Domingo's bold bid nets Magnolia karting title

MANILA, Philippines - Phoenix Petroleum driver Bobby Domingo of AUTS Racing staged another come-from-behind victory to capture the Formula SL Expert crown recently in the second leg of the 2009 Magnolia Super Karting Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit last April 5.

The wide but challenging track provided the crucial opportunity for Domingo to pull a decisive dive going to the finish line for the amazing victory that steered AUTS Racing to a 1-2-3-4 finish in the said class together with runner-up Joseph Castelar, Indy Villalon and Joel Caniza.

He started fifth on the grid but worked his way up to third. He then stuck close behind and found the perfect opportunity for the dive at the last hairpin where he came side-by-side with Villalon before pulling ahead for the victory.

He clocked 13 minutes and 41.676 seconds in the 10-lap race or just 1.244 seconds ahead of Castelar who came in third overall in the combined race.

In the ROK Overall class, the top five karters were all within 1.1 seconds of each other in the seventh lap when the kart of John Alvarez lost grip and slid to the side during a high speed turn taking with him Andres Calma and Domingo straight into the tire barriers.

Domingo suffered the most injuries with two fractured vertebrae, bruised ribs and minor cuts in the face. He will be out of racing for four months. Alvarez had a concussion while Calma suffered a broken wrist, which may sideline him for a few months. Joey Orduna eventually won the race followed by Juha Turalba.