MARKET ANALYSIS INDICATES MANAGEMENT COSTS AS BEING THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE FOR KARTING CRISIS.

Towards the end of the 90's, market research and statistical analysis relating to the presence of drivers at races, showed significant signs of a crisis in the karting sector. In particular, three substantial problems were evidenced: the continuous increase in management costs, the lack of efficiency in terms of training a few of the junior classes, besides a series of rulings and race format far too complex for even those involved in the work. Management costs, in the first instance, continued to increase even in the junior class, limiting all possible expansion for the trainees. The principal causes for these problems were identified in the choice of rulings which were too permissive and to the proliferation by operators in the sector, capable of supplying, confronted by rising budget, technical material with added extra cost in terms of performance. Because of this the drivers, rather than confronting themselves on equal footing with means equal to their capability and quality, suffered the incidence determined on results by technical means and the available budget. This situation has penalised many worthy, talented trainees and favoured drivers with a higher availability under economic terms, but above all it has determined an alarming abandonment in karting discipline beginning with the junior classes. It goes to show, that only 20% of the drivers engaged in the junior 50cc and 60cc classes, accede to superior categories in professional karting. These aspects have caused severe problems in national programmes linked to the junior promotional categories, a strategic sector for each agonistic discipline. From analysis carried out it has clearly emerged to what extent karting has been penalised by ulterior factors linked to sport and technical rulings which, besides being modified with increasing frequency, foresee karts which are too sophisticated and difficult to control, format of complex races, an excessive fractioning in categories and little attention paid to the needs of the drivers. It became clear that to apply efficient solutions it would be necessary to create a true and proper project which would re-invent karting through a programme strongly orientated to the requirements of the young drivers and, at the same time for the "over 16" categories which required a more simple norm and lower costs for all the drivers unable to reach the national and international professional classes. Stemming from these premises Birel, one of the more titled and prestigious firms in the sector, assumed the responsibility of creating a programme capable of confronting, realistically, these problems. In only a few years the Easykart project has remained true to the objectives which inspired them, and has obtained prestigious approval and results in more than 10 countries.

What is Easykart?

Easykart is a project created to sustain both the junior and basic kart. Ages range from 6 years to adult and foresees 5 distinct categories with an agonistic programme based on a Sport and Technical Regulation which is both simple and efficient.
This regulation is the heart and strongest point of the project: from the technical point of view it does not allow for any modification to the kart other than that foreseen by the series.
The rigidity of these aspects, allows the drivers to emerge on their own merit rather than for the characteristics of the kart and the budget at their disposal. Still from a technical point of view the karts are sold complete with all accessories "ready to use" and adopt standard accessories so as to be offered at a promotional cost (about 50% less than a traditional kart). Moreover, all models (with the exception of the 50cc) come with electric starting which favours the utilisation of consumption reduction.
From an agonistic point of view, however, the format of the single races was inspired by the "Moto GP" and "F1" recognised by the masses and, therefore, easy to understand. The championships are organised according to geographic Areas so as not to overly burden the drivers with costly transfers, whilst the national titles are assigned by a Final, in a single trial, to which one is qualified through merit Ranking (taking into account all the points accrued during official races). The International Final, however, is always a single trial between the best drivers of each single Nation which holds the Easykart programme. The five Easykart categories are: the 50cc (from 6 to 10 years), the 60cc (from 7 to 14 years), the 100cc (from 11 to 18 years) and the 125cc classes, either single gear or speed gear stick for drivers of 15 years.
The class 50 Training does not race, but provides a non-agonistic preparatory programme managed by an instructor during competition week-ends: the very young drivers take part in a theoretic briefing and two race simulations with departure, by extraction, and at the end of the day they are all presented with a prize. The first category which forms part of the agonistic programme is the 60cc which, the drivers coming from the Training programme, can already, at 7 years, form part of.
The races are packed, thanks to reduced managements costs and to the absolute stability of the kart. The same prerogatives have been maintained in all levels of the superior category: the 100c class, from where almost 100% of the drivers are from the 60cc, a very comforting sign with respect to the efficiency of the programme. In the 100cc class 11 year olds are already allowed to race, a factor which allows for an improved preparation of drivers with international categories in view, this is from 13 years upwards. It is in this phase of their career that the Easykart drivers mature their ambitions to pursue their career: the worthier ones are supported on their access to international karting categories, an obligatory transition to accede to agonistic motor racing.
The drivers with less available money or less ambition, instead, can continue their karting experience through Easykart project which, starting at 15 years, foresees the 125cc categories, either with single gear or speed gear stick (shifter). These classes are always crowded and lively, resulting in the possibility of racing in a championship at a high level, and at contained costs. From an agonistic point of view two fundamental aspects are under-lined: firstly, the promoter of the Trophy has pledged himself to the sporting Authority for a period of five years, and secondly, to guarantee maximum conformity with regard to technique large investments have been made to support race track officials during races.

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1. The electrical starting on board (TAG) is a feature shared by all models belonging to the Easykart range. 2. All Easykart engines are water-cooled, equipped with centrifugal clutch and conceived to guarantee an exceptional performance-reliability ratio. 3. The Easykart range available on the market is complete with EASYKART tyres, which can guarantee a very good life in connection with the performances required in sporting competitions.