Semi just a formality as Ronnefalk secures pole in Texas

The Semi Finals were just a formality for Xray’s David Ronnefalk, the 2016 World Champion securing pole for the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship in Texas with his dominant winning time in the first Semi securing him pole for the title decider.  Needing to do an extra fuel stop over his rivals, the Swede got a early break when Canas crashed on the opening lap and back up the field.  Pulling out an earlier lead, Ronnefalk’s extra fuel stop was quick negated such was the buffer he built up by his first stop.  At the end of the 30-minutes it was 2024 pole sitter Juan Carlos Canas who finished second despite making contact with the same post that made him an internet sensation in the final qualifier.  Completing the Top 3 was Spencer Rivkin ahead of Team Associated team-mate Brandon Rose.  In the second Semi, the opening part of the race very scrappy with defending World Champion Davide Ongaro and Top Qualifier Mason Fuller coming together and handing Ryan Maifield the lead until he found the famous left hand side roof post.  In the end it was the very impressive Chase Lemieux who took his Xray to the win holding just fending of the close attentions of both Fuller and Ongaro, the defending champion set to start 4th on the grid behind Fuller.

Giving a run down on his perfectly executed Semi, Ronnefalk said, ‘I got a good start and was able to do what I wanted to which was to try to make up as much time in the first stint as possible and with Juan Carlos crashing on the first lap it made that a lot easier for me and I was able to come out in front after my first pit stop so that was key.  After that I just able tried to control the race, not over doing anything, and being cautious when I knew that I was not on the right line on the track, like on the back section or whatever I just slowed down enough to where I didn’t risk anything.  I had a bad stint after the second pit stop I felt like I just found it hard to focus and I didn’t really have anyone to gauge my speed off of so when I little slow there for 2-3 minutes but then I saw Canas where I had him on the track and I just tried to match my speed with him for the last 5-minutes.’  On his FX Engines powered XB8 for the final, the 30-year-old said they will just check over the buggy and having not changed anything since qualifying they have no plans to change for the 1-hour Main.

Set to chase a fourth consecutive World title at Thornhill Racing Circuit, summing up his race Ongaro said, ‘the start was bad, I lost a lot of time there.  My car was actually good and I was trying to push on Mason who was slower than me and then I hit him and I need to wait because the referee say I have to wait.  Then I had a mistake on the right section so I was like 6 or 8th so then I just keep my head down.  The car was good and we got third.’   Asked if the speed is there for the final to take the fight to Ronnefalk, the 25-year-old replied, ‘Maybe David didn’t push at all in his Semi, he was alone in his Semi so he was driving well, but considering all my mistakes to be 2-seconds off him after 30-minutes of racing I think we are closer than the qualifying.’