John Dizon had a lot to celebrate about after the ROK GP Cup Philippines’ season opener last April 13. The 2-time Karter of the Year practically dominated both the ROK GP Senior and Overall Classes, sweeping up all the race wins at the Palawan International Circuit.
Driving for Kart Plaza Manufacturing Corp., John set the early pace in Qualifying by setting a pole time 0.543 secs clear of everyone. He would attribute this form to his near-perfect kart and engine setup, which was further complemented by his flawless performance on that day.
It came as no surprise that he won Heat 1 in the morning with ease and crossed the finish line with a 3.471 sec advantage. He would then repeat this performance in Heat 2, this time further extending his lead to 4.817 secs.
But that wasn’t the end of it. John really asserted his position on the top spot of the podium during the Finals. He would pull a masterclass drive and lapped half of the karters on track up to P5. By the end of 19 laps, John took the chequered flag 15.206 sec ahead of the country’s best female karter, Bianca Bustamante and set the fastest lap of the race.
John Dizon: “The team worked hard to give me the best kart setup for the weekend. From then on I just had to focus on my driving, minimize my errors, and keep my lines smooth. It’s a good way to start the ROK GP Cup season and I’m very happy with our results from Palawan. A big thank you to Johnny Tan of Kart Plaza Mfg., Doc Q Racing Team, and my mom and sisters for the support as always.”
John Dizon and JD Motorsports is supported by Buzz Corporation, Kart Plaza Manufacturing Corp., MD Consultancy Services, MD Design Studio, Obengers, Pink Pengin Ph, RZQ, and VIP Suite.
[Photos courtesy of ROK GP Cup Philippines]
