Reyes takes 3rd in Macau karting

MANILA, Philippines - Franco Victor Reyes settled for third after a heartbreaking setback in the topsy-turvy final race of the Round 1 of the Asian Karting Open Championship in Macau last weekend.

Indian Arjun Maini emerged the surprise winner after Malaysian Hishamuddin was disqualified for competing under the minimum weight requirement and Thailand’s Sasakorn was slapped a three-second penalty for excessive bumping.

Reyes, the 15-year-old sophomore from Ateneo, started fifth on the grid and challenged the vaunted Indonesian karters in all the races leading to the final.

He overtook Indonesian champion Senna Iriawan and Daniel Woodroof of Malaysia and stayed behind Sasakorn and Dharma MH, also of Indonesia.

After three laps, Reyes surged past a fading Dharma, whose kart collided with Sasakorn’s, and engaged the Thai bet in a spirited battle for the lead.

They were later joined in by Hishamuddin who overtook Reyes with two laps to go then drove past Sasakorn at the end of the long straight.

Reyes then got past Sasakorn in the next corner in front of the wildly cheering Thai contingent, moving just a 10th of a second behind Hishamuddin.

But Sasakorn, determined to regain lost ground, rammed into Reyes in the ensuing corner, paving the way for Hishamuddin to clinch the win.

Sasakorn came in second with Reyes reeling behind Maini and another Malaysian, Timothy Yeo.

But Hishamuddin was disqualified while Sasakorn was penalized, making Maini the winner of the event.

“It was really unfortunate that Sasakorn went reckless in that last lap. I’m disappointed as I had the championship within reach. I could have easily caught up with Hishamuddin in the last sector,” rued Reyes. “But that’s racing. We move on to the next one.”

The second round will be held on July 29-31 in Carmona Circuit in Cavite.