Bayer sets early pace at Astra Nitro Cross

Martin Bayer is setting the early pace at his own race, heading a Losi 1-2 in practice for the 2011 Astra Nitro Cross.  The Czech ace topped all three practice rounds but set the fastest three consecutive laps in the second run to top the similar nVision powered 8ight of Yannick Aigoin. Describing the track conditions as being very similar to that experienced at the Warm-up race for the up coming European Championships, Bayer said he has been using the track time to try a few new ideas in terms of set-up and is pleased with the response.

TLR team-mate Aigoin said he started out the morning with his standard base set-up but is getting closer and closer to that of Bayer with each run.  The French ace, who previously contested this event in 2009, said he is still learning the ‘very technical’ layout of the track which makes it hard to go fast.

Tipped by Bayer as a possible threat this weekend, Austria’s Dominic Bauer is living up to expectations taking his Novarossi powered Mugen to the third fastest time.  One of the stars of this year’s Euro B Championships, which he led until suffering a broken front arm, the 15-year-old said the track is a real challenge due to the jumps and the high traction but he is comfortable with his car and confident he can put in a good showing.  Another Austrian showing well is Martin Wollanka.  Also driving a Mugen/Novarossi combination he too described the track as difficult as it features a lot more jumps compared with what he is used to running on back home.

Making his debut for Xray Ales Bayer said he is pleased with how things are going so far and says he is just using the day to adjust himself to the car. Taking his XB808 to the fifth fastest time he said he will make some adjustments to the diffs and shocks after the fourth and final practice. With the first round of qualifying originally planned to bring Day 1 of the event to a close Race Control have decided to move that to the morning and give the drivers a fourth run having been forced originally to cancel the opening practice due to heavy overnight rain.

Completing the Top 6 was Finnish Losi driver Petri Myllari.  The 25-year-old described the track as a ‘good example of how an offroad track should be’.  Running OS engines he really likes the layout but feels he still has some work to do in terms of set-up, the track being a totally different challenge to that used at the opening round of the Finnish Nationals last weekend in which he finished 5th.

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