Jess Golding Motorsport

It’s Race Week at for the QLD Kart Championship Shakedown. JGM will have a small team of two this weekend repping the team with Darcy KA3 Jnr and Woj in Cadet 9. Lets gooooo!! 💪

The karting community has lost one of its greats.

Matt Payne was known to many as the voice of karting, but to those who knew him personally, he was so much more than that. He was one of the people working tirelessly behind the scenes, supporting countless drivers, teams and events, helping shape our sport and the people within it.

My family and I first met Matt when we were racing in Sydney in the early 2000s. Since then, we’ve shared many meals, many bottles of wine, countless conversations at race tracks around the country and many more while I was living overseas.

Matt was always generous with his time and knowledge. He was there to help me write and edit press releases throughout my own racing career, professional life and later during my time with the Australian Skeleton Team. Nothing was ever too much trouble.

The last time I saw Matt was at an Ipswich Kart Club Championship round earlier this year. Like always, he had time for a chat and a laugh.

His passing has come as a tremendous shock and the impact on our karting community is impossible to put into words. For those who knew him for decades, those who knew him for only a short time, or even those who simply recognised his voice, it’s clear that Matt touched so many lives.

He will be sorely missed, fondly remembered, and never forgotten.

My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone in the karting community feeling this loss.

Rest easy, Matt.

It’s race week bay!! 🏁
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Behind every race weekend, every lap and every challenge are people quietly working behind the scenes to hold it all together. ❤️

Last weekend was one of the toughest I’ve faced physically and honestly, I couldn’t have got through it without the specialised care, advice and support from these two incredible humans.

Tim and Adam are not only exceptional Doctors, but people who truly understand athletes. Their patience, care and support across the weekend meant more than I can put into words.

Beyond their talent and professionalism, they’re also two people I’m incredibly lucky to call my friends. Forever grateful for the way you both showed up for me when I needed it most.

Can’t wait for everyone to see more of this journey in the documentary. 🎥

What they see 👀

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Well… what a weekend.

4 days in the kart at the 2026 Australian Kart Masters at Coffs Harbour. New chassis, engine development, testing, long days and huge preparation behind the scenes. We had genuine top 5 pace… until my 5 year old injury let go. Two broken ribs 😢

Day 2 I was over a second off the pace and in absolute agony, but we kept pushing. Because sometimes in racing - and life- is about showing up when it gets hard. As a team owner and coach, I have to lead by example for my drivers. Never give up, keep fighting and find a way forward when things don’t go to plan.

We fought our way from P16 into the top 10 and started the final from P8. Unfortunately the cards didn’t fall our way after getting caught up avoiding another kart and we ended up P15 overall (P13 + 2 for dropdown).

Huge thanks to Tim and Adam - without you guys I genuinely couldn’t have driven this weekend. Massive thank you to my amazing partner Aaron who worked tirelessly on the tools all weekend, faultless as always and was probably hurting as much as I was watching me race with the pain. And to CXR for supplying an absolute weapon of an engine.

Massive thanks as well to the club, everyone behind the event, and Kip Foster for helping make this class happen. Congrats to Brent Reading on the win.

People see the trophies. They don’t always see the pain it takes to chase them.

Until next time. Eyes forward 👀

First day in the kart and made HUGE progress! Glad to have you with us Kris and AJ 😃