2025's Best Karting Rivalry Might Be Over Before It Began

... and some other 2025 kart season musings.

It looks as if 2025’s most compelling karting rivalry is over before it begins. Speaking to Kart Chaser, having just been crowned SKUSA Winter Series Champion, Joe Turney revealed that “I don’t think it’s great news, I don’t think I'll be back too soon… it’s not going to be too busy over here.” This is a terrible shame given the fact that Ryen Norberg and Joe Turney really have been the standout duo of karting over the last year or so. The narrative is quite simple - the best of Europe vs the best of America. The two have gone toe-to-toe on so many occasions now that I’ve lost count. Turney has come out on top every time, but Norberg has always been close enough that, really, there’s nothing between them.

It’s relatively rare in karting to have two drivers genuinely dominate. Karting is so competitive that it’s uncommon to see this kind of solid rivalry. It’s great to watch as a spectator because you can really sense Norberg’s desire to beat Turney. And as an added slice of interest, it’s Kart Republic vs Tony Kart.

For sure, we’re let down by the fact that it’s X30, which, like Rotax, isn’t the most interesting kart class. It’s spec, it’s dull. The more layers of technical intrigue, the greater the stakes. This is why, despite the protests, F1 will always be the most dominant form of motorsport from a fan perspective. but it goes to show even with the limitation of spec-engines, the rivalry dwarfs whatever Turney has faced in Europe.

Alas, with Joe’s calendar looking to be more European-focused, we won’t see many more battles between the two until maybe the SKUSA SuperNats. Maybe Tony Kart should pull their finger out a bit and give Norberg a chance at the World Championship and see if he can do a Lake Speed. It might actually make it worth watching because watching Joe Turney racing a bunch of children, literally, is going to be incredibly difficult, almost pointless viewing. With Norberg there, the race would actually matter, for the first time in a while.

Kart Chaser Hitting New Heights

Xander Clements and Kart Chaser published four excellent long-form interviews (with a new camera didn’t go unnoticed) with Norberg, Turney, Myers, and Morgatto on their YouTube channel, reflecting on their racing and where things can be improved for karting prospects.

As I normally do, I commented on one video that mentioning ‘passing through’ drivers, or the ‘F1-aspirants’, extinguishes stakes and jeopardy, and that karting can’t flourish as a fully independent professional motorsport (again) unless it removes itself from that cloud. but that aside, these kinds of videos are what are desperately lacking in the European scene. Americans just seem to ‘get it’, and I am sure Kart Chaser will continue to grow as the seasons go on. As a sport, we’re not at Supercross levels yet but Xander is dragging the sport towards a real professional direction that has to be lauded at every turn.

Land of Opportunity

Whether it be Ben Cooper, Oliver Hodgson, and now Caden McQueen, North America, including Canada, does seem to be the land of opportunity. Details of his deal I am not privy with, but racing for Energy Kart, Caden seems to now be heading for a season of state-side racing. Good luck to him and he may act as a good rival to Norberg with Turney’s absence from competition.

Superkart Season Is Upon Us, but It’s as Invisible as Usual

I can’t stress enough how different Superkarts are now compared to the late ’70s. Kart & Superkart was first published in 1979 and was a rival to Karting Magazine. Full of funny comics and dynamic writing, it talked about a sport that genuinely felt alive and relevant. It’s a stark contrast to the current situation, where finding anything out about Superkarts is a laborious task. I have no idea what the entry list is for the upcoming BSRC or who is trying what from a development front.

One could argue that K&S acted as Martin Hine’s propaganda arm, where he’d often use it to hammer home his views on things, but I don’t mind that. These magazines weren’t always about journalistic integrity, so to speak, they were about promotion and engagement. In one sitting, I am more informed about the 1979 Superkart season than the 2025 season, and that is absolutely hilarious given the fact that we live in the social media age.

Sure, it might be ‘my’ job to be the conduit between the sport and a wider audience, but there also has to be some level of feeling that those within the sport want this kind of exposure. I am not sure they all do. Some do, but often that’s met with an inability to project such enthusiasm outside of the bubble. I’ll do my best this year, but I can’t promise anything.

I’ll take a guess that it’ll be Harpham and Morley as usual, with the Allen brothers out in their Jades whenever they can, with Robinson, Moss and Tritton racing for the wins. Carl Hulme, to his credit, does videos on YouTube, will be there too.

But guys, come on. Get a move on, do something!

British Karting Season

All quiet, not much at stake. KZ might be good. I think I said the same last year. Not much to say here.

Alan Dove