Tessmann TQs first buggy qualifier
In a repeat of his yesterday’s Truggy qualifying Hot Bodies’ Ty Tessmann has TQ’d the opening round of Buggy qualifying at the Dirt Nitro Challenge at the Fear Farm in Phoenix, Arizona. The Canadian set a pace of 11 laps in 7:33.947 to top the first of three rounds by one & a half seconds over TLR’s Adam Drake and World Champion Cody King.
Not the perfect run as he got it wrong over the whoops on two occasions, Tessmann described it as a good solid run to start the day with. Running Proline M3 Blockade tyres on his OS powered D8 he said M2 might have allowed him to push a little harder but looking to put in a safe run he opted for the softer compound. With a massive 25 heats to get through each round Tessman said he will make a call on his tyres for Q2 nearer to the time.
Drake said the timing of his first qualifier was right in between a change of conditions. Opting not to change the shock oil that was in his Novarossi powered 8ight he said it was too light for the hot conditions. With his buggy very easy to drive initially and running on a faster pace than Tessman, the former US Champion was forced to push hard after a mistake but his shocks were too soft for the more aggressive driving style. Drake who was running M2 Proline Blockade rubber will go to a heaver oil for Q2 leaving the rest of his set-up as is.
Kyosho’s Cody King was pleased with his first run after making a lot changes to his Orion powered MP9 last night to account for changes in track conditions since Wednesday buggy practice. Making it a Proline top 3 in Q1 with M3 Blockade tyres fitted to his buggy, King said his equipment was good enough to get the job done and it was down to the driver on what he described as a very edgy track.
Setting the fourth fastest time with his Hot Bodies, Jessie Robbers said he drove well within his means looking to just to open his day with a clean run. Admitting he didn’t get every lap right he said his CR8 was easy to drive and he thinks it has the potential to be pushed a lot harder. Also running the the electric buggy class, Robbers who ran red compound Hot Bodies Megabyte tyres on his nitro buggy will use his electric run to evaluate his tyre choice for Q2.
Top Associated driver for the opening round was current US Champion Ryan Cavalieri who took his RC8.2 to the 5th fastest time. For team-mate Ryan Maifield there was a rather frantic start to the day after he broke the front end of his buggy in the 1-minute warm-up when he hit a rock. With his pit crew able to get him back out in time to take the start of the heat the incident meant they didn’t have time to tune his LRP engine. Running a good pace the lack of tuning led to the Truggy Top Qualifier to run out of fuel a lap from the finish. Despite this he still managed to claim ninth for the round.
Driving for Team Durango 15-year-old Carson Wernimont put in an impressive qualifier to set the 6th fastest time ahead another young gun Dakotah Phend. Running soft AKA Impact tyres on his OS powered DNX408 the SoCal driver said he was hoping he can continue his form for the rest of the day and try secure himself a Top 12 spot.
The man who TQ’d and won last year’s Dirt Nitro Challenge, Jared Tebo could only managed the 8th fastest time. The Kyosho ace said his MP9 was a little loose due to a wrong tyre choice. Planning to switch from AKA Grid Iron to Impact for his second run Tebo said he will also make some front end shock changes along with going lighter with the oil in the centre diff and with this it should be ‘Game On’ in Q2.
Completing the Top 10 was Serpent’s Billy Easton. The former electric buggy World Champion had to be marshalled but said if he can stay on his wheels his Novarossi powered S811 Cobra is capable of a lot more.
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