Barbosa claims opening-day treble

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17: David Barbosa staved off a stiff challenge from Al Seymour Jr to lead the senior TAG Class after the first day of the karting season.

Barbosa took all three heats to garner the full 80 points from the opening event of the karting season at Southside Raceway.

But the young Seymour looks like a force to be reckoned with this year. Last year he raced in the Junior Stock Clone Class and this was his first race with the "big boys”.

Seymour had two seconds and a third to finish second overall on the day in a class that featured eight drivers.

The large field also gives hope the sport is starting to rebound.

Stephen Corrado had a second in the second heat as well as a third and fourth.

He fared much better in the 125cc Shifter Class by taking the chequered flag in the first heat and followed that up with two seconds to head into the second race as the class leader.

Devon Durrant and Scott Barnes also won heats. Durrant had a second and third but Barnes’ win was in the double points third heat and that left him as the top challenger to Corrado. 

Ryan Burgess was unchallenged in the Junior Stock Clone Class (7 to 10 year olds) and swept all three heats.

Owen DeCosta and Corey Lewis swapped firsts in the Junior Stock Clone Class (10 to 15 year olds). DeCosta won the first and third heats with Lewis taking the chequered flag in the second. Lewis struggled in that race and finished fourth. 

Zavier Smith had a nice run with a second and two thirds while Gianni DeSilva was fourth on the day.