This past weekend I race at the NEO race in Newport, UK. The track was very different this year from previous years, as far as layout and surface. The track was faster with bigger jumps than ever before. The surface was drier and more abrasive than it had been in the past as well. Being that this was the first NEO race for us with the Xray car we started with the setups that we have been running in the US. Which was not bad but not on pace with the fastest drivers, we struggled with setup throughout practice and qualifying but worked together with the team and by the 4th qualifier we had found pace.
In E-Buggy I qualified 3rd and in nitro buggy I qualified 13th which would have me starting 7th in my semi.
The E-Buggy semi ran Sunday night after qualifying was complete, I had a good battle with David for most of the race, I was leading up until the last corner where he made a last attempt to get by me and flew over the top of me and crossed the line first, going on my time I would be starting 3rd in the final behind Maifield and Ronnefalk.
On Monday E-Buggy main was first up, Maifield had electrical problems in the warm upi which allowed David to start first and I would start second. I knew from how qualifying had gone that David would be very fast and I would have to pressure him early and not let him get away. We had a good start and followed David for a few laps, tried to pass and bumped him so I waited and let him get ahead again, a few corners later, I was able to make a pass when he went wide and took over the lead. With Elliott who started 4th on the Grid right behind me we had a very close battle for a good portion of the race, until he came up short on the quad and his battery came unplugged. At this point I went into cruise mode and went on to take the win with a comfortable lead.
In the nitro semi, starting 7th I had my work cut out for me, the start was pretty brutal, it seemed everyone wanted to win the race on the first lap, I ended up at the back of the pack after the first corner. I put my head down and managed to make my way up to 3rd in the next few laps. I stayed in 3rd until an incident with lapped traffic put me down to 4th and this is where I would finish the semi. On laps and time I would start 5th on the grid.
At the start of the main it was very difficult to not hit the person in front of you while not getting hit by the person behind you so there ended up being a lot of incidents on the track, and with mistakes on my part I ended up at the back of the pack after the first lap. I worked hard to get to the front and catch up to the leaders but I was unable to do it, and I ended up finishing 7th. Congratulations to Davide Ongaro for taking the win.
I want to thank my sponsors for giving me the opportunity to race with amazing products, Xray, RC America, Pro-Line, OS Engines, Orion, MKS, VP Fuel, A Main Hobbies, Hudy, Lunsford, Avid, Muchmore, StickIt 1, Darkside Designs, 110% Racing, MR33, Live RC, Red RC.
Thanks to my family for all their help and support and I want to thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.
