posted Jan 11th, 2016 - It did not take too long until the news of a change in the Arizona Airspeed lineup made it to Europe. Airspeed's cancelation of the upcoming Wind Games indoor competition in Empuriabrava, Spain, made it clear enough that the team would not be ready for the next confrontation with NMP PCH Hayabusa.

The Sun Path Products NSL News contacted Hayabusa members David and Andy Grauwels, who are the two original members of the reigning 4-way world champions, to ask them for their reactions and thoughts after learning that Airspeed would not compete at the Wind Games.

The Wind Games will still feature a great 4-way competition, as world class teams like Weembi Lille, Golden Knights, Thunder ISR, Satori XL and Qatar Tigers have signed up for the event. However, currently only Arizona Airspeed can seriously challenge the Belgian 4-way world champions.

The Grauwels brothers wished Airspeed and Chris Farina both well after such a difficult decision at the beginning of the world meet season. They agreed that a new lineup with Josh Hall in the point slot would still be a serious challenge for their own top position.

Personnel change is nothing new or unusual for the two original Hayabusa members. However, they said that they have not been in an "emergency situation" like that, where a new team member would have to be worked into the lineup on a relatively short call.

The shortest time frame for a personnel change in their Hayabusa career they had experienced after winning the gold medals in Prostejov 2014. Roy Janssen left the team after a few weeks of reflection time, and the three remaining Hayabusa members had to invite their alternate Jeroen "Bob" Nollet to join the active lineup.

Mondial Dubai 2012		Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Rd 6	Rd 7	Rd 8	Rd 9	Rd 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	5,12,E	6,D,B,K	O,8,7	N,13,18	10,21,M	19,H,11	C,G,1,A	20,9,15	16,F,P,Q	2,J,4	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed (US)	27	34	27	22	23	23	32	25	40	26	279	27.9
2	NMP-PCH Hayabusa (BE)	25	34	27	21	23	24	32	27	40	25	278	27.8

NMP PCH Hayabusa had to learn their own lesson how to digest a defeat in 2012, when they finished behind Arizona Airspeed at the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2012 and then again at the Mondial Dubai 2012 after the dramatic 1-point battle to the last second.

They said that coach Gary Smith has helped them a lot to deal with the psychology of winning and losing in competition. They were able to master the emotional 2012 event and came back even stronger and more confident for the next two years with the same lineup.

They know that Airspeed's situation is different and much more challenging with the shorter time frame. However, a lineup combination of Airspeed's three 2012 world champions with Thiago Gomes in the tail slot could still become a dangerous opponent this year. And that's exactly what Airspeed has in mind...