Day two of the HUDY Worlds started off bright and early with a couple of practice rounds. No one really cares about them, so let's to straight into qualifying. Before qualifying started, the biggest questions were.
1. Would Xray prove that they have a massive home advantage?
2. Would Haatanen prevail?
3. Would the Americans figure it out?
4. Would there be a lipo fire?
5. Would anything of interest happen during the whole day?
ROUND 1
After 1 round of qualifying there were no signs of home advantage. Only 3 Xrays in the top 4. Unlike yesterday, now Bruno Coelho is allowed to win, (read yesterdays report) and now he only needs to teach RC Racing TV how to pronounce his name.
ROUND 2
Round 2, and the action began heating up. There have been rumors about Ty possibly leaving Xray at the end of the year, and now after Q2 it is confirmed, he is out. After Bruno Coelho rolled on the first lap Ty got by, and then held up the golden boy for a few laps. Bruno even knocked on the door once but Ty didn't open. This is a big no no, and Juraj will surely lay down the law behind closed doors. You simply don't hold up Bruno.
Rivkin wins ahead of Haatanen who must have made his car looser so he could go faster. Notable performance by Ongaro who was on potential TQ pace before his thumbs went numb for the last 3 laps. His pace is top 3 now. Watch out.
Q2 Overall:
1. Spencer Rivkin 2. Joona Haatanen RC 3. Yusuke Sugiura 4. Martin Bayer 5. Bruno Coelho 6. Ryan Maifield 7. Daniel Kobbevik 8. Davide Ongaro 9. Dustin Evans 10. Ryan Cavalieri
ROUND 3
After 3 rounds team Xray began showing signs of implosion. After Tessmann rebelled against team orders to never slow Bruno in round 2, round 3 saw team engineer, and backup driver Martin Bayer find an incredible pace, and take the lead. Potentially going to TQ and beat all his team mates even with a second or 3rd place, he then got word from team owner Juraj that even he is not permitted to beat Bruno. Reluctantly Martin made some "mistakes" and dropped back.
At this point communication within the Xray team contingents of Team Xray Canada and Team Xray, have been fully severed. Ty once again rebelled and actually beat Bruno by one tenth. We predict a fist fight before the week is over. Both parties declined to comment.
In other news, Team Japan is doing spectacularly well, with Yusuke Sugiura, the multi time Japanese National Champion, and 1:8th Nitro buggy driver driving like a mad man, on the verge of doing donuts at any given moment. Somehow he is 5th overall. 3 drivers in the top 25 for Japan at this stage. The Japanese team manager Suzuki Kawasaki mentioned that his team is doing exceptionally well due to the fact that "there is no traction in Japan either".
It is already now clear that we will see some highly paid professional drivers in the B main, and lower, and RCNews UnLtd will be here to find out the excuses they have to offer.
Right now the favourites are Rivkin, Coelho, Ongaro, Haatanen, Tessmann, Bayer, with some improvements needed for Sugiura, Maifield, Kobbevik, Orlowski if they want to feature. Maifield and Orlowski will most likely figure it out. Someone give Maifield a beer.
Q3 Overall:
1. Spencer Rivkin 2. Davide Ongaro (we told you) 3. Ty Tessmann 4. Bruno Coelho 5. Michal Orlowski 6. Yusuke Sugiura 7. Kohta Akimoto 8. Ryan Cavalieri 9. Neil Cragg 9. Dakotah Phend
Overall after 3 rounds
ROUND 4
Before the final 4th qualifying round of the day, the atmosphere in the pits was tense. Would we see a fist fight today or tomorrow? Would Coelho TQ this round? Would Rivkin TQ? Would Ryan Maifield have a beer, get mad at the track, and put in a top result so he would have a chance to put it in the main tomorrow? Could Sugiura avoid donuts and go even faster? What exactly is Ryan Cavalieri doing, and can he do something different? Was Lee Martin going to earn his paycheck? Does the Schumacher buggy just not work on dirt? So many questions that were going to be answered. Also another interesting question, which has never been asked before, will Jared Tebo make it into the B main?
And in the end, Not today, no, yes, yes, yes, kind of, no, apparently yes, and yes.
Q4 Overall:
1. Spencer Again 2. Ryan Maifield (the beer helped) 3. Yusuke Sugiura (wtf is going on, he found more speed) 4. Davide Ongaro 5. Martin Bayer (backup used in round 4) 6. Kohta Akimoto (Japan is strong like we said) 7. Ryan Cavalieri (doesn't have an excuse handy for a B main) 8. Neil Cragg 9. Broc Champlin 10.Jamiel Gabrielsson (Jamiel who? What the hell is going on)
At the end of the day, this is what the overall looked like:
Looking to tomorrow, here is a quick break down:
1. Spencer Again - TQ, confidence is clearly high. He can have ice cream for breakfast.
2. Bruno Coelho - The fastest driver but mistakes and Xray implosion affecting his results.
3. Davide Ongaro - Matches top two in pace but makes mistakes. Needs to try less toe in.
4. Yusuke Sugiura - The driver of the event so far, we still only know he has orange wheels, but have no idea what he looks like.
5. Ty Tessmann - Safely in the main, but needs a good result for a good starting position. Also a fist fight to look forward to tomorrow.
6. Ryan Maifield - Safely in the main, but needs more beers, and more good results.
7. Martin Bayer - Will move up tomorrow, as he already has backed up Xray with 3 good results. He has done his job.
8. Joona Haatanen - He needs to go out on slicks so he can get a top result to put him in the main. Not safe yet.
9. Kohta Akimoto - Potentially the 2nd Japanese driver in the main, with a top result in last round.
10. Daniel Kobbevik - Must perform, or will surely be fired by Juraj.
11. Ryan Cavalieri - Officially washed up unless he gets a top result in the final round. Baby has made a difference.
12. Dakotah Phend - Needs a miracle. Was seen praying.
13. Neil Cragg - Last driver with a theoretical chance of making it in. Never count a World Champion out. Although sources close to Neil tell us he has counted himself out already.
Tomorrow a new HUDY World Champion will be crowned, and whatever happens, we have a feeling it is going to be a day to remember. Xray vs The World.
