Matsukura rules Q2 at Cactus
Having notched up his first TQ run at the Proline Cactus Classic in 2WD Buggy, Naoto Matsukura appears to relish the night time conditions at SRS Raceway in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the factory Yokomo driver completing a buggy double by taking his B-Max 4 to the fastest time in 4WD ahead of Kyosho’s Jared Tebo and Q1 Top Qualifier Ryan Cavalieri. A much closer affair than 2WD, the Top 3 were separated by just 1.2 seconds with the 19-year-old Japanese ace running a time for the 5-minute qualifier that was just 3/10ths slower than Cavalieri’s Q1 time.
Having set the pace early in the run before Matsukura took to the top of the timing screens, Cavalieri ran a very close qualifier with his great rival Tebo who managed to pass him for second in the last lap. The closeness of the two greats of electric offroad racing was highlighted by their fastest lap times which were separated by just 1/1000th of a second, Cavalieri running a 20.570 compared with Tebo’s 20.571.
The only other driver to turn 15 laps for the round, Joern Neumann was the top international visitor taking his Durango to the fourth fastest time ahead of his 16-year-old team-mate Carson Wernimont. After a very impressive second 2WD Buggy qualifier a series of mistakes for fellow European Lee Martin saw the Tamiya driver record the 10th fastest time.
What can be best described as a difficult day for defending champion Ryan Maifield the second 4WD qualifier would see the Associated driver record only the sixth fastest time which for the race’s most winning driver is well below par especially as this is his home race.
4WD Mod Buggy Qualifying Round 2
1. Naoto Matsukura – Yokomo/Yokomo – 15/5:15.426
2. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 15/5:16.174
3. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated/Orion – 15/5:16.697
4. Joern Neumann – Durango/Speed Passion – 15/5:19.385
5. Carson Wernimont – Durango/Reedy – 14/5:00.288
6. Ryan Maifield – Associated/Reedy – 15/5:01.048
7. Travis Amezcua – Durango/Viper – 14/5:01.180
8. Dustin Evans – TLR/Orion – 14/5:02.250
9. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 15/5:03.683
10.Lee Martin – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 14/5:03.997
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