Round four of the Golden Power Series saw Mathew Basso return to the heart of central Victoria, competing at the Rochester karting circuit. The mission for the weekend was simple; continue to stretch out their margin to second in the championship, with the mere three rounds remaining. However, rumbling Rochester ensured tensions were high amidst heavy showers, hail and wheel-to-wheel racing.
Having displayed the wrath of the #18’s speed at earlier rounds, the Melbourne Kart Centre pilot Mathew Basso was keen on securing his first Golden Power Series final win, after being so close on several occasions throughout the season. Basso adapted to the fast-flowing Rochester circuit immediately, topping the timing charts in timed practice.
Basso’s ballistic brilliance saw him follow this up with yet another pole position, storming to first by a healthy 0.4 of a second and adding to his collection for 2023.
What ensued was three cliffhanging heats to commence the weekend’s racing. Amidst the torrential weather, Mathew was able to zero in on first place in heat one, winning by an excellent 2.4 second margin over his championship rivals.
HEAT TWO
Heat two was carnage in the opening laps, Basso relegated to the midfield before an inspired drive saw him cross the line in P2 with the fastest lap of the race, with after-race penalties resulting in P4. Starting on the outside for heat three, Basso was a victim of the turn one congestion synonymous with the Rochester circuit, dropping to P5. Basso charged from the mid-field once more to come home P2, behind 1st by 0.2seconds having been nearly 3 seconds behind at the end of lap one!
With the final set to commence, Mathew and the team were confident with their karts speed moving into the last race – having a speed advantage of 0.3seconds over the field. Starting on the treacherous outside once more, disaster struck as the 18-kart field piled into turn one – Basso was shoved off the track, reappearing on circuit outside the top 10. Narrowly missing the tyre barriers on lap one, what followed was 12 spectacular qualifying laps by the #18 speed machine, on a mission to climb through the field to salvage what points were possible.
