X-Kart Show Strong Pace Across Four Classes at SuperOne Clay Pigeon
X-Kart headed to Clay Pigeon Raceway for a double-header at Rounds 5 and 6 of the Super One Series, with a strong group of drivers across four classes. The Dorset circuit presented new challenges for much of the squad, and with wet conditions on Saturday making grip unpredictable throughout the day, both rounds demanded quick adaptation and consistent racecraft across every session.
Micro Max
James Hudson
James Hudson came into Clay Pigeon aiming to build on his earlier-season form, and despite the changing conditions making tyre management and grip levels difficult to read throughout the weekend, there were clear positives to take away. Round 5 saw him qualify P5 and work through the field across the heats, finishing P13 in the final. Round 6 showed improvement, with James gaining eight positions in Heat 2 and finishing P10 in the final. He was awarded Top Rookie for the round. Firmly placed inside the top five of the Super One Micro Max championship, James leaves Clay Pigeon with confidence and a clear platform to build from heading into Fulbeck.
Mini Max
Evan Dearden
Evan Dearden had his strongest weekend to date across the two rounds at Clay Pigeon. Saturday was a learning day in difficult wet conditions, but he made consistent gains throughout, improving from P15 in qualifying to P8 in the final. Sunday marked a significant step forward, with Evan qualifying P6 and backing that up with P6 in both heats. An on-track incident in the final dropped him to P15, but the performance leading up to it had shown genuine front-running pace in the class. Evan reflected that it was a great weekend of learning and improving, and the trajectory heading into the next rounds is clear.
Junior Rotax
Elijah Hartley
Elijah Hartley arrived at Clay Pigeon inside the championship picture, and he left it in much the same position after a weekend that showed real quality when it counted. Saturday qualifying placed him P17, but he worked progressively through the heats before delivering a P4 in the final from P17 on the grid. Sunday was stronger still, with a P6 in qualifying followed by consistent heat results and another P4 finish in the final. Reflecting on the weekend, Elijah described it as a tough start that turned into top pace and top-five finishes, with the championship challenge very much intact going forward.
Jude Puddefoot
Jude Puddefoot showed the kind of pace across both days that made Round 5’s outcome all the more frustrating. Starting P9 in qualifying, an incident in Heat 1 dropped him back through the field and a DNF in the final meant Saturday did not reflect his potential. Sunday was a different story. Qualifying P5, he backed that up with a P2 in Heat 2 before converting that form into a P3 podium finish in the Round 6 final. The pace had been there from the outset. Round 6 was proof that it can deliver results when the racing goes cleanly.
Isaac Jameson
Isaac Jameson had one of the more dramatic weekends in the Junior Rotax field across the two rounds. On Saturday, after qualifying P18, he word his way into the lead in the final on lap nine, only to drop back to P5 after contact with the barrier on a wet patch. Sunday brought a more measured performance: qualifying P9, working to P5 in Heat 2, and then starting P14 in the final before climbing through to finish P5 again. The pace to lead a Super One final was there. The focus now is converting that speed into cleaner results across a full race distance.
Nelson Taylor
Nelson Taylor‘s weekend at Clay Pigeon was defined by consistent progress from difficult starting positions. On Saturday, he advanced from P15 in qualifying to P10 in each heat and P5 in the final before contact and a dropped nose dropped him back. Sunday was even tougher on paper after a qualifying penalty placed him P23, but Nelson worked through to P15 and P18 in the heats before climbing to P9 in the final. Front-running pace across the weekend was evident throughout. With clean qualifying sessions, the results will follow.
Zak Jennings
Clay Pigeon was a new circuit for Zak Jennings, and the objective coming in was to learn quickly and build from there. He did exactly that. Top 5 pace in Friday practice gave an early indication of his speed, and despite a P13 in qualifying on Saturday, he worked up to P7 in Heat 2 and crossed the line P4 in the final from P18 on the grid. Sunday was more difficult, with qualifying traffic and race incidents limiting the result to P18, but the racecraft and wet-weather performance from Saturday underlined what he is capable of on a new track.
Senior Rotax
Lucas Steele
Lucas Steele‘s weekend at Clay Pigeon was one of high potential and difficult outcomes. Round 5 showed encouraging pace, with Lucas qualifying P20 and progressing to P14 in both heats, before a mistake on a greasy track ended his final early. Round 6 offered a more promising picture in qualifying, with just 0.3 seconds separating him from pole position, but a Heat 1 incident brought his Sunday to a premature end. The raw pace is there. The focus heading into the next rounds will be on converting qualifying speed into cleaner race results.
Additional Team Results
Elsewhere in Junior Rotax, Harry Ward took P6 in the Round 5 final and P13 in Round 6. In Senior Rotax, Lewis Holt finished P11 in Round 5 and P9 in Round 6.
