Bayer tops first controlled Practice
Team Losi Racing’s Martin Bayer has topped the first controlled practice at the 1:8 Offroad European Championships in Germany set the fastest time over 5-minutes ahead of frenchmen Renaud Savoya and Jerome Aigoin.
Running 11 laps in 5:15.389 compared with Savoya’s time of 5:16.414, Bayer ran a completely different set-up to yesterday’s free practice which he said made his nVision powered 8ight much safer to drive. Fourth fastest yesterday, the Czech National Champion said he is not sure whether he should make any changes for the second controlled practice as his AKA Impact shod buggy is proving fastest as it is.
Chasing a fourth consecutive title, defending Champion Savoya was very happy with his Durango which he has been able to make easier to drive. Having changed the centre diff set-up for CP1, the French ace had also planned to run the new steering set-up Durango have brought to Sand-am-Main. Spending three hours trying to fit it, a modification he has made to the front arms of his RB powered DNX408 meant the new steering wouldn’t fit. Still running Proline Blockade MX tyres Savoya plans to try Holeshot MX in CP2.
Kyosho’s Jerome Aigoin described his run to the third fastest time as ‘not so bad’. The 2010 finalist said his Novarossi powered MP9 is ‘OK’ but still needs some work and he is confident he should have a better car for qualifying. Having tried only AKA’s Impact and City Beam options Aigoin said the medium Impact was the better option at the moment.
Despite his airline loosing his pit bag on the way from Spain to Germany, Borja Hernandez doesn’t seem to be affected by the lack of pit equipment as he recorded the fourth fastest time. Using borrowed tools to work on his Mugen, he said his buggy is working well and he is very confident with the feeling of it. Making one driver error during his run the only change he plans to make for CP2 is to try different shock oil. Running AKA iBeam tyres the Spaniard plans to stick with them for now.
Swede Christoffer Svensson took his privately entered Kyosho to the fifth fastest time describing the MP9 as ‘awesome’. The 20-year-old made only a front sway bar change to his buggy overnight and says he feels that by focusing on his driving he can improve on his current pace.
The pace setter on the opening day of the 31st running of the Euros, former multiple champion Daniel Reckward made two big mistakes on the final two laps of his run. The Mugen driver said taking these into account he would be very close on pace to both Bayer and Savoya. Running shorter gearing in his RB powered MBX-6, which he said gave better fuel consumption, said the feeling of his buggy is ‘excellent’. Again running the new tyre from his engine sponsor RB he said he will now switch to his own Tourex brand for CP2 opting for the X-500 which worked well for him at the warm-up race.
While he only ended up 7th for the first controlled practice after he made two ‘stupid mistakes’, pre event favourite Robert Batlle posted the fastest lap time. The factory Mugen driver said his Novarossi powered MBX-6 didn’t feel as nervous as yesterday. Sticking with Pro Circuits blue compound Sweet Shot tyres his team, which is probably the biggest of any individual rc racer in the world, will change the gearing of the rear diff. The 2007 Champion said the change should make the car easier to drive on power and bring him a step closer to getting the ‘easy to drive’ set-up he is looking for.
Controlled Practice 1 – Top 12
1. Martin Bayer – Losi/nVision – 11/5:15.389
2. Renaud Savoya – Durango/RB – 11/5:16.414
3. Jérôme Aigoin – Kyosho/Novarossi – 11/5:19.207
4. Borja Hernandez – Mugen/Ninja – 11/5:19.707
5. Christoffer Svensson – Kyosho/OS – 11/5:23.066
6. Daniel Reckward – Mugen/RB – 11/5:25.004
7. Robert Batlle – Mugen/Novarossi – 11/5:25.661
8. Tomi Salonen – Mugen/Ninja – 11/5:25.943
9. Neil Cragg – Associated/LRP – 11/5:26.309
10.Philipp Guschl – LRP/LRP – 11/5:26.541
11.Nicolas Rodriguez – Hobbytech/RB – 11/5:26.703
12.Julien Lattanzio – Mugen/Ninja – 11/5:26.777
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