Tebo is 2WD World Champion
Jared Tebo has finally got his hands on the title he so badly wanted, the Kyosho driver securing the 2WD Electric Buggy World Championship after winning another ‘intense’ A-Main at the Silver Dollar R/C Raceway in Chico, California. Having seen off a last corner challenge from former champion Neil Cragg in the opening Main, the Top Qualifier had to see of a very similar challenge from Associated’s Ryan Maifield in A2 but that was just what he did to be crowned the 15th IFMAR World Champion. Winning in front of his wife and young daughter, Tebo said this made the victory even more special.
Initially seeing off a challenge from defending champion Ryan Cavalieri, Tebo said he thought he had given it away again when he made a mistake with four laps to go allowing Tamiya’s Lee Martin to the front. Having lead in A1 unfortunately the British driver once again got out of shape, getting the landing wrong off the tabletop-triple. This allowed Tebo to take back the lead on the same lap he lost it. With Maifield now closing him in he said the pressure leading was intense and he knew to expect a challenge from the always spectacular Maifield. Just like A1, the Associated driver like his team-mate Cragg went for it at the last corner resulting in similar contact. Tebo saying afterwards he couldn’t believe that he touched wheels in both races at the final corner but somehow didn’t roll over.
Describing his Orion powered mid motored RB6 as really good for the race, Tebo said the track was very edgy and this combined with the high winds made for a very tricky race and he can’t believe that it all came together for him. Having focused his preparation this year on electric offroad and in particular 2WD, he said he was ‘so disappointed’ with how the US Nationals went here in August but since then he worked his ‘Butt off’ and gained the ‘confidence’ he needed.
Having his daughter, who was clearly very proud of her daddy, and his wife Megan with him for these Worlds Tebo said it was ‘amazing’ in particular to be able to share the moment with his wife. He said she is always there for him in dark times when races haven’t went well and also had to put up with him putting in long days of preparations for this event so he said its nice for then to share the rewards of such a success.
With just one day off to enjoy his success, Tebo will now be aiming to do the double and regain the 4WD title he last held in 2007. The 4WD action gets underway on Friday with a day of practice with the champion to be crowned on Sunday. Although the 4WD event, of which Tebo’s good friend Cavalieri is the defending champion, would normally see the track changed from that used in 2WD, after the heavy rain witnessed last night and the great effort put in by the A-Main Hobbies track crew IFMAR have made the commendable decision to allow it to remain the same.
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