ROUND 1 MICRO MAX

21 Oct, 2025

RACE REPORT

ROUND 1.1 – SATURDAY – 11 OCTOBER 2025

Nearly two dozen of the youngest members of the Rotax family began their quest to follow in last year’s champion Benjamin Karajkovic’s footsteps with Samar Chopra taking pole position in qualifying. However it was Liam Ohanlon who emerged victorious in the heat race and the pre final to take pole position for the all-important final.

However Ohanlon couldn’t make it a clean sweep of wins in the main event as Chopra and Adam Al Shaikh worked together to squeeze Ohanlon back to third in the early stages. Despite a late race fightback from Ohanlon he couldn’t get back on terms with the two leaders as the impressive Al Shaikh crossed the line less than two kart lengths ahead of Chopra to record his maiden UAE RMC victory with Ohanlon another tenth of a second behind Chopra in third.

Adam Al Shaikh (Xcel Motorsport)
Samar Chopra (Matthias Njiem Motorsport)
Liam Ohanlon (George Gibbons Motorsport)
Saif Al Khalifa (Xcel Motorsport)
Rudrapatap Shekhawat (Mumbai Falcons)

ROUND 1.2 – SUNDAY – 12 OCTOBER 2025

Determined not to be defeated for the second straight day, Ohanlon began Sunday with fastest time in qualifying although it was Chopra and Al Shaikh who won the heat and pre final respectively to continue their strong form and lock out the front row of the grid for the final.

With a strong desert wind beginning to make track conditions even trickier than usual it was Al Shaikh who led the first lap with Chopra and Ohanlon just behind him. Chopra moved ahead on lap two as Ohanlon did his best to split the karts of Chopra and Al Shaikh. He was successful in his quest and with two laps to go he took the lead and then watched as Chopra and Al Shaikh battled side by side for second place.

Chopra tried his best to re-take the lead on the final lap but Ohanlon held on by less than one tenth of a second with Al Shaikh a very close third.