Barnes Reflects on a Historic 2025 Karting Campaign
IslandStats.com
Bermudian karting legend Scott Barnes has labeled his 2025 season one of his most successful to date, following a dominant international campaign that saw him secure a fourth consecutive championship title and tick a major "bucket list" item off his career goals.
Competing across nine international race weekends, the Maranello Karts USA driver amassed an impressive haul of eight final wins and seven additional podium finishes.
The season ignited in early 2025 at the SKUSA Winter Tour in Orlando, Florida. Despite facing a deeply personal challenge following the loss of his dog just days before the opener, Barnes channeled his emotions into the track.
He delivered a clinical performance across the four-round series, winning three out of the first four rounds and securing a third-place finish in the other. This consistency powered him to his fourth consecutive SKUSA Winter Tour Shifter Masters championship, a feat he described as "pretty cool" for his team and sponsors.
While his championship defense was a highlight, Barnes’ most significant milestone came at North America’s largest street race: the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix in Illinois.
Competing in seven different classes over the Labor Day weekend, Barnes achieved a career breakthrough by winning the prestigious King of the Streets final in the Shifter Masters class. It was a title that had eluded him since he began racing at "The Rock" in 2001.
"Ticking that off the bucket list was pretty big," Barnes admitted. "I’ve won several classes since 2001 but never the King of the Streets. I’d have taken that at the start of the year!". Alongside the premier crown, he secured three other titles that weekend, including the Ignite 100 Masters and Open Shifters, bringing his career total at the event to 14.
Barnes also maintained a high standard on the SKUSA Pro Tour, competing in six rounds across three weekends. While he was unable to defend his overall title from the previous year, he remained a constant threat at the front of the pack, securing one victory and three additional podiums to finish third overall in the championship.
