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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A-Main Leg 2 Result

2WD A-Main Leg 2
1.(1) Jared Tebo – Kyosho – 11/5:13.523
2.(6) Ryan Maifield – Associated – 11/5:13.777
3.(2) Ryan Cavalieri – Associated – 11/5:14.966
4.(3) Lee Martin – Tamiya – 11/5:15.353
5.(10)Neil Cragg – Associated – 11/5:20.126
6.(4) Dustin Evans – TLR – 11/5:21.992
7.(7) Darren Bloomfield – TLR – 11/5:30.094
8.(9) Kody Numedahl – Associated – 11/5:32.022
9.(5) Naoto Matsukura – Yokomo – 10/5:01.651
10.(8)David Ronnefalk – Kyosho – 10/5:05.380

Tebo wins first A-Main

Top Qualifier Jared Tebo has moved a step closer to his first 2WD  Electric Buggy World title after he held off a late challenge from man of the race Neil Cragg, the Associated driver having started 10th on the grid.  Originally a practice final was on the schedule but with an ominous dark cloud heading for the track the decision was made 5-mins before what drivers planned as a practice run to be declared A1.

Afterwards Tebo said this left him scrambling for tyres as he had a fresh set fitted to his Kyosho RB6 which he was planning to scrub in for the 3 legs that lay ahead.  Describing his win as ‘what he needed’, he said the wind was a big problem throughout the race but said his early incident in which he gave away the lead was his own fault as he just went in too hard resulting in a roll.  This hampered defending Champion Ryan Cavalieri allowing Lee Martin to the front but the British ace also got on two wheels on the high traction surface allowing Tebo to the front.

Despite the moment Martin was still in contention for the win but his challenge would come to an end a few laps later when he got out of shape for a second time, this time the wind caught his Tamiya blowing his TRF201XM across the track pipe.  A very dejected Martin said he had buggy set-up to try a number of set-up changes which on the announcement that the first run would in fact be A1 he had to quickly change back.

Man of the race Cragg said he made an unbelievable start and he hopes he can make two more of them.  Top Qualifier two years ago the former World Champion said it was ‘ridiculous’ changing the race 5-mins before the start.  He too was planning on using the practice final to test a new set but starting from 10th on the grid he opted to stick with it for the final adding he had very little to lose.  He said the changes on his Centro converted B4.2 were good and running second he just aimed to keep it on two wheels but getting so close to Tebo he said he just had to have a go for the win but the pair touched and he had to let Tebo go.

Since the race the cloud that spooked the race officials has passed with the remaining two mains under no treat of rain.

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A-Main Leg 1 Result

2WD A-Main Leg 1
1.(1) Jared Tebo – Kyosho – 11/5:16.062
2.(10)Neil Cragg – Associated – 11/5:16.569
3.(3) Lee Martin – Tamiya – 11/5:19.603
4.(2) Ryan Cavalieri – Associated – 11/5:19.759
5.(4) Dustin Evans – TLR – 11/5:24.591
6.(8) David Ronnefalk – Kyosho – 11/5:29.088
7.(7) Darren Bloomfield – TLR – 10/5:00.910
8.(9) Kody Numedahl – Associated – 10/5:03.083
9.(5) Naoto Matsukura – Yokomo – 10/5:06.197
10.(6)Ryan Maifield – Associated – 4/1:57.563