Jason Loosemore Seizes Astron Energy Polo Cup Championship Lead
Johannesburg, 20 May 2024 – In a thrilling day of racing at the Zwartkops’ Extreme Festival, Jason Loosemore vaulted to the top of the Astron Energy Polo Cup championship standings. Loosemore secured an impressive two race victories, overtaking title rival Nathan Victor in a fiercely contested triple header. Additionally, Derick Smalberger celebrated his first Masters class victory, while Volkswagen Motorsport rookie Kyle Visser continued to impress with a strong sixth-place finish.
The day’s excitement began in qualifying, where Loosemore secured pole position for his Security Fencing & Alarms Team Red Polo. In contrast, Nathan Victor faced challenges, starting from eighth in his Summit Racing Polo. Rory Atkinson, a seasoned PABAR VW challenge champion, made a surprising return to the Polo Cup, securing a competitive second place in his Industry Petroleum Polo.
On his home track, Atkinson showcased his prowess, outperforming competitors like Ethan Coetzee of JRT Racing Experience, Tyler Robinson of AF Fans Team Red, Mo Karodia of Fast 5, and Roshaan Goodman of Team Red.
In the Superpole session, Loosemore demonstrated his skill by securing the prime starting position, followed by Karodia, Coetzee, Robinson, Atkinson, and Goodman. Jeandre Marais of Syrabix Team Red, Nathan Victor, and Charl Smalberger of Sabertek, alongside rookie Kyle Visser, completed the top ten.
The over-50s Astron Energy Polo Masters had their own battle, with John Kruger setting a lap time that would have qualified him for the top six. He started on the Masters pole, ahead of rival Derick Smalberger, Wayne Masters, Chris Dale, Mike Barbaglia, and Luigi Ferro.
Race one saw Loosemore making a strong start, but he quickly came under pressure from Karodia. As the race progressed, Loosemore and Karodia pulled away from the pack, with Loosemore ultimately securing victory. Visser made significant strides, overtaking Victor to claim sixth place. The race ended with Coetzee, Robinson, Marais, and Victor trailing the leaders.
In the Masters class, John Kruger finished ahead of Derick Smalberger and Wayne Masters. The second race saw Nathan Victor rebound, securing pole position and leading the pack to victory, despite pressure from Karodia and Loosemore. Visser made an impressive double move, climbing positions to finish strong.
The final race of the day had Loosemore on pole, followed by Coetzee, Karodia, and Charl Smalberger. Nathan Victor started from the back but made remarkable progress, finishing seventh. Loosemore’s consistent performance earned him the overall victory for the day, with Karodia and Coetzee completing the podium.
Derick Smalberger celebrated a popular Masters victory, with John Kruger taking two wins in the Masters category. The championship now heads to Gqeberha for its midseason round at Aldo Scribante on Saturday, 29 June, promising another day of intense racing action.
