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Rotax Nationals - Ocala Gran Prix summary

OCALA GRAN PRIX -- ROTAX NATIONALS REVIEW "OGP scores victory and podium in Shawano, Wisconsin" Ocala, Florida -- September 16, 2008 -- Florida based Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) had a very successful event this past weekend at the Rotax Max Challenge ...

Published: Sep 17, 2008, 1:04 AM

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OCALA GRAN PRIX -- ROTAX NATIONALS REVIEW
"OGP scores victory and podium in Shawano, Wisconsin"

Ocala, Florida -- September 16, 2008 -- Florida based Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) had a very successful event this past weekend at the Rotax Max Challenge USA Grand Nationals. With six drivers under the team tent, OGP claimed a one-two finish in the Rotax Mini Max class and had some very strong showings in the other classes.

Leading the OGP team into the weekend was Rotax Senior standout Victor Pedrosa. The talented pilot struggled through Thursday qualifying session but impressed in the heat races. A third and fifth place results could not overcome a heat one mechanical failure and Pedrosa was forced to start deep in the field. Moving forward through the opening laps, Pedrosa was well inside the top ten before the wet weather conditions got the best of him. All was not lost for Victor though as the Brazilian background pilot was awarded a Firestone Indy Lights test with Team E during Saturday evening's award ceremonies.

OGP's best weekend results came from the Rotax Mini Max class as AJ Myers and Jack West claimed the top two podium positions. The OGP duo battled wheel to wheel throughout the 12 lap race showing tremendous rain racing ability as they drew away from the rest of the field to score the solid results. On route to the win, Myers scored the quickest lap time of the event while West was the third quickest driver around the USA International Raceway (USAIR).

DD2 pilot Jason Bell progressed throughout the weekend and showed that he has the speed to compete with some of America's best. With his final in the wet, Bell managed to score a 13th place result and a load of experience that he can take back home to Florida with him.

Rotax Junior pilot John Gula had a decent weekend and showed the necessary speed to run inside the top ten. Running with the lead group in the heat races, Gula's chances at a strong result were looking good until a mid-race incident in the final forced him to retire from the event.

Micro Max driver Hunter Folsom competed for the first time out of the state of Florida this weekend and impressed all the members of the OGP team. The 8-year-old steadily improved throughout the race weekend and as the checkered flag flew, he crossed the stripe with an outstanding seventh place result.

"I'm very happy with our team's results," stated Kyle Kraus, Ocala Gran Prix's Team manager. "We came here with some goals and most of them we achieved. I think all the drivers under our tent are already planning and looking forward to the 2009 event and their chances at making it to the World Finals."

-credit: ogp

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