Rivera grabs pole in Asian Karting Open

MANILA, Philippines - Milo Rivera of Tough Gear-FERN C Racing put on an impressive show to take the pole position for the Pre-Finals today at the start of the Philippine leg of the Asian Karting Open Championship Series at the Carmona Racetrack in Cavite.

Rivera, 16, humbled a slew of talented foreign rivals and piled up the needed points from the three qualifying heats yesterday to clinch the top grid post in event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and sponsored by Yokohama the official tires, Coca-Cola, Sparco, Vivere the official home of Asian karters, Motorstar and Aeromed.

Gabriel Arcaradine of Indonesia, coming off a runner-up finish in the Macau kickoff, will be on Grid No. 2 with Mohammad Nasri Naufal Bin Nasir of Singapore and lone Thailand bet Tanapon Nokkaew in third and fourth positions, respectively.

Another Filipino – Christopher Joseph “CJ” Tsui – completed the top five cast in the Pre-Final races set this morning. The Final races will be held in the afternoon.

The Philippines also claimed the top spot in the two other international classes behind Cebuano Jette Calderon of Industria Racing and Gabriel Cabrera of SEAOIL-Kart Wreckers.

Calderon secured the No. 1 spot on the Formula Open 125 Junior class over Singapore’s Jon Lee and another Filipino Estefano Rivera of Tough Gear-FERN C Racing. In fourth and fifth places are Darma MH of Indonesia and Ryan Raymond Cudala of SEAOIL-Kart Wreckers, respectively.

Cabrera took the top spot in the Mini-ROK division over Darryl Wenas of Singapore and Cebuano Vince Adrian Rojo of Industria Racing. 

Flynn Jackes of TRS-Castrol Kids, who won the Mini-ROK crown in Macau, will start fourth on the grid with Keanon Santoso of Indonesia in fifth.

Carmona Mayor Dahlia Loyola will be the guest-of-honor in the simple opening rites at 12 noon along with other officials of the sanctioning Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) led by AAP Steward Jun Espino, who will official declare the races open.

The event drew 83 karters from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong and host Philippines.

The other titles at stake are SQ Cadet Novice and Expert, SQ Novice, Expert and Veteran, and the Yamaha Cup Expert and Novice crowns.

For details, call the Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.com.