Unless I'm mistaken, the new "Junior Performance" class is going to be absolutely mental. It allows the use of all the 125 TaG motors, in their restricted (~20hp) form in a class that will SURELY become the blue-ribbon junior class.
As much as I loved Frankie Cesnik ("WHAT'S GOIN' ON!?"... miss you mate :), it's time for the ARC motor to go, unfortunately.
However, by making the BRILLIANT decision to allow the juniors to run the restricted 125 engines, now parents don't have to make short term investments in engines they'll use only for a year or two, as by removing a restrictor plate, they can move straight into the TaG senior class (or Leopard/Rotax).
So then, will all the usual AKA bashers join me in congratulating the NKC on making a brilliant decision?
I cannot wait to see this on the track!!
As much as I loved Frankie Cesnik ("WHAT'S GOIN' ON!?"... miss you mate :), it's time for the ARC motor to go, unfortunately.
However, by making the BRILLIANT decision to allow the juniors to run the restricted 125 engines, now parents don't have to make short term investments in engines they'll use only for a year or two, as by removing a restrictor plate, they can move straight into the TaG senior class (or Leopard/Rotax).
So then, will all the usual AKA bashers join me in congratulating the NKC on making a brilliant decision?
I cannot wait to see this on the track!!
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Comments12
Be careful. NZ tried to maintain parity with a variety of engine brands in a Junior Tag class. Too hard. Better to adopt a common set of international technical specifications (called KF3) where multiple brands are built to same set of specifications and are very even on the track.
cheers
Robert Hutton
Rob,
I agree that parity will be an issue, but I think it has the makings of a great class..... Years ago you never saw a comer in midgets, now you never see a J. Perhaps the same will happen here. I agree that JICA/KF3 would also be good, but, not a one make class either.
When you don't run one make parity is always hard, but hats off to the NKC on this one.....junior performance was floundering until now (JMax/Clubman).
NZ currently has Vortex, Maxter, TM and XTR racing here in KF3. All very very close.
Personally we have run Vortex and TM. Identical straight spilts on the datalogger.
Will Junior Performance allow KF3?
If so Trans Tasman competition possible just like what is underway with KZ2.
cheers Robert
will there be any parity specs before its run, as how will a Jmax compare to a restricted Leopard?? etc.
and does it have state/national status or will it start off at club level and get parity sorted first??
and will this put pressure on the sen J and S classes as thes kids will hardly want to go back to 100cc after experiencing 125s??
yep a rare good decison... so far.
In my opinion they will all need to be on the same tyre and I would suggest they use the Clubman class tyre.
My observations are that a Clubman on MG Reds can stay close to a JMax on Mojo for a lap or two and then the JMax pulls away.
Paul, Thanks for your help, and I assume the 125s (including JMax) will be restricted to good Yamaha Clubman pace as is the idea with Senior Restricted 125.
Only testing will confirm IF the senior restrictors are appropriate for this class.
Should we change the name of MG Reds to MG Cranes ?
Hi All,
I too think this is a good decision . . . I don't know that Parity will be that big an issue . . . it's been sorted in Senior TAG-R to a reasonable extent. The current JMax the Jnrs use has more horsepower that the Snr Restricted Tag motors - so why not just leave it as Senior Restricted Tag motors - that way they don't have to redo the parity. Just my thoughts anyway. But either way - I believe this is a step forward in the right direction for Australian Karting.
Cheers
Phil
I definately like the sound of it!
But I can't take my hat off to it unfortunately... The announcement was preceeded in the same paragraph by the news that BAM media has been kept on (for the great work they've done so far, no less!)....
We've taken one step forward with Jr. Performance, but two steps back by keeping on BAM. By my calculations, that leaves us just about where we were before.
A number of years ago we had the world top level junior category as a series and this was well supported - they included names like Courtney - Briscoe - Winterbottom - Caruso and when they moved to the next level we had Martin – Walsh - D'Alberto – Slade – Thompson come into the category, ...on the weekend I met with FPR Manager an old karting friend of mine, and he simply stated that we don’t see that level coming through the ranks today ....maybe this JPC is the fix !
I agree that AKA should have, and promote a Junior higher performance category, I always have, and guided several juniors to championship status in CIK including Graham – Walsh – Thompson –Walton but this new inclusion or “combination of sorts” needs to include the world recognised CIK power unit, not just the local industry players who currently have a stake in a senior category..!! ...How are we to ever remove the “hillbilly” status that FIA/CIK label us without embracing the world junior category status ….!!!!
For sure parity will become an issue ….will it be observed and applied to all units ..???– what other units will be accepted to the category ??? How much thinking has gone into the decision and its imminent problems ??? and if this plan has blessing then why are we not doing the same for the seniors - they too should be combined to reduce the classes to formulate them into one and provided it is monitored for parity and corrected without emotion, or without industry favouritism, then this senior and junior, (with the inclusion of the KF3), could provide a way ahead...
As for spending 160K on press releases to the converted, that could be better spent on a proper costed marketing plan .or even employing a company to set a strategic plan for the future of the sport - because no one on the NKC or even all of them combined has been able to produce one or have the skill to suggest it be done.....!!
Thats my opinion anyway !
Phil the parity will be an issue. In seniors there is a 20kg difference (clubman light @ 140kg to TaG restricted @ 160kg) where as Juniors will be a 10kg difference (Yamaha S @ 135kg, ARC @ 140kg, Restricted 125 @ 145kg).
Don't take my word as gospel, just what I've heard.
Do you know what jMax weight is goin to be? same as ussual?
Adam Willison said:Phil the parity will be an issue. In seniors there is a 20kg difference (clubman light @ 140kg to TaG restricted @ 160kg) where as Juniors will be a 10kg difference (Yamaha S @ 135kg, ARC @ 140kg, Restricted 125 @ 145kg).Don't take my word as gospel, just what I've heard.
Same as restricted maybe? Not sure
Totally agree with everything Ralph just said!!!
esp including CIK power units (KF3)... parity will be a huge issue but we all know everyone over time will convert to the quickest....therefore include kf3 in junior performance... over time kf3 numbers will go up, and we'll see a return of the world junior category in aus...REAL RACING!!!