If this City Trial → Oval Circuit challenge keeps refusing to unlock even when you’re SURE you did it… you’re not alone. A lot of players are getting stuck on:
“Finish without riding on the ground for more than 10 seconds.”
The big catch?
Most people are playing it like an air-time challenge. But the game is actually checking your time spent on the ground, not how long you stay in the air.
Below is a full, in-depth guide.
What This Challenge Really Means
Objective:
Finish the Oval Circuit Stadium race without riding on the ground for more than 10 total seconds.
The wording is confusing, so let’s translate it:
- The game is tracking how long your machine’s wheels (or bottom surface) touch the ground during the Stadium race.
- To clear the challenge, your total ground time must stay at 10.00 seconds or less, across the entire race.
It’s About Ground Time, Not Air Time
This is the #1 misunderstanding.
You might think:
“If I stay airborne for 10+ seconds, then finish the race, I should unlock it.”
But the requirement is actually:
Ground time must not exceed 10 total seconds.
You can glide for 20 seconds straight — but if you spent 12 seconds on the ground earlier in the lap, the challenge fails.
What Counts as “Riding on the Ground”?
From how City Trial physics and Stadium challenges work, “ground” counts as:
- Rolling normally on the track
- Touching down after a jump
- Drifting while touching the floor
- Boosting while still physically on the track
- Any normal floor contact where the machine is not airborne
Stuff that typically does not count as ground:
- Being in the air from ramps
- Being launched and still airborne
- Sometimes rails or non-floor surfaces (not officially confirmed, so don’t rely on it)
The safest rule:
If your machine visibly touches the track, the ground timer is ticking.
Best Setup for the Oval Circuit Ground-Time Challenge in Kirby Air Riders
To make the mission consistent, you need a high-glide machine that barely touches the floor.
1. Use a Flight-Oriented Machine
Ideal options:
- Winged Star / Wing-type machines
- Paper Star (Paper-type)
- Dragoon (Legendary machine) — extremely good but not always obtainable
Avoid:
- Heavy machines
- Poor Glide machines
- Ground-hugging vehicles
2. Prioritize These Stat Patches During City Trial
Your build matters. Collect:
- Glide ↑↑ — highest priority
- Weight ↓ — makes staying airborne easier
- Top Speed ↑ — so you don’t need long ground acceleration
- Boost ↑ (optional)
Ignore stats like Defense, Offense, HP — they don’t help here.
Step-by-Step Strategy for the Oval Circuit Race
Oval Circuit is a simple, flat Stadium track. The challenge is doing the laps without touching the floor for more than 10 total seconds.
Before the Race (City Trial Phase)
- Choose a flight machine early.
- Stack Glide patches aggressively.
- Reduce Weight.
- Don’t swap machines late.
During the Stadium Race
Goal: only touch the floor in tiny bursts — less than a second if possible.
1. Launch to Air Immediately
- Accelerate quickly after “GO!”
- Hit the first ramp or jump to get airborne.
2. Stay High and Plan Landings
While gliding:
- Look ahead for ramps or slopes
- Position yourself so each landing leads directly into another jump
3. Micro-Landings Only
When you touch the floor:
- Keep it under a second
- Immediately hop or take the next ramp
- The floor is lava — treat it that way
4. Use Walls Smartly
If bouncing keeps you airborne or leads to a ramp, it can help.
Just avoid losing too much speed.
5. Finish While Airborne
To be extra safe:
- Try to cross the finish line mid-glide rather than rolling.
Why It Doesn’t Unlock Even When You Think It Should
1. Misreading the Objective
You are counting air time.
The game counts ground time.
Example:
- 11 seconds in the air
- But 3 seconds at the start
- 6 seconds mid-lap
- 3 seconds landing
= 12+ seconds on ground → challenge fails.
2. Long Start or End Rolling on the Track
Many players waste:
- 2–3 seconds on the ground at the start
- 2+ seconds crossing the finish normally
This alone can break the limit.
3. Drifting Still Counts as Ground
Any contact counts, even if sliding stylishly.
4. Specials Might Interfere
Some players suspect abilities like Starman’s special might cause the game not to count the attempt correctly.
There’s no official confirmation, but:
- Try a run without using specials.
5. Invisible Micro-Touches Add Up
Tiny dips or small landings might add fractions of a second.
Over 3 laps, they accumulate.
Recommended Safe Method (“Guaranteed” Style Attempt)
- Use Winged Star or Paper Star.
- Build: High Glide, Low Weight, High Speed.
- At the start: launch into the first jump immediately.
- During laps:
- Treat ground as lava
- Micro-land
- Relaunch instantly
- Finish: glide over the line.
If you only touch the ground in brief moments, you will definitely fall under 10 seconds.
FAQ – City Trial Oval Circuit Ground-Time Challenge
Q1. Do I need 10+ seconds of continuous air time?
No.
The challenge only cares about ground time ≤ 10 seconds.
Q2. Do I need to be airborne at the finish?
Not officially required, but highly recommended to reduce ground time risk.
Q3. Do rails count as ground?
Not officially confirmed.
To be safe, assume:
- Track floor = ground
- Rails = probably safe, but don’t rely on them for the challenge
Q4. Do Rider Specials break the challenge?
Some players suspect it, especially with abilities like Starman’s.
If stuck, simply avoid specials for your successful attempt.
Q5. What is the reward for completing the challenge?
The challenge unlocks a License Card Theme on the checklist.
Final Tips
- The floor is lava — glide constantly.
- Build your machine specifically for Glide and low Weight.
- Avoid unnecessary ground time at the start and finish.
- If stuck, avoid Rider specials.
- Aim to visibly touch the floor only a handful of times, and for fractions of a second.
Do that, and the Oval Circuit challenge will finally unlock.