Rivera brothers, Jackes take pole in Asian karting

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines looks forward to another dominating feat as Fern-C Racing’s Milo and Estefano Rivera, and TRS-Castrol Kid Flynn Jackes claimed the pole positions in today’s pre-final heat of the 2012 Asian Karting Open Championship at the Carmona Racetrack.

Milo Rivera took the top spot in the premier Formula 125 Open Senior class while Estefano Rivera and Jackes claimed the pole in the Formula 125 Open Junior and Mini-ROK divisions after the consolidated qualifying heats.

The best karters from host Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand and Malaysia dispute the titles in the three international classes, and bagging the front seats steered the Filipinos a step closer to their bids.

Milo Rivera was joined by three other Pinoys in the top seven spots In the Formula 125 Open Senior class. Four-time Karter of the Year Stefano Marcelo will be in Grid No.2 with Singapore’s Mohd Nasri Naufal Bin Nasir, San Miguel Corp.Racing Team’s VJ Suba and another Singaporean Sean Hudspeth in third, fourth and fifth places respectively.

Indonesian Senna Sulaiman Noor is sixth followed by Industria Racing’s CJ Tsui.

The event is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and sponsored by Coca-Cola, Yokohama (official tires), Sparco, Vivere (official home of Asian karters), Motorstar and Aeromed.

Estefano Rivera is followed by Jette Calderon of Red Bull Racing Supreme-Industria Racing and AKOC Juniors frontrunner Darma Mangkuluhur of Indonesia. Joining them are Daniel Miranda of Marcelo Racing in fourth, Japanese Marino Sato in fifth and Raymond Cudala of FERN-C Racing in sixth.

Jackes, who emerged Mini-ROK champion in the AKOC Macau kickoff, will be challenged by Indonesian Keanon Santoso and Singaporean Daryl Wenas who will be on the No. 2 and No. 3 spots followed by Gabe Cabrera, FERN-C Racing’s Dylan Arambulo and Indonesian Barchello Noor.

Results of the Pre-Final Heat this morning will determine their grid positions for the Final Race set this afternoon.

Also up for grabs are the local titles in the SQ Cadet Novice and Expert, SQ Novice, SQ Expert, SQ Veteran, Yamaha Expert and Yamaha Novice divisions.

Equally exciting is the battle for supremacy among local karters in the 2012 KF2-KF3 Cup which, along with the 2012 Coca-Cola Karting Super Series, serves as the basis for the Karter of the Year and other major karting awards.

Milo Rivera of FERN-C Racing and CJ Tsui of Industria Racing, who amassed 125 and 93 points respectively, dispute crucial wins to bolster their bids for the KF2 crown in Rounds 5 and 6 of the series along with Industria Racing’s Franco Reyes (59 pts.) and Bobby Domingo (57 pts.), FERN-C Racing’s Matthew Chan (50 pts.), Marcelo Racing’s Sacha Feliciano (46 pts.), Archim Lagman (38 pts.) and Cebuano Tonyo Carcel (37 pts.).

Cebuano Jette Calderon of Red Bull Supreme-Industria Racing, currently leading with 127 points, hopes to keep the KF3 plum over Estefano Rivera of FERN-C Racing (116 pts.), Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier (76 pts.), Vrei-AR Suba (49 pts.) and Raymond Cudala (40 pts.) of FERN-C Racing, Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing (28 pts.) and Wayne Darvin of One Racing (22 pts.)

For more info, interested parties may call the Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.com.