Ameya wins second title in three years

Travelling from the heart of Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam, the venue for the season finale of the JK Tyre National Karting Championship, one is quickly reminded of two facets of nature. On the right was the Bay of Bengal, gently rocking the plank-made fishing boats resting in its lap. On the left lay trees felled by Cyclone Hudhud.

Vizag, as this city is popularly called, has gone through a lot of late; from the unsuccessful political activities opposing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to the disappointment of not being the capital-in-waiting of the restructured state, to the wrath of nature. FOR THE RECORD, AMEYA BAFNA CLINCHED THE SENIOR MAX CHAMPIONSHIP, HIS SECOND IN THREE YEAR,S WHILE RICKY DONISON WON THE JUNIOR MAX. YASH ARADHYA EMERGED THE NEW MICRO MAX WINNER.

In hindsight, the Karting championship may not be a big occasion for the locals.

The newly-built V1 Karting Track is certainly not the best of the lot. The track is too bumpy for a kart and even has a jarring manhole, covered of course, on it. However, this is where the champions of the 2014 edition were crowned on Sunday.

For the record, Ameya Bafna clinched the Senior Max championship, his second in three year,s while Ricky Donison won the Junior Max. Yash Aradhya emerged the new Micro Max winner.

The youngsters, if willing, can certainly have a celebratory swim in the sea here. Perhaps, Vizag, in a way, is the ideal location for the finale —these teens have long been amidst hot engines, burning rubber and unpleasant oil. With the calm beach beckoning, a race on a new track is surely not that difficult?