Maloney early leader of BKA Championship

A perfect start by Calem Maloney has propelled him to the top of the points standings in the 2024 Sectus Technologies Barbados Karting Association (BKA) Championship, which got underway last weekend.

Maloney, who tied for second place in last year’s drivers’ championships, won all four of his races on Sunday’s UpBeat Wholesale Raceday, to accumulate 100 points.

His performance gives him an eight-point lead over defending drivers’ champion Daniel Ullyett, with Zak Mayers third after a day of close racing at Bushy Park.

Maloney, the reigning Easykart 125cc Lights champion, topped the seven-strong class in qualifying, then led the opening race from flag to flag. He was chased home by Aaron Blackett and Sebastian Thompson, who made a cracking start from the back of the grid, losing second place to Blackett only two laps from home.

Maloney then dominated the remaining races, with Kayleigh Catwell the best of the rest in all three to sit second behind Maloney in the Easykart 125cc Lights standings.

Ullyett, who was crowned the BKA’s champion driver for the third time at the previous weekend’s Annual Awards, has fresh competition in the 100cc Juniors this year.

Jacob Mayers, who has finished second in 60cc Cadets for the past two seasons, claimed pole position in qualifying, with his cousin Zak, the 2023 Cadet Champion third behind Ullyett.

It was Ullyett who prevailed in the day’s opening race by just three-tenths of a second, while Jacob slipped behind Zak to finish third.

Jacob then incurred a 10-second penalty for causing an avoidable accident in race two, which was won by Zak, with Ullyett and Aeden Bruce (the 2022 Cadet Champion also moving up a class) completing the podium.

While Zak won race three on the road, he incurred a similar penalty, which resulted in him placing third behind Ullyett and Bruce. Jacob then won the final race of the day, ahead of Ullyett and Bruce.

With the Mayers’ cousins and Bruce having graduated to 100cc Juniors, there were only two drivers in the 60cc Cadets races.

Both were newcomers to the BKA, with Oliver Judd the faster in qualifying and winner of all four races, giving him an eight-point lead in the standings over Shamir Eversley. (PR/RB)