YNOT – Raphael Berkien, business development manager for 2000Charge, on Sunday walked away with his first win in the YNOT Grand Prix 2012 season. The race helped kick off Internext 2012 in Las Vegas.

Berkien also kept his helmet, a feat which seemed anything but certain after he and Euro Payment Group Director of American Operations Michael Sperber exchanged barbs earlier this month. Berkien, who is Dutch, and Sperber, who is American, have had a friendly transatlantic rivalry since Berkien and his helmet became separated during an on-track clash in 2011.

Chris from Way3 Hosting and Charles from Saboom finished second and third, respectively. All three men posted respectable fastest-lap times: Berkien 27.80 seconds, Chris 28.55, and Charles 28.53.

“We had 50 drivers, and about 100 people total showed up at the track,” said Moreno “MO” Aguiari, busineness development manager for Houston, Texas-based YNOT Group LLC, which organizes the YNOT Grand Prix championship series of webmaster kart races. “Each driver got to drive at least twice: a practice round of seven laps and a second round of seven laps to qualify for the final event.

“The top 10 drivers that came out of the qualifying round competed in the final race,” he continued. “The top 10 drivers were determined by their fastest lap.”

YNOT Grand Prix kart racing is neither tame nor easy. The first race of the season took place at Las Vegas’ celebrated FastLap indoor facility, on a 20’ x 1,200’ track designed by two International Kart Federation racers who currently rank among the fiercely competitive Rotax Max Masters. Participants and spectators take the challenge seriously, even though they also report having a great deal of fun and forming unexpected new business alliances trackside.

They also eat well, courtesy of the event’s sponsors. The first race of the 2012 season offered a barbecue meal catered by Famous Dave’s BBQ: wings, pulled pork, ribs, macaroni and cheese, salads, beer and soda.

Although Berkien has a head start on the season — and Sperber is plotting to upset his arch-rival — YNOT Group Vice President LAJ said the YNOT Grand Prix welcomes new drivers and sponsors at each event. For more information about seat availability and sponsorship packages, email him or ping ICQ 92418228.

Additional events in the series will take place later this year in Barcelona, Phoenix and Prague. For more information, visit YNOTgp.com.

Sponsors of the Las Vegas YNOT Grand Prix event included 2000Charge, Dating Factory, JuicyAds, RIVCash, Fleshlight’s FN Cash and Saboom’s PartnerCash.

Pictured, from left: Chris from Way3 Hosting, Raphael Berkien, Charles from Saboom