Aigoin tops opening day at Astra Nitro Cross

TLR’s Yannick Aigoin has topped the opening day’s action at the 2011 Astra Nitro Cross in the Czech Republic after setting the fastest time in the fourth and final round of practice to get the better of early pace setter and team-mate Martin Bayer.  The final practice run saw few drivers improve with the only other front runner to make an improvement being Xray’s Jiri Mara who ended the day with the sixth best time.

Making changes to the shocks and the rear camber on his 8ight for the final practice, Aigoin said he was pleased with how the new shock set-up worked but will return to his original camber setting after the adjustment made the rear too loose.

Using P4 to try Proline’s Bulldog bodyshell, Bayer said it caused his 8ight to understeer.  Happy with his earlier set-up he plans to revert back to the JConcepts Illuzion body for tomorrow morning’s opening qualifier.  The man responsible for putting on Astra Nitro Cross, Bayer said after a few nervous days in the build up to the event he was very happy with how the opening day had gone and was looking forward to being more relaxed tomorrow.

Ending the day third fastest Dominic Bauer tried a different tyre on his Mugen for his last run. Switching to AKA’s Enduro tyre he said it made the buggy more comfortable to drive but overall it was slower.  One of Austria’s bright off road hopes, the 15-year-old will go back to running Proline’s Sniper tyre for Q1 saying he is hoping for better things tomorrow as he wants to be able to try and mix it with Aigoin and Bayer.

An engine change and a harder set of springs helped 2010 podium finisher Jiri Mara to find a chunk of time and set the sixth fastest time behind fellow Xray driver Ales Bayer.  Having had trouble with his prototype Hudy engine in the third practice, Mara ran a new unit which he said felt really strong but the 18-year-old is not comfortable with his chassis set-up describing it as tricky to drive.  A finalist at this year’s Euros Warm-up race, he will try out a number of small changes in the first of the six qualifiers which he hopes will allow him to drive with more confidence.

Drivers face a busy schedule tomorrow with six rounds of qualifying of which a drivers best 4 count towards Sunday’s christmas tree style finals.

View complete results and live timing here.

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