posted Feb 6th, 2014 - The registration process for the World Challenge 2014 has once again started early, as many teams try to save some money by using the offer of a reduced entry fee (£300) before March 1st. The registration of a team will cost £350 from then on until the event begins.

One of the six 4way categories (AAA Open - AAA Women - AA - A - Rookie - Dynamic) is already ahead of last year's participation. Six teams competed in the AA Class at the World Challenge 2013, and eight teams have signed up in the same category for this year's event.

It is also an interesting situation so far, as none of the AA Class teams for this year's competition posted their scores in the AA Class last year. The AA Class teams of 2013 are either moving up into the AAA Class or have not registered yet.

Registered AAA Open: NMP-PCH Hayabusa (BE), Gavroches (FR), SportLoto (RU), Thunder (BE), Voodoo (ZA), VAF Warriors (DK), Bad Boyz (CZ), Anti Matter (UK), Eclipse (UK), AorPlay JCM (FR), Tenacity (UK), Lupus (EE)

Registered AAA Women: Bodyflight Isis (UK), Team XX (UK), Fire (SE), Ladies In Black (CZ), Les Stunts (BE)

Registered AA Class: Fiasco (UK), Bodyflight Aero (UK), TR4CK (UK), Blue Rebels (GR), Team Impossible (UK), Mental BloX (UK), Kesshin (UK), 4Getit (IL)

Registered A Class: AirRush (DK), Equinox (LT), Tail Spin (IE), ChatterChicks (UK), Wind Shear (IE), Satori Red (UK), Man Flew (UK), Team Meteor (UK)

Registered Rookie Class: Trajectory (IE), Hurrican Factory (UK)

On the other hand, half of this year's teams have moved up from the A Class competition at the World Challenge 2013, which created the great foundation for an exciting AA Class competition this year. This group of teams includes the Blue Rebels from Greece who placed 2nd of 16 teams in the A Class competition of 2013.

Three of the currently registered A Class teams are coming back in the same category (Equinox - 15th, Tail Spin - 12th, 4getit - 7th). Chatter Chicks and Wind Shear competed in last year's Rookie Class and have now signed up for the A Class competition. Team Meteor is the UK bronze medal winner in the Rookie Class at the national championships and is also moving up.

There is not much competition yet for Bodyflight Isis in the female 4way category. This will change as soon as French national coach Jeremie Rollett signs up the Aerodyne French Girls and his other national team in 4way Open for the World Challenge 2014. The Ladies In Black are the new national team for the Czech Republic, and Les Stunts from Belgium posted a 15.9 average at the ISR Grand Prix 2013.

World Challenge 2013		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	O,E,J,K,3	M,Q,A,14	4,6,16	8,18,N	H,19,12	2,7,13	11,C,P,9	15,D,10	L,F,17,G	20,1,22	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa (BE)	40	37	25	28	28	25	37	25	42	20	307	30.7
2	Evolution (CA)	39	36	24	23	21	22	33	24	37	21	280	28.0
3	Gavroches Maubeuge (FR)	34	35	23	22	24	22	33	24	34	19	270	27.0
4	Paraclete XP4 (US)	34	34	23	22	22	23	31	22	38	20	269	26.9
5	XL	30	35	22	23	23	23	29	24	37	19	265	26.5
6	SportLoto (RU)	35	28	19	23	24	21	30	23	34	20	257	25.7
7	Thunder (BE)	33	32	21	23	23	22	29	21	31	19	254	25.4
8	SDC Rhythm XP (US)	33	33	19	19	22	21	23	22	36	18	246	24.6

The next showdown between Thunder and SportLoto was confirmed by SportLoto member Dima Samochval, who recently trains with Barkli's 8way lineup in DeLand. The World Challenge 2014 might be the Russian team's only competition this year, and Thunder better uses the opportunity of a re-match well. SportLoto had outscored Thunder for the first time (25.7 - 25.4) at the World Challenge 2013.

Both teams also have a new opportunity to get closer to the members of the former French 8way lineup, Gavroches Maubeuge. Julien Olek, Clement Martin Saint Leon, Bruno Perin and Thomas Perrin Gachadoat placed 3rd last year with a 27.0 average. Only Thomas Perrin Gachadoat continues with the new French 8way team, while his three 4way indoor team mates are excited to come back and repeat last year's success.

It will be difficult for SportLoto and Thunder to get closer to Gavroches Maubeuge, as the French world class competitors have their own goal. Former 8way team captain Clement Martin Saint Leon said that his team wants to get closer to the very top of the leaderboard, where NMP-PCH Hayabusa sets the pace. Gavroches Maubeuge has a test at the Aerokart Championship later this month before the trip to Bedford.