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Camplese the 2015 Asia-Pacific KZ Champion in Macau

14.12.15
Held from 10th to 13th December 2015 at the Kartodromo de Coloane in Macau, the CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific KZ Championship saw a clear domination by the Europeans against the large Australian delegation and the Asian Drivers taking part in the Competition. Unsurprisingly, the Italian Lorenzo Camplese won the title with a comfortable lead.

The Competition in Macao went smoothly in a very good sporting atmosphere and on a dry track despite the continued cloudiness. In addition, the organisation by the Automobile General Association Macao-China proved as usual up to the event. Although there were fewer entries, they were engaged in battles at several levels during the four days of racing, while a dozen other categories and more than 140 Drivers completed the programme.

The four European Drivers in the 2015 CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific KZ Championship quickly asserted their claims by taking the lead of the Competition from Qualifying Practice onwards. Lorenzo Camplese (Parolin-TM Racing-B'stone) achieved pole position in front of two young Drivers, the Dutchman Marijn Kremers (Ricciardo Kart-Parilla-B'stone) and the Frenchman Hubert Petit (TB Kart-Modena Engines-B'stone), while the Italian Francesco Celenta (Parolin-TM Racing-B'stone) took 4th position and the Australian Darren Burke (CRG-Maxter-B'stone) was 5th.

There was drama at the start of the first Qualifying Heat with the retirement of Camplese on the first lap because of a carburetion concern. Kremers took advantage to clinch the victory, followed by Petit and Celenta, the Australians Joshua Fife (CRG-TM Racing-B'stone) 4th and Cody Gillis (CRGSPA-Maxter-B'stone) 5th. The first penalties of 10'' for incorrectly positioned front fairingss at the finish were given, even though the overall conduct of the races generally remained very fair. Burke dropped to 11th place instead of 4th at the finish line. Camplese made amends by winning the second Qualifying Heat ahead of Kremers, Celenta, Burke and Gillis, Petit being ranked 8th after a penalty. Kremers was then in the lead of the intermediate classification, Celenta 2nd, Petit 3rd, Gillis 4th and Jonathan Mangos (CRG-TM Racing-B'stone) 5th.

7th on the starting grid of the Prefinal, Camplese demonstrated his strong potential by going back to 1st position in only 12 laps and won with the fastest lap, 2.5'' ahead of his team-mate Celenta and Kremers, Petit and Fife. Camplese then flew as soon as the Final lights went out. Kremers was trying to keep in touch, but from the 7th lap the leader upped the pace and ended as the winner by over 6 seconds. 2nd on the line and the holder of the fastest lap, Kremers was demoted to 6th position because of its front fairing. Celenta then recovered 2nd place after having withstood Petit at the end of the race. Burke found himself 4th ahead of Fife, while Zane Morse (CRG-Maxter-B'stone) moved up from 16th to 7th place. The Indonesian Senna Sulaiman Noor (CRG-Maxter-B'stone) completed the top 10.