Skeete, Hunte and Downie Notch Another Round in Karting

Order was restored at the C.O. Williams Construction Limited Round 5, of the Barbados Karting Association (BKA) 2004 Frutee Championship held last Sunday. Orry Hunte (left) re-established his lead of the 310-Lb Yamaha Premier Class when he piloted his #6 ADO Trading Wright kart to overall victory with 91 points, overcoming challenges in the final races from ex-BKA Champion Nigel Reece, driving his Structural Systems Deavinson Sprint kart with the usual aggression.

Nigel Reece (right) started the day slowly, qualifying down the order and completing the opening race without brakes, but was still able to push his machinery to the limit and storm back to finish the day second-overall in the 310-Lb class with 81 points, thanks to the efficient work of his pit crew led by David Reece, motorsport veteran and Structural Systems kart-workz crew chief.

Michael Lambert (right) was also able to turn in some good lap times as he came to terms with his new Gold 355 kart chassis to finish third overall with 72 points. Beset by mechanical problems throughout the day, the karts of female driver Kristyl Branch and Alan Maynard did not permit them to challenge the leaders.

Sean Donnie made a clean sweep of 330-Lb Yamaha Heavy class by wining all races to take the maximum 100 points. Rookie John Croney spent most of race day fighting clutch problems, and was only able to gather 41 points in his stricken Deavinson Sprint kart.

The 250-Lb Yamaha Sportsman class continued to draw top billing in the area of excitement, as the determined youngsters again drove with a level of skill and determination that belied their age.

But it was no Sunday stroll for Dane Skeete, winner of the previous outing, who had his hands full fending off Conor Roach and Jesse Kelly.

In the opening race it was Jesse (left) who took the initiative-and the chequered flag-ahead of Conor, followed by Dane; but it was Dane who used the advantage of race two's reverse-grid, by winning races, two and three. And despite late-day heroics from Conor who won the final race ahead of Dane, the overall standings were not to be changed with Dane Skeete finishing first with 89 points, Conor Roach in his new Gold 355 chassis a close second with 85, and Jesse Kelly in third, with 78 in his CGM//Herr's Birel.

The next BKA 2004 Frutee Championship round is slated for Sunday July 6th, at the Bushy Park racing facility in St. Philip. Qualifying is scheduled for eight and racing at nine a.m.