On the eve of the 2018 season, the odds or predictions did not let foresee any one team dominate, but the circus’ attention was, above all, concentrated on the new Dino Chiesa brand. With the conquest of the world title and the continental title, the eminent team manager is preparing to complicate the lives of the two brands that have divided the most important Cik Fia titles among themselves for the past twenty years. Even the geared class highlighted what was unusual uncertainty, producing results in some ways surprising, so different between the European championship and the world championship. Although the Dino Chiesa team sponsored by Nico Rosberg has displaced or upset the whole sector a bit, the Otk group has conquered the two most important titles in KZ, i.e., the KZ world championship and the KZ2 International Super Cup. CRG has had to settle, so to speak, for the KZ European Championship, together with Tm that has also emerged on top in the European KZ2.

TEXT: G. CIUCCI GIULIANI , S. CORRANDENGO

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Lorenzo Travisanutto and Hannes Janker celebrate first and second place in the Kristianstad world championship. A fireworks season for the new brand Kart Republic of Dino Chiesa, which also won the continental title in OK.

PHOTO: KSP

Patrick Hajek, winner of the KZ World Championship in Genk. A goal so coveted by the driver of Kosmic / Vortex who ends his career in beauty, thus making up for some not altogether lucky seasons.

PHOTO: KSP

Matteo Viganò (109) on Tony Kart/Vortex and Adrien Renaudin (101) on Sodikart / Tm, in the front row at the Genk final, characterized the KZ2 season.

PHOTO: CUNAPHOTO

ONE, NONE, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND

While two spar, the third takes the spoils. Surely the official CRG teams and those of the OTK group (Tony Kart / Kosmic / Vortex) will have to take into consideration that in sharing the prize or pot, a third inconvenient rival has entered the picture – and battle, namely the new structure created by Dino Chiesa. And what happened in the 2018 season is a warning they cannot underrate. The Paduan team manager is among the most expert in the circus, as is well-known. His ability to manage and interpret this demanding stage is acknowledged by all. And, engines permitting, Chiesa could become an uncomfortable rival even in KZ (and Dreezen’s performance in the Genk world, where he conquered second place, is certainly not due to chance). So, after having dealt a blow to his valid and successful opponents in OK, the Chiesa project, well supported by flame and Nico Rosberg, could also break into the gearbox category. We shall see…

In the meantime, the OTK group was still able to make its mark by winning the two most important titles in the gearbox class: the KZ World Championship, dominated by Patrick Hajek, and the conquest of the International Super Cup KZ2 with the crushing victory of Matteo Viganò. Two important goals, above all for the Vortex brand, which thus rises in prestige, confirming itself the third top player in the all-time ranking - or even in second place, if one considers the last 12 years of Cik Fia competitions. The Vortex is only seven lengths from the TM that in recent years has had to guard itself against the engine made in Pavia, now an acknowledged antagonist. The Vortex, after the aside in the 2014 world, has again prevailed on this last occasion confirming itself as TM’s nemesis. This year the Pesarobased company has to be satisfied with the European KZ and KZ2, thus shaking the general classification. For its part, the flame benefits from the successes achieved mostly in the 60s/70s and 80s reinforces its general leadership with 3 titles: the prestigious world OK and OKJ and the continental title.

The Italian won the Super Cup International in Genk, while the French driver makes the continental title his.

PHOTO: CUNAPHOTO