The RB Cup, the fifth and last round of the National Championship, was held this weekend was held at the track of Torres Vedras. Due to rain on Friday, the track muddied up a bit, and so I had to study every part of the track to minimize the chance of mistakes on Sunday.
For the first qualifier I drove very smoothly so that I didnâ™t make any mistakes. The heat went very well as I made 4th place, and 6th in the main result of the first qualifier. In the heat I didnâ™t make any mistakes but I was slower than the others, so I tried to be faster in the second qualifier. In the second heat I was faster but made a mistake and my final time was almost the same as the one in the first qualifier. However, in the final result of that qualifier I was 8th. I pretty much had my main final spot guaranteed, now I had to do the last qualifier with fewer mistakes. I was slow but I qualified for the main A in 5th place.
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I had a very good start in the semi-final and was constantly battling with Miguel Matias for 1st place. By half time of the semi-final Matias had flamed out and I tried to hold my spot. I got nervous and in the last lap (Matias recovered and the battle started again), made a mistake and turned over. I lost 1st place but took 2nd place, eventually getting 3rd place for the final.
Main final start positions:
1. Rodrigo Luis
2. Miguel Matias 3. Ricardo Monteiro XRAY XB808
4. Guilherme Goncalves XRAY XB808
5. Miguel Lopes
6. Carlos Duräes
7. Jorge Gomes
8. Fernando Almeida
9. Tiago Parreira
10. Filipe Gomes
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I had a bad start in the final and went into last place. I started gaining positions, making few mistakes and running fast. I threaded through the pack and got into 4th place. Once again I was battling but this time for 3rd place and with a different pilot: Rodrigo Luis. In the last lap Rodrigo made a mistake and I rolled over the finish line in 3rd place. Guilherme Goncalves was going very well, but a flame-out dropped him to 9th place.
Results:
1. Miguel Matias
2. Carlos Duräes 3. Ricardo Monteiro XRAY XB808
4. Rodrigo Luis
5. Miguel Lopes
6. Tiago Parreira
7. Fernando Almeida
8. Jorge Gomes 9. Guilherme Goncalves XRAY XB808
10. Filipe Gomes
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Overall results of the National Championship:
1. Miguel Matias
2. Rodrigo Luis
3. Fernando Almeida
4. Carlos Duräes Junior 5. Ricardo Monteiro XRAY XB808 Junior
I am very happy with the XRAY XB808, and am very close to being the Center
Regional Champion, and in my first National Championship ever I got 5th place. I am also the 2nd Junior of the National Championship.
