COTA: Saturday DD2, Masters and Micro-Max Report

The first race of the 2015 season is in the books as the Rotax Challenge of the Americas has invaded the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. It was very windy and cool to start the weekend, but when it came time for the Finals on Saturday the sun was out and the wind faded away, it was time to get down to business.

Excellent racing a theme on track Saturday as for the main categories, the races went down to the wire.

The Challenge is still struggling to gain an amble number of Rotax DD2 drivers as only six were on hand and none of them were in the DD2 Masters category.

Michael Ilavia (J3/CompKart) snagged the pole-position but Sabre Cook (CRG USA/CRG) was able to take advantage early in the Final and cruise to victory while Ilavia settled for second and Christian Bird (CRG USA/CRG) completed the podium. Matt Jaskol (PSL West/CRG) struggled with a flat tire in the Final holding him back from contending for a podium spot.

Sabre Cook (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

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In Micro-Max the race came down to a battle of two as Diego Laroque (Kosmic) and Josh Pierson (TonyKart) broke free from their competitors and raced hard all 14 laps. At the finish line LaRoque held on by just over a tenth of a second to take the win while Ashton Torgerson (TonyKart) won the intense battle for third to complete the podium.

Cole Keith Cotham (TonyKart) just beat Leland Honeyman (BENIK Kart) to take fourth while Noah Warren, Jace Gessel, Paden Hall, Carson Mogran and Ethan Ho rounded out the top-ten.

Diego LeRoque (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

A solid field of Max Masters drivers in attendance are all gunning for the championship and the ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals.

Paul Bonilla (TonyKart) was able to hold on as the sun was setting in the distance to take the win over Joey McGuire (Birel) and John Crow (Birel). Ken Maxfield, the defending US Rotax Grand National Champion finished fourth while Scott Falcone (RPG/Kosmic) rebounded from an early race setback to fifth fifth.

Paul Bonilla (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)