Bermuda’s premier karting export Scott Barnes is firmly in the hunt for silverware after a dominant Saturday at the 28th anniversary of the Florida Winter Tour.
Competing in the ROK Shifter Masters division at the Orlando Kart Center, the Maranello Karts USA driver produced a masterclass in consistency and pace. Barnes ended the day as the man to beat, securing high-profile victories in both the third heat and the crucial Pre-Final.
The performance serves as a statement of intent for Barnes, who has committed to the full ROK Cup schedule for the first time in his career after years of dominance in the SKUSA Winter Series.
After a solid morning practice where he clocked the third-fastest lap 55.09, Barnes quickly shifted into another gear as the competitive sessions began.
In Heat 2, he engaged in a tactical battle over 13 laps to claim second place. However, it was Heat 3 where he truly stamped his authority on the field, taking the chequered flag after 12 laps with a total time of 10:47.38.
He carried that momentum directly into the Pre-Final. Starting from a position of strength, Barnes navigated the technical Orlando circuit flawlessly over 16 laps to secure the win 14:21.68 and, more importantly, pole position for Sunday's main event.
Speaking to IslandStats.com following his Pre-Final triumph, a buoyant Barnes praised his technical team for providing him with a championship-caliber machine.
"Good day today—three races, second in Heat 2, and wins in Heat 3 and the Pre-Final," Barnes said. "The kart is ready to do battle tomorrow morning in the final! It's going to be a hard-fought race. Let’s go!"
Barnes was also quick to credit his partners: "Maranello Kart has been awesome all weekend and Carblos Racing Engines have been fast as always."
With the Pre-Final victory under his belt, Barnes has put himself in the ideal position to claim the Round 1 title tomorrow morning.
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