RYOTA KIYOHARA: ROK TALENT AWARD 2011

Ryota Kiyohara came to the Rok Cup International Final as a champion, having signed the fourth best timing during the qualifying rounds and winning one round out of three. In the final he ran in the bagarre, side by side with fast and expert drivers, direct competitors of Ryota in the Rok Talent Award, amongst them, Zani ed Ercoli.

The new-come Talent 2011 ended very close to the podium and attended the last examinations on Monday, 17^th October, sure to do his best once more. And so he did!
Ryota is very keen on basket and snowboard and has been racing for ten years, actually he got his debut in 2002, running the Mini 60cc. The career of driver from Inuzuka consisted of all training categories, the Mini first and the Junior class later, to finally achieve the monobrand class, as the Rok Cup. Kiyohara in  2009 obtained an important success in the ARTA Challenge championship, at the Suzuka Circuit.

Let’s see the driver’s skills who will attend in 2012 the World Cup and the European Championship in KF2 category wearing Vortex colours.

·What are your feelings about the Rok Cup International Final and the Rok Talent Award?
I was looking forward to this race very much but I just was anxious since I had no previous experience at the South Garda Karting track, as well as with the front hand brake system and so on.
However, I was able to run fast and I could race in the top group of this category.
Regarding test of the Rok Talent Award, I was anxious to test because I never ran with KF engines before and also I was worried about the communication with a mechanic since I cannot speak in English well.
Anyway I did speak and tell somehow, and it was good. From now on, I especially need to study a foreign language.

·Did you expect these good results in both the Rok Talent and the Rok Final competitions?
I took part in this race in order to be winner of Super Rok category and Rok Talent Award!!!!!

·What about the examination day? Which was the most exciting moment for you? Were you calm and quite or were you worried about anything (during the interview, tests on the track, meeting with the media, photo shooting or something else?).
It was good to have very good experience together with VORTEX engineer.
I was confident to run fast during tests so I was looking forward to do it very much. But... I was very anxious during the interview.

·What are your opinions about the Rok Talent Award project?
This project is very delightful for young drivers because they have the chance to participate in an international race of  next season with the official VORTEX team.  I think that my life will change by this project.

·Do you think many young drivers will take part in the Rok Talent Project next year?
Yes, of course!!!! I think so.

·Do you think you’ll have to do anything about your training before reaching the official Vortex team? If yes, what?
Of course I need to train and improve both my driving skills and my physical strength  but most important for me is to improve my communication now.  If I cannot speak in English, it means I cannot communicate with staff so what I have to do first is to study it !!!!