posted Dec 31st, 2012 - A day and over 100 new votes later Thunder is back in 1st place in the NSL Poll for the title of the unofficial amateur world champion of 2012. There is a good chance that the ranking order and the scores of the World Cup 2012 will eventually be identical with the outcome of the poll.

There is another topic that is quite similar to the one that has recently been discussed by the NSL News and the audience. There is no doubt who the best three 4way teams in the world are after the Mondial Dubai 2012. The three medal winners (Arizona Airspeed - USA, NMP-PCH Hayabusa - Belgium, Aerodyne Aerokart - France) distanced themselves far enough from the rest of the field to make this very clear.

However, the question who is the next best team behind the three medal winners does not have an easy answer, as well. The NSL News discussed this topic briefly with SDC Rhythm XP members JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz during the NSL Championship 2012 in DeLand and before Rhythm 's trip to the indoor competition in Singapore.

USPA Nationals 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA/Open Class	3,B,K,H	F,7,22	O,4,D,13	A,M,11,8	N,P,G,19	L,20,1	5,16,J	6,21,12	18,17,10	E,C,Q,15	Total	Avg
2	SDC Rhythm XP (US)	30	24	23	24	25(-1)	21	25	17	19	30(-1)	238	23.8
3	Evolution (CA)	24(-2)	20(-2)	22(-1)	21(-1)	22(-2)	19	26	16(-1)	18	33	221	22.1

Rhythm's situation was similar to Thunder and SportLoto who were not eligible to compete in Dubai, and Canada's national team Evolution took the 4th place at the Mondial after a good battle with Sky Panthers Barkli from Russia who were the defending bronze medalists of 2010.

Rhythm and Evolution had met each other at the USPA Nationals 2012 where Rhythm won the silver medals. Evolution won only two rounds and finished far behind the US team.

Canada's national team then peaked at the Mondial 2012, which was the last competition for the complete Lemay family, and took the official 4th place in the world. Rhythm had to watch the meet in Dubai from home. It was still not the last word about the highest unofficial world ranking behind the IPC medal positions and the three undisputed top teams.

SDC Rhyhtm XP and Evolution both competed with different lineups in Singapore and added more fuel to this discussion. Rhythm won with Chris Farina and Uli Stuewe in the rear piece, just four points ahead of Evolution with new Point Katie Woods and new slots for the three Lemay brothers.

It will be just as difficult to make a call for the 4th place in the world as it has been to vote for the best amateur team in 2012. Fact is that Evolution won the official 4th place in Dubai for Canada and that the USA have the 1st place with Arizona Airspeed. Fact is also that Rhythm outscored Evolution in Singapore.

Both teams are facing changes. The Canadian team planned the smooth transition into the new lineup, which has now happened. SDC Rhythm XP was surprised when Chris Farina and Thiago Gomes announced after the USPA Nationals that they will not continue. It seems like Evolution has the better cards at the moment to maintain the current position in the world.

iFLY Singapore		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Rd. 11	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	10,5,O	12,D,L,22	21,A,M,14	17,3,7	K,16,18	2,Q,N,F	C,P,B,G,15	E,1,11	C,F,P,6	L,10,E,19	9,1,13	Total	Avg
2	SDC Rhythm XP	26	25	28(-1)	27	24	38	38(-1)	26(-1)	44	28	25	329	29.9
3	Evolution	27	24	29	27(-2)	24	35(-2)	36(-1)	26	42	29	26	325	29.6

However, SDC Rhythm XP's recruiting procedures are in full swing, and the team has always made great decisions in the past. Personnel changes have been on Rhythm's way to the top of the 4way world, and JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz said that they will continue with the same energy and motivation as before.

The success of the Rhythm project has opened more doors year by year, and a slot in the team has become very appealing and attractive. Only Arizona Airspeed draws new players for open slots even easier, as the current moves by Chris Farina and Thiago Gomes are showing.

Rhythm is now making a 3-year plan for the new lineup. It is unrealistic to plan for winning the USPA Nationals in 2013, as Arizona Airspeed's new lineup will have a better starting point than Rhythm. The remaining 3way (JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz, videographer Alex Bittner) wants to win the USPA Nationals with the new lineup in 2015, maybe already in 2014, and qualify for the World Meet in 2016. The current recruiting is probably the most important one in the team's history, as the commitment is for a longer time period. It may also be the most rewarding one...