Perfect TLR debut for Maifield

Ryan Maifield completed the perfect debut with Team Losi Racing as he took all three of his new TLR cars to victory at the JConcepts Indoor Summer Nationals at Outback Raceway in Chico, California.  Having dominated the same event last year with Team Associated, the Arizona ace’s much anticipated first outing with his new team again produced an all concequering performance.  Top Qualifier for each of his A-Mains, in the series’ two big classes, 2wD & 4WD buggy, he would wrap things up early repeating his A1 performances in A2 to claim overall victory.  Also debuting TLR’s new 22 SCT 2.0 at the A-Main Hobbies owned track he made it a hat trick as he took the win of that class’ single A-Main.

In 4WD, Maifield’s A2 win came ahead of former team-mate Daimon Borkowicz with the No.2 starting HB of Drew Moller again having to settle for third.  2WD Buggy was a repeat of A1, with Spencer Rivkin again keeping his mentor on his toes while Tyler Vik came through to complete the Top 3.  Describing his TLR22-4 as ‘unreal’ in A2, Maifield would put on a stunning display of his abilities rising up to the challenge of race announcer Kevin Jelich as he tried to break into the 13-second lap times.  Getting down to a 14.0072, he said the buggy was ‘super fast’ and although he was pushing hard it never got upset on the track.   Pleased with his success, he said the weekend was not just about the performance but also gaining experience in the pits with his new equipment.  With TLR sending Senior Product Developer Frank Root to support their new driver and new electrics sponsor Team Orion sending Joe Pillars, he said the weekend was a huge success in both them sharing their knowledge and helping him to get a better understanding of the equipment.  Overall he said it was a fun few days in Chico adding things actually went better than he expected for a first time out.

Somewhat stepping up to the mark this weekend and being the main challenger from the Associated team in 4WD, Borkowicz  said in A2 his B44.2 was again ‘super dialled’. Together with Moller, he said he was able to pull away from the rest of the pack to have a good battle with the A-Main Hobbies backed driver.  Getting by when the Californian driver made a mistake, a subsequent mistake would give the JConcepts protege enough breeding space to cruise to second for the leg.  In a position to finish overall runner-up, the 14-year-old Florida driver is, with Maifield sitting out A3, relishing the chance to battle with Moller again this time for the Leg win.

Moller said he drove too easy in A2 and then ‘gave up second to Daimon’ with his mistake.  Having shown himself and the HB413 to be a good pairing turning in some impressive speed despite only having the car 3-weeks,  he said for the final encounter he was ‘just going to go for the win’.

In 2WD Rivkin was upbeat about having again been able to stick with Maifield. Again setting the fastest lap of the race, the 15-year-old said it was the best he could do as he couldn’t have pushed any harder without crashing.  Set to lead away A3 now that Maifield has already taken the win, the up & coming Team Associated talent said his aim for the race is just to keep Borkowicz and Vik behind him so as to secure second on the podium.

Getting third in A2 and putting himself in contention for a podium finish, Vik said the result was down to the fact he ‘didn’t crash and that was about it’ adding the run was nothing special.  Changing from a new scrubbed set of AKA tyres he ran in A1 to the set he ran in qualifying he said this really improved his Associated B4.2 Centro.  Declaring he ‘can’t keep up with Spencer’, he said his plan for A3 was to try and get a second which would secure him a podium.

4WD Buggy A-Main Leg 2 Result
1.(1) Ryan Maifield – Team Losi Racing – 22/5:06.762
2.(4) Damion Borkowicz – Team Associated – 21/5:00.240
3.(2) Drew Moller – A-Main Hobbies (HB) – 21/5:02.062
4.(8) Derek Stephansen – Team Xray – 21/5:02.663
5.(5) Brian Strange – Team Associated – 21/5:04.035
6.(3) Tyler Vik – Team Xray – 21/5:05.731
7.(6) Eric Albano – Team Associated – 21/5:10.141
8.(9) JR Mitch – Team Losi Racing – 20/5:03.626
9.(11)Mark Pavidis – Team Losi Racing – 20/5:03.722
10.(7)Steven Hartson – Team Associated – 15/3:40.777
11.(10)Chris Jarosz – Team Associated – 9/2:10.323

2WD Buggy A-Main Leg 2 Result
1.(1) Ryan Maifield – Team Losi Racing – 21/5:04.850
2.(2) Spencer Rivkin – Team Associated – 21/5:09.107
3.(4) Tyler Vik – Team Xray (AE) – 21/5:14.004
4.(6) Drew Moller – A-Main Hobbies (AE) – 20/5:02.006
5.(8) JR Mitch – Team Losi Racing – 20/5:03.869
6.(5) Chris Jarosz – Team Associated – 20/5:06.278
7.(3) Mark Pavidis – Team Losi Racing – 20/5:07.695
8.(11)Steven Hartson – Team Associated – 20/5:10.263
9.(10)Brian Strange – Team Associated – 20/5:11.130
10.(9)Frank Root – Team Losi Racing – 20/5:13.029
11.(7)Damion Borkowicz – Team Associated – 19/5:07.181

View the event image gallery here.