Thomas Issa eyes big title

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

After missing out on a podium finish at last month's US Grand National Go-Kart Finals, Jamaica's Thomas Issa now has his sights set on taking the chequered flag at next month's Pan American Rotax Max Challenge Finals.

Dubbed 'The Olympics of Kart Racing', the world-class event is scheduled to take place September 22-25 at the New Castle Motorsport Park, which is located outside Indianapolis, Indiana. It is an opportunity for Rotaxians from all over the planet to showcase their talent.

So, as part of his intense preparation for the big event, the 14-year-old Campion College schoolboy flew out to Florida last Sunday, where he has been going through the paces at the Homestead Racetrack.

Issa, who is among several other Jamaican karters preparing for the championship, will face the starter this weekend, when he competes at the Homestead Internal Champion-ship. The teenager will make his debut in the highly competitive Rotax Junior Class, where he will rub shoulders with some of the world-class karters.

This means that Jonathan Law and Joshua Sirgany will be among the favourites to dominate the Mini Max Class in the local competition, as Fraser McConnell has also been elevated to the Junior Class.Last week, a report posted on www.ekartingnews.com said Issa, who competed in the Mini Max Class then, overcame his mechanical troubles in the heats and finished fifth in the US Grand National Finals, making him Jamaica's best performer at the championship. Law came 16th in the same event.

Crashed

The report further stated that Justin Sirgany filled out the front row to begin the 10-lap pre-final in the Micro category, but crashed and did not make the finals. Meanwhile, Collin Daley Jr, who competed in the Rotax Junior Class, finished in the top 10. Other Jamaicans who also took part were William Myers and Fraser McConnell.

While karters are upbeat about next month's championship, there was a pall of gloom over the karting fraternity, as scores of emotional persons said farewell to Dane Lawson, a former go-karter, who perished in a tragic motor vehicle accident with D'Angelo Young on July 27, along Trafalgar Road, New Kingston. Both were buried yesterday.