posted Feb 17th, 2017 - The recent preview of the World Challenge 2017 included the list of teams that were already registered at this point in time, and it was history a few days later after several more teams signed up. The Sun Path Products NSL News will soon follow up with the new field.

NMP PCH HayaBusa and Weembi Lille are still on the top of the current power ranking, which is not going to change. Even Arizona Airspeed would not be able to interfere with the top positions, as the U.S. national team has to offer "only" 30.5 as the highest indoor average.

Airspeed is neither traveling to Bedford nor to the French Indoor Nationals 2017 where HayaBusa and Weembi will meet each other. However, Airspeed is going back to Paraclete XP and will post the first 2017 indoor scores of the new lineup this weekend in Raeford. The first U.S. showdown between Airspeed and SDC Rhythm XP will be just as exciting and will continue at the Shamrock Showdown 2017 in DeLand a few weeks later.

World Challenge 2010			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		5,4,12	J,M,E,D,L	20,17,8	15,18,7	22,A,F,K	21,C,G,6	9,19,16	B,13,14	H,P,O,3	N,2,10	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne Aerokart		22	63	23	26	31	28	29	28	32	23	305	30.5
2	XL		21	57	24	25	35	29	28	25	37	23	304	30.4
3	NMP-PCH HayaBusa		22	57	23	25	36	28	28	26	34	22	301	30.1
4	Perris Fury		21	66	23	24	33	27	26	26	33	19	298	29.8
5	Arizona Airspeed		23	55	23	25	30	29	26	27	36	22	296	29.6

The grande finale of the 4-way duel between NMP PCH HayaBusa and Weembi Lille for the indoor top spot in the world at the beginning of the 2017 season in Bedford is happening for the first time on the highest 4-way level.

Both teams have been in Bedford several times before. In fact, NMP PCH HayaBusa has not missed a World Challenge yet and has been undefeated in Bedford since 2011. The last team that defeated HayaBusa at a World Challenge was the French national team in 4-way Open. Weembi members Julien Degen, Mathieu and Guillaume Bernier had Qatar Tigers coach Jeremie Rollett in their lineup and won the FAI/IPC gold medals in Menzelinsk less than half a year later. Roy Janssen competed for HayaBusa in Bedford and in Menzelinsk.

Weembi also competed at the World Challenge in 2015 and 2016. However, the previous Weembi teams in Bedford were not the same signature lineup that challenged HayaBusa for the top position at the FAI Indoor World Cup 2016 and then again at the Wind Games earlier this month.

World Challenge 2015			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		15,K,E,F	11,22,A	16,H,M,19	3,10,D	17,18,P	4,12,O	5,N,L,G	14,B,C,20	2,1,21	J,Q,6,13	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	40	24	32	25	29	26	38	30	24	33	301	30.1
2	SDC Rhythm XP	US	36	24	28	22	28	23	34	26	23	29	273	27.3
3	Weembi Lille	FR	36	20	31	25	23	23	31	29	21	29	268	26.8

Weembi captain Julien Degen had French Girls 4-way Women world champions Christine Malnis and Sophia Pecout in his Weembi 2015 team in Bedford. Thomas Perrin completed the lineup.

Weembi came back only with Thomas Perrin a year later, this time with Mathieu Bernier, Julien Olek and Perrine Sanchez, 4-way Women world champion of 2012 and 2014. Other Weembi lineups have also competed at other events, with other prominent team members (Emmanuel Sarrazin, Katie Woods, Clement Martin Saint Leon). The Weembi signature lineup (Julien Degen, Roy Janssen, Mathieu and Guillaume Bernier) will make the trip to Bedford together for the first time.

The highest Weembi average in Bedford was posted by Julien Degen, Christine Malnis, Sophia Pecout and Thomas Perrin in 2015 (26.8) and will surely be lifted above the 30-average benchmark at the beginning of April...