max Seniors and Veterans race, clocking the fastest time of 44.563.

But he has three tough rivals at his back — defending Rotax Max Masters champion Arya Setyaki, and three talented Filipinos — Marcel Thenu, Tyson Sy of Demvels and JP Carino of Bosch-Intelco — who have set equally fast times.

Sy turned in the fastest laptime of 44.498, followed by Thenu( 44.577), Setyaki (44.738) and Carino (44.643).