2007 Nitro Buggy Pointscore Series
Round # 4 - 11th May 2007
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Check the Overall Series results here
It was another fine night of radio control motorsport at OCR Raceway, with the running of round # 4 of the 2007 Pointscore Series. The event was run on the same circuit as used for the 2007 NT Championships, excepting for a few small repairs carried out during the week, the circuit was in fine form, with a lot of rubber layed down on the race line over the past few events the traction given up by the surface can only be described as awesome. We saw 3 new drivers join the series this week, bringing the total number to 31 drivers racing for the 2007 series win, although with 9 more rounds to complete, including a double points round on grass at the Darwin showgrounds on the 2nd and 3rd of June, for the Shannons Automotive Extravaganza, theres still a long way to go!!
Going into this round, NT #3 driver Shannon Thissen was on top of the ladder, ahead of NT #2 Tony Knauth, with Marc Christianson in third. The battle that ensued over the night between the NT's top 3 drivers Gary Bui (Xray), Tony Knauth (HN X1CR) and Shannon Thissen (HN X1CR) was nothing short of awesome, Tony held the overall lead by one lap until round 3 when Gary Bui layed down the gauntlet to take the lead by a matter of seconds on 43 laps, with Shannon in third on 42 laps and Marc Christianson (Losi 8) in fourth also on 42 laps but only 26 seconds behind. Phillip Ciccone (MBX5R) looking good and flying also on 42 laps was 20 seconds behind Marc.
Round 4 saw Phillip move up the ladder to fourth after Marc succumbed to car problems again dropping him to 8th overall, Tam Bui moved up to 5th, Neil Ingram 6th and Team OCR junior driver Kyle Hodges (Caster ZX1R) picking up the number 7 spot. The top 3 positions changing again with Tony jumping out to a 1 lap lead ahead of Gary, with Shannon holding a slim gap ahead of 4th placed Phil Ciccone.
Round 5 the final race of the night, was a display of close hard wheel to wheel racing between the top 2 Gary Bui and Tony Knauth, the race between these two drivers was something else to watch, with Gary racing to gain back a lap a battle royale unfolded with the the two going head to head, for most of the race. As with all very close hard racing incidents happen and in what was an awesome display of respect and racing etiquette, Gary after giving Tony a shunt from behind and taking him out, stopped and waited for the marshall to right Tonys car, the battled continued with the lead swapping again and again few the next few laps, until Gary made a mistake in the sweeper letting Tony get a small gap to take the win, Gary just missing the final siren dropped a lap, with MBX5R driver Neil Ingram 4 seconds behind in 3rd, Shannon Thissen just 2 seconds behind him with Tam Bui (Xray) hot on his tail 1.25 seconds behind and Phil Ciccone (MBX5R) in 6th ahead of Kyle Hodges.
The junior buggy class overall win for this round saw Team OCR driverKyle Hodges (Caster ZX1R - RB) take the win on 63 laps, NT# 1 Junior driver Henry Bui (Xray - Maxpower) in second on 61 laps, and Tom Jones (Caster ZX1RTR - STS) in third. Tom Jones also took the win in the RTR (pullstart) Buggy class ahead of NT# 1 RTR buggy driver Brett McNair (Sacker Pro RTR - STS) with Andrew Hutton (Sacker Pro RTR - STS) in his first podium finish in third place. The Pro Buggy class win went to Team OCR driver Tony Knauth (HN X1CR - RB - Proline) on 73 laps, Gary Bui (Xray - Maxpower - Proline) in second on 71 laps and Team OCR driver Shannon Thissen (HN X1CR - RB - Proline) in third on 70 laps, Shannon who was in the overall series lead going into this round still retains the overall series lead by a mere 4 seconds after more than 2 hours of racing and 218 laps of full on Nitro Buggy Action!!!!!!!!
In some other news, we have heard from certain sources that the 2006 NT Nitro Buggy Champion, Duy Bui who has been in the US most of this season will be returning to Australia, to compete in the ----- $5000.00 - 2007 Top End Nitro Challenge ----- to be held 21st to 23rd June. If you want more information on this awesome annual event click the link above to go to the official website, where you will find everything you need to know.
Next event 2007 Pointscore Series Round # 5 - 25th May 2007
Race Results: