Wins for Stevens and Thonon in KF1 at Lonato

The Race Director made the rules clear before the start of the first heat: slow before the line and especially no contact with fellow competitors but no electronic monitoring. In previous races, officials have also imposed ten-second penalties immediately during the race to deter aggressive behaviour.

Armand Convers and Jonathan Thonon occupied the front row of the qualifying heat for KF1 groups A and B. Convers retained the lead, but Will Stevens was installed just behind him. Thonon repassed Davide Fore who was briefly in third, now followed by Marco Ardigo. Behind them, Jeremy Iglesias was attacked by Michael Ryall, but he retained the advantage.

In the middle of the race, Stevens overtook Convers. Thonon did the same a few turns later, but Convers quickly returned to second place. The top three pulled away from Fore and Ardigo. Ardigo eventually passed the Maranello driver, while Convers closed back up on Stevens.

Gary Catt came back strongly from the 12th row where he had been relegated after his mechanical problem in qualifying. Ryall quietly took sixth position, but behind him a group were fighting fiercely.
Parrott, Bradley, Fontner, Iglesias, Nato, Tinini.. The order changed on each lap. Catt came through the group as if nothing was happening - very impressive.

While on his bumper, Convers failed to find an opening on Stevens. Thonon remained in third, Ardigo fourth, Fore fifth and Ryall sixth. Catt took a magnificent seventh position having gained 17 places. Parrott defeated Fontner and Alabart. Nato was 11th, Bradley 12th, Laine 13th, Iglesias 14th, Giacomello 15th, Tinini 16th, Eidjord 17th, Bressan 18th, Alfano 19th and Nieminen 20th.

In the second heat of the day for KF1, the weather was slightly overcast and the temperature dropped a few degrees. Jonathan Thonon started on pole next to Antonio Piccioni. Toman lost a wheel on the first lap so the race didn’t go well for him. Marco Ardigo quickly took second place from Piccioni, but Thonon already had time to pull out a gap. Although more accustomed to 125cc gearbox, Jonathan is
having a ball in KF1.

Roberto Toninelli took fourth from Arnaud Kozlinski, but he slowed down and retired with a mechanical problem. Less well-known drivers took the following positions: Richard Bradley, noticed in qualifying,
was fifth, sixth was Julian Mengers, beating Yannick De Brabander and Sauro Cesetti.

Gary Catt started to rise from the depths of the rankings. Jamie Croxford retired with a flat tyre and Florian Alfano was very slow. At the front, the situation appeared stable in mid-race. Ardigo gained
some on Thonon, but not quite enough for a possible attack. Handicapped by an over-zealous rear brake, Norman Nato fought to stay in the race. He had two wobbles then finished up in the grass.

Seven laps from the end, Toninelli passed Piccioni, while Catt took Matias Laine and his 11th place. The drivers switched their positions. Mengers overcame Toninelli, PIccioni benefited as well, while Cesetti was dangerously close. The Birel driver overtook Toninelli, followed by Jack Te Braak. A difficult time for Toninelli!

At the finish line, Thonon was ahead of Ardigo in second and Mengers third.

Piccioni finally secured fourth ahead of Cesetti, Te Braak and Toninelli. Truelove took the eighth position, Guignet ninth after gaining nine positions, before Catt in tenth.

Thanks to Kartcom for the coverage.

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