Maifield tops opening qualifier

Team Associated’s Ryan Mayfield has set the pace in the opening round of qualifying for the 2010 World Championships being one of only two drivers to run 14 laps here at the Pattaya track.  The American topped the time sheets from Kyosho’s Cody King, the pair where the only drivers to break into the 43 second lap times.  With some fresh parts and a new bodyshell fitted to his RC8B overnight he ran the same set-up as yesterday with his focus on just staying calm and getting the job done.  Describing this morning’s conditions as nice and clean he doesn’t plan any adjustments for the second of the days qualifier but will be keeping an eye on the track surface regarding tyres choice.

Describing his Orion powered MP9 as ‘awesome’, King said he had a little trouble in the beginning of the run as he settled the nerves but once he got the head down he was able to run clean laps settling the best of the round with a 43.777.  Referring to the Q1 as the ‘nervous’ round, the 23-year-old was very happy to open his qualifying at the sharp end of the time sheets and with his car ‘as good as it gets’ he can just concentrate on his driving now for Q2.

European Champion Renaud Savoya was very happy with his opening run.  Like most of the drivers the 2008 podium finisher said the first round is always a little stressful.  Setting himself the objective of making no mistakes, the French ace drove safe and at the end was surprised himself with setting the third fastest time. The Mugen/RB driver feels there is a lot more in him and the car and plans to push harder in his next run.

Adam Drake, who was in the opening group that took to the track this morning, said while conditions were not ideal he was pleased with his run.  Having got his World Championship qualifying off to a rough start 2 years ago, the Team Losi star described his driving as ‘very conservative, something he can build on’.  Running the full 10-minutes without refuelling his Novarossi engine, the American clearly has no run time concerns saying ‘Pit stops are for the finals’.  Losi team-mate Mike Truhe suffered a flame out, which he thinks was caused by hitting a rock, leaving the 2008 Top Qualifier well down the order.

Reigning Spanish Champion Robert Batlle set the fifth fastest time despite having a less than perfect car.  The factory Associated driver had a major off in the warm-up which left him with a badly bent from driveshaft which he said he could feel through the steering.  The crash also caused his exhaust to break loose caused the tuning of his Novarossi to be off.  Considering the state of his car, the 6th place finisher from the last Worlds said he was very happy to opening with a competitive round.

Backing up his impressive run yesterday, Team LRP’s Joern Neumann managed an impressive sixth fastest time.  Running the team’s S8 BXR evo fitted with an LRP engine and the companies VTEC Banzai tyres, the former European 1:10 Champion was very happy with package and how the run went.

Finishing one place behind him Jared Tebo was a lot less happy with his performance. Having topped the opening day of practice and then taking top spot in the reseed yesterday the US Champion made two costly mistakes and afterwards the mood in Kyosho camp was not good with big changes being made to the car, a number of pre-built front and rear ends lined up on the pit table. Having been on for a potential Top 3 run Ryan Cavalieri was running a really fast but risky pace and after a big mistake backed off, dropping the Associated driver to 8th.

The fastest man in terms of lap time and over 10-minutes yesterday Matthew Castellano posted the 9th fastest time in the opening round ahead of the Losi/RB of former European Champion Miguel Matias.  Ending the round 16th fastest defending champion Atsushi Hara said he just made ‘too many mistakes’.

Top 10 Qualifying Times – Round 1
1. Ryan MAIFIELD (USA) – Associated/Reedy – 14/10:37.890
2. Cody KING (USA) – Kyosho/Orion – 14/10:45.124
3. Renaud SAVOYA (FRA) – Mugen/RB – 13/10:04.366
4. Adam DRAKE (USA) – Losi/Novarossi – 13/10:04.684
5. Robert BATLLE (ES) – Associated/Novarossi – 13/10:08.186
6. Joern NEUMANN (DE) – LRP/LRP – 13/10:08.207
7. Jared TEBO (USA) – Kyosho/Orion – 13/10:08.807
8. Ryan CAVALIERI (USA) – Associated/Orion – 13/10:11.734
9. Matthew CASTELLANO (USA) – Losi/OS – 13/10:12.324
10.Miguel MATIAS (POR) – Losi/RB – 13/10:12.694

View the official event results here.

View the event photo gallery here.