Jamaicans soar at US meet

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Since his entry to competitive racing nine months ago, seven-year-old Kai Palomino is one to watch. The Florida-based Jamaican has been dominating the 50cc class on the US circuit.

And last weekend, Palomino was among two Jamaican karters who took the chequered flag at the South Florida Rotax Max Challenge racemeet at Homestead track. The other Jamaican, nine-year-old Joshua Sirgany, won the Micro Max finals last Saturday."He (Kai) made a clean sweep of the kiddies events on both days," said his father, David, who was a regular karter at the Palisadoes International Raceway, Kingston.Palomino said he first took his son to the track at age four.

"He was so excited. He wanted to touch and sit in the karts. But because he was so young, they would not allow him on the track, so we had to take him to a private track where he got some practise," said Palomino.

A student of David Fairchild Elementary School in Florida, young Palomino has joined the ranks of Jamaican karters making an impression on the Florida circuit.

Joshua Sirgany is second to Sebastian Fernandez in Micro Max South Florida Rotax Max Challenge 2010 series. Joshua's cousin, Justin, holds seventh place.

Other Jamaicans at the meet were Jonathan Law, Thomas Issa and William Myers. Law and Issa finished in the top 10 on both days.

In the meantime, the KFC - sponsored Hot N' Spicy championship will get under way at the Palisadoes International Raceway today. The event is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.