Update 7:30 PM: Both Juan Correa and Leonard Hoogenboom were disqualified in post-race tech. Final finishing order: Thomas Preining, Javier Gonzalez, Bryce Fullwood, Philip Hemprect and Christian Brooks.
The rain finally halted on Sunday morning in Las Vegas, USA and for the first time since Wednesday, the sun was shining on the SKUSA SuperNationals at the RIO Hotel & Casino. It was SuperSunday as 11 classes hit the track all seeking SuperNationals glory.
It has been a trying week and the change of weather was a nice way to close things out in Las Vegas.
Like their Rotax DD2 siblings, Rotax Junior put on a great show in their SuperNationals Final. A great start for pole sitter Thomas Preining (PSL/CRG) saw him get out front early while Leonard Hoogenboom (PSL/CRG) slotted into second and Philip Hemprect (TonyKart) third. Canadian Clay Van Eerd advanced up to fourth on the start, but before the first lap was complete he was moved out of the way and fell well down the order.
On the move in the early stages, last weeks Rotax Grand Finals Champion Juan Manuel Correa (TonyKart) moved by Hoogenboom and into third behind Hemprect, but Preining had started to pull away. Also on the move was Canadian Gianfranco Mazzaferro (Pserra/TonyKart) as he worked his way into the top-ten.
Correa disposed on Hemprect by halfway and set his sights on Preining. Closing in on the leader with two to go, Correa took the lead just before the white flag flew. A huge lunge in to the first corner by Preining returned him to the lead, but Correa countered towards corner two. Side by side through almost the entire final lap, Preining sealed the deal with three corners left as he scored the victory over Correa. Hoogenboom recovered to finish third as Javier Gonzalez (TonyKart) had a great drive from the rear to finish fourth with Bryce Fullwood (FA Kart) completing the SKUSA podium.
Gianfranco Mazzaferro ended up tenth, with Nataël Cantin (KMS/Birel) 20th and Jeff Fulham 25th. Unfortunately for Russell Boyle (IPK/OK1) and Van Eerd they would score DNF’s.
With the victory, Preining secures himself a ticket to the 2014 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals as he will lead team Austria.
