SKUSA SuperNats Las Vegas, F1 format event

Over the years, the Stars and Stripes event has gained more and more importance internationally and not only in the States, now in the calendar of almost 100% of world-class teams. A unique event for karting, especially for the conditions in which it runs, that is, under the artificial city lights of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which for some years now has taken the place of the Rio Hotel, historically used in previous seasons as the perfect outdoor space for the SKUSA. 
Plenty of race action and nine categories present for what was the lead-up to the return of the Las Vegas F1 GP this weekend. Below is the report of the finals. 

PRO Shifter – Exciting and highly anticipated as usual, the premier PRO Shifter class thrilled the Las Vegas public, also and above all, due to the presence of the big names of international KZ. A high-level battle that ended with the return to success of specialist Danny Formal (Kosmic/AVP), a well-known name in karting, especially Stateside. Formal was able to recover four positions from the start, flying towards victory with an almost three-second advantage. The American brought a Kosmic chassis back to success, bringing the OTK ahead of the Birel Art duo, namely Marijn Kremers (Birel Art/PSL) in P2, now also a specialist in American format races capable of overcoming a position and get the better of the 2022 winner, and Matteo Viganò (Birel Art/PSL) who, as always, was in great shape during the event and recovered four positions. Top five completed by AJ Myers (Magik Kart/Sani) and Remo Ruscitti (Italkart/SRP). Best comeback and fastest lap for Markus Kajak (Italkart/IMUSA) with twenty-five positions recovered at the end of the race.

X30 Senior  – Thrilling show also in the Senior category of the X30 with battles between the specialists of - and beyond - the category itself. It was Donovan Bonilla who got the better of the competition, more or less in the same way as his colleague and teammate Formal, with four positions recovered from his start position and a gap of over three seconds on rivals. Domination for the Mexican, victorious under the checkered flag. Second place for another well-known name in American motorsport, worth the ticket price alone, Ryan Norberg. 16 positions recovered and the fast lap at the end of the race, a sign that without the setback, he could have aspired to a greater result. Third place for Austin Garrison. Fourth was Ariel Elkin and Harley Keeble was fifth. 

X30 Junior – First race without any clear dominators thanks to the talents of the Junior class, constantly battling with each other among the curves of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With a six-tenths advantage, Turner Brown won, absolutely on the ball in Sunday's Main Event. Silver medal for an excellent Diego Ardiles, among the few capable of maintaining his position, bronze in the hands of Oliver Wheldon. Sacha Van't Pad Bosch and Nixx Egglestone in the top five. 

Master Shifter – If he had not found the luck he was looking for in Pro Shifter, in the Master, Davide Forè (Italkart/IMUSA) followed up on the good done during the KZ2 World Championship in the KZ2 Master Super Cup. Victory in style for Forè, already a winner on American soil with a hard-fought race to the very end and a winner under the checkered flag with a fast lap and eleven positions recovered. Greatly experienced management and a dose of clean nastiness for the Italian, able to beat his rival Jordon Musser (Birel Art/BCRE) who started from pole position. Third place for Brian Neck (GFC/Swedetech). Fourth was Robert Bujdoso (Magik Kart/Sani), fifth was former Formula 1 driver Antonio Pizzonia (Birel Art/Zanella).


KA 100 Senior – In the first of the 100 categories, there was a no holds barred fight between first and second on the starting grid with a final victory for pole man Ernesto Rivera, but only by a tenth over Chase Jones. Pauly Massimino came back to take third.

KA100 Junior – Similar race in Junior but even more intense with a photo-finish between the two contenders for success. By just +0.086sec gap it was Turner Brown who won the head-to-head over Sebastian Garzon. Spectator of the fight ahead and third place was Diego Ardiles. 

KA100 Master – Among the Masters with five positions recovered, it was Matthew Waters who crossed the finish line with his arms in the air. No chance for polesitter Ben Cooper, second at the finish line despite the fastest lap. Third step of the podium goes to Kip Foster. 

Mini Swift  – There is also great anticipation for the first of the cadet categories, always spectacular and much appreciated, given the big names that emerged from these entry lists. Victory from pole position for Royce Vega with a tenth and a half gap to his rival Michael McGaughy in second and Noah Baglin in third position. 

Micro Swift  – The nine categories of the SKUSA SuperNats 2023 are closed by the Micro class with the smallest drivers in the entire schedule. Victory for Maxwell Macha, second Josh Bergman and third Parker Ives. 

ALL EVENT RESULTS