An enthralling opening battle for victory in Heat 1 Group 1 for the Karting Mini category came down to a side-by-side blast as Team Portugal eventually got the better of Team USA as the chequered flag waved.
 

USA’s Joshua Bergman led for almost the entire contest but Portuguese talent Xavier Lázaro pressured his rival throughout, before lining up a quite brilliant move at the start of the final lap. Bergman responded, getting the drag down the final straight, but Lázaro held on by an astonishing 0.035s. Team Morocco’s Nahyi El Gahoudi completed the podium.

Despite the slight frustration of falling to second in the opener, young gun Bergman would not be denied in the second heat as he held on to victory from El Gahoudi, whilst Lázaro had to settle for fifth. It was Team Netherlands’ Senn Lindemann who completed the podium, handing the young Dutchman an opportunity to fight for a medal tomorrow.

The opening heat for the second group looked to be heading the way of Team Spain as Nuvola Morales Mendez led the opening exchanges, before he was eventually shuffled down to third. It was Team Estonia’s Bennet Korjus powering through to take the win ahead of Team Australia’s Jay Kostecki.
 

Korjus is fast becoming one of the standout favourites, along with Kostecki, as the duo took another one-two finish in the second bout, with Team Argentina’s Valentino Manassero in third. The 40-strong Karting Mini entry will complete their heats on Sunday morning with the Final due to take place at 13:05.

Click here for full results.