Bathurst, Australia- Yvon Labarthe from Geneva, Switzerland set the fastest time in an intense first round qualifying duel between the fastest street luge racers on the planet.  Labarthe set the fastest time of the day with a sensational 1:00.994 run.  Andy Lally from Dacula, Georgia, USA currently sits in the number two position with a time of 1:01.629.

Last years Mount Panorama winner Nick Duffield followed Lally closely with a time of 1:01.729.  Will Stephenson from Worcester, England currently sits in the fourth position with a time of 1:02.132.  Australian David Kelly rounded out the top five with a time of 1:03.666.
 

Yvon Labarthe had the field covered on day one.  Photo Marcus Rietema

 

Many are describing this as the toughest and deepest Street Luge field in many years.  Both current World Champion Matthias Lang from Stuttgart, Germany and 2002 IGSA World cup Series Champion Pete Eliot from London, England suffered heavy crashes exiting Forest's Elbow.  Both were pushing very hard to catch Lally and Labarthe and drifted wide exiting the corner.  Fortunately neither rider was seriously injured.  Both will be working hard tonight to patch up their sleds for another run at the pole tomorrow.