Losi rule the Ranch in opening qualifier
Team Losi have got off to a near perfect start in qualifying here at the Arena Offroad Meeting in Italy as their team drivers set the pace in all categories. In Buggy it is Martin Bayer who set was fastest in the first qualifier recording 7 laps in 5:19.794 to head a Losi 1-2-3 from team-mates Yannick Aigoin, who is setting the pace in Truggy, and Brushless pacesetter Ricardo Rabitti.
Running Proline Crimefighter M3 tyres on his Novarossi powered 8ight, Bayer was much happier with his car today and happy to open qualifying with a TQ run. Also running in Truggy where he set the fourth fastest time this morning, the Czech ace said his 8ight T felt really good but with 16 cars in a heat the big problem was traffic.
Aigoin found his buggy too aggressive in the opening heat and will make a number of changes for the second heat to try and make it easier to drive. Setting the pace in Truggy with a 7 lap run in 5:13.907, the French driver was much happier today with his 8ight T after a difficult time yesterday. Having not raced the car for 6 months he was much happier with his driving today and this combined with some overnight set-up changes had produced a better all round package this morning.
Local hero Rabitti was pleased with the start to his morning. The Italian National Champion is benefiting from running in both Buggy categories as he can get a better feel for the changing track conditions. With three qualifiers today for 1:8 nitro, Rabitti has already enjoyed 2 of his 4 qualifiers with his Brushless car and he reports that traction was much higher for the second. Running Crimefighters in the first two Brushless heats to set a best time of 10 laps in 7:32.562, he will try either Holeshot or Bowtie for the third heat and based on this will then decide on which tyres to use for his nitro run.
Closest challenger to the Losi team this morning was Hong Nor’s Richi Gomez who set the fourth fastest time. Making his final appearance for the manufacturer, the quick Spaniard was pleased with the run but feels he can find a lot more time over the jumps. Top Mugen was young British talent Elliot Boots. Despite a costly off which cost him around 6 seconds when his RB powered MBX-6 spun out on the main straight he took fifth for the round. Running JConcepts Crossbow Blue tyres, the current European Junior Champion is happy with his set-up and feels more time will come as he continues to get used to the track. Kyosho’s Martin Karner completed the Top 6 for the Buggy class and was Rabitti’s closed challenger in Brushless with the second fastest time there.
Behind Aigoin in the Truggies after the opening qualifier it is Mugen driver Alessandro Magi and Kyosho’s Simon Willets that complete the Top 3. Willets was pleased with opening run but said he is still having to get used to the grip levels which are a lot lower than what he used to back home in the UK. Making his debut with Team Orion engines he’s very happy with the new power plant and in particular the fuel economy. Talking with Kyosho representatives after his run the British driver has been advised to run heavier diff oils for his next outing.
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