Ladies and Gentlemen of CycleKarting,
We have reached the mid point of the 2022 CycleKart World Championship season!!!
This is already the 3rd season for the CycleKart World Championship, and every year the CKWC has welcomed more countries, more events, more participants, more fans, and the best part... more cyclekarts!!!
This year the World Championship calendar has grown to include over 40 events, spread over 4 continents, plus 2 online participation events that allow entry from anywhere in the world!!!
With 21 events down and 20 still to go, we are at the half-way point, and a picture has emerged of who the main players may be at the end in 2022..., and as it turns out, its a very different group of cyclekarts at the top in 2022 than in the 2 previous years!!!
The main noticeable difference is David Dupaquier's 2-time Champion #3 Maserati F250 is nowhere to be seen, and has yet to enter an event in 2022!! At this point, its probably a safe bet to say the 2022 World Championship will go to a different cyclekart!!!
For now, the joust at the top has been mostly between 2 cyclekarts.
Ben Hanisko's #13 Austin Seven had been at the very top since the 1st event of the season at Laguna Seca, but Joey Verpoorten's #13 DeSoto Special had closed the gap after winning the Huntsville GP Concours D'Ellegance.
Then came the Campbell Cup in Tieton...
Both Championship leaders were in attendance and went head-to-head in a "Heats and Final" format.
In the end, the win ended up going to Mark Lacambra's #11 GN JAP, but behind it was 2nd place for the DeSoto and a 7th place for the Austin.
That result powered the DeSoto right up to the top of the 2022 CycleKart World Championship points chart!!!
Yes folks, you may have noticed that it seems no matter how the cookie crumbles, the number 13 seems to be THE lucky number to have this year!!!
But of course, there are still 20 events to go. A lot may, and probably will, change. But what is ahead?
Hanisko's #13 Austin is a regular at SlymeDawg Speedway, and there are still two World Championship events this year at the world-famous (as far as cyclekarting goes..) dirt oval track in Stanwood, Washigton.
Verpoorten's #13 DeSoto is not a regular at SlymeDawg, but... it is also located in the region.
Will the two championship contenders go head-to-head at the next CKWC event at SlymeDawg??
The 2 have met twice before this season.
At Laguna Seca, the advantage went to the #13 Austin.
At the Campbell Cup, the #13 DeSoto took that back, and then added some!!!!
But one can never get too comfortable at the CKWC, as after a 2nd place at SlymeDawg's Season Opener and 1st place at the Campbell Cup, Mark Lacambra's #11 GN JAP has climbed to 3rd place in the Championship. The #11 is also a cyclekart from the American Pacific NorthWest region, and will likely be at one or both SlymeDawg CKWC events that remain on the Calendar.
Next event at SlymeDawg is the Gregory Iverson Memorial Dirt Kup ("The Iverson"), scheduled for August 13!!!
If all the Top 3 show up, it will be a World Championship Triple-Showdown!!!
But just when you think all the focus is on the American Pacific NorthWest region, take a look at whats below those 3 in the points race.
There are 4 cyclekarts from the British Club currently in the Top 10 (with 3 of them in the Top 5!!), and they still have 3 events on their schedule!!!
Graham Appleyard's #82 Austin Seven "Brooklands Special" is no doubt a major contender!!!
Currently in 3rd place, in a tie with Lacambra's GN JAP, both with 28 points!!!
A slip (or absence) by Hanisko's Austin, Verpoorten's DeSoto, or Lacambra's GN JAP at any remaining event in their region, and the 2022 World CycleKart Championship may end up with one of the British cyclekarts!!!
Add to that there are now also 3 DIY (Do it Yourself) events on the CycleKart World Championship calendar of events, 2 of which can be done from anywhere in the world (The Corona Speed Challenge, and The Scavenger Hunt)!!!
Participation in these events can certainly be a factor in the result!!!
Attached are the updated Top 20 charts for the CycleKarts, Marques, Engines, and Drivers world Championships.
If you or your cyclekart is outside of the Top20 and you want to know your current position/points, just ask me below.
So yes, it is currently looking very much like the 2022 Champion will come from either the North-American Pacific NorthWest or British regions, but remember, we are only half way through the events calendar!!!
The 2022 World Champion cyclekart could still be lurking somewhere further down the order!!!
Stay tuned!!! This game is far from over!!!