Tebo is Top Qualifier at Dirt Nitro Challenge
Jared Tebo is the Top Qualifier for the Dirt Nitro Challenge, the Kyosho driver putting the honour beyond the reach of his rivals with one round to go after he backed up his Q1 run by again topping the time sheets at the famous Arizona event. Have just seen off his team-mate Elliot Boots by less than a second in Q1, birthday boy Tebo posted a much more convincing Q2 taking the round by over 6 seconds from Team Associated’s Ryan Maifield and A-Main Hobbies’ Dylan Rodriguez putting in yet another impressive performance this weekend to complete the Top 3.
Top Qualifier at the 2011 DNC which he went on to win, Tebo was very happy with his run which was almost 7 seconds faster than his time set in the opening heat. Leaving the set-up of his MP9 chassis the same and continuing with AKA Impact tyres, the 26-year-old did change to a different pipe and clutch on his Orion engine, the extra torque improving the buggy, in particular at the tricky centre double section. Asked what he planned for the final qualifier, which looks set to end sometime after 1 am local time, Tebo said he didn’t really have anything to test as the buggy feels really good but with Sunday’s final set to be a late affair he will use the track time to see how the cooler conditions effect the handling.
Having struggled yesterday in Truggy and had a below par performance in the opening buggy qualifier, Maifield bounced back in Q2 after he discovered a radio gear problem. With the problem rectified for his second heat, the Arizona driver was much happier with his RC8 adding that slowing his LRP engine down had also helped improve his performance. Suffering two crashes over the 7-minute run, Maifield said running early for the round he benefited from a faster track at the time of his run which was held in natural day light. In contrast his Associated team-mate Ryan Cavalieri ran in the last group for the round which was much colder and run under flood lights ending up only 11th fastest.
Rodriguez was happy at setting the third fastest time just missing out on making 12 laps which so far only Tebo, Maifield and Boots have achieved. Changing from X3 to M3 compound Proline Blockades for Q2, the Las Vegas driver said this was a good call as the softer compound was well suited to the conditions at the time of his run. Having relished in last night’s third Truggy Qualifier to TQ the round, Rodriquez plans to make a few tweaks to the set-up of his Kyosho chassis to suit what, going by last night, should make for a slightly faster track.
Team Xray’s Renaud Savoya said he couldn’t be happier with his second run, the French ace again opting for a safe drive which netted him the fourth fastest time guaranteeing the French ace a good starting position for Sunday’s blue ribbon final. Leaving the set and choice of Sweep tyre the same as Q1 he said his XB9 was again easy to drive. While the A-Main drivers will get a practice session on Sunday, Savoya said that Q3 offers the best opportunity to try tyres with a view to the final which in tradition DNC style will be run at night. The multiple European Champion said he will make a choice between Sweep’s Battlestar and Exagon pattern for the final qualifier.
Setting the fifth fastest time just ahead of the Kyoshos of Drew Moller, Cody King and Boots, Team Losi Racing’s Adam Drake said running in one of the later heats was a disadvantage so for the conditions he was happy with his run. The 1:8 Offroad legend who ran Proline M3 Blockades said for the final qualifier he is considering trying a different tyre and insert in anticipation of the track conditions which should have more grip as the cold causes moisture to naturally occur in the dirt.
The star of the opening buggy qualifier, Boots could only manage the 8th fastest time in Q2. With the track watered just before his group took to the track the British ace said his Kyosho which was unchanged from his P2 run earlier in the day was very loose. Confident it was due to the slightly heavier than normal watering of the track on that occasion he said he doesn’t plan on changing his MP9 set-up or tyres for the final heat. Unfortunately for Ty Tessmann, who was in the same heat as Boots, it was another difficult qualifier. Feeling increasingly under the weather the defending champion would only post the 15th fastest time.
Buggy Qualifying Round 2
1. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 12/7:30.477
2. Ryan Maifield – Associated/LRP – 12/7:36.632
3. Dylan Rodriguez – Kyosho/OS – 11/7:00.926
4. Renaud Savoya – Xray/Orion – 11/7:02.046
5. Adam Drake – TLR/Novarossi – 11/7:03.254
6. Drew Moller – Kyosho/Orion – 11/7:03.492
7. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds – 11/7:03.504
8. Elliot Boots – Kyosho/Novarossi – 11/7:03.947
9. Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 11/7:04.697
10.Billy Fischer – TLR/Novarossi – 11/7:05.560
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