posted Feb 5th, 2018 - The NSL News mentioned briefly in the first summary of the Wind Games 2018 that NMP PCH HayaBusa finished with a historic 33.2 average.

It is a historic number since no 4-way team has ever posted a higher 10-round average. The new world record average was not generated due to an extremely fast competition draw. There was no real Super Sequence with only random formations, even though Round 5 (D,B,9,N) was a serious scoring opportunity. Most of the teams finished close to their best averages, and a few posted new team records, including the reigning indoor and outdoor world champions from Belgium.

HayaBusa already owned the highest indoor average before competing at the Wind Games. The 2012 lineup with Roy Janssen in the tail slot posted the first 33.1 average at the Aerokart Indoor Championship 2012, three points ahead of the French national team with a 32.8 average, which is still the highest number after the HayaBusa averages and the Weembi High Rollers at the World Challenge 2017.

The current lineup with Jeroen Nollet in the tail slot tied the 33.1 average of 2012 at the World Challenge last year to win the historic 4-way indoor thriller over the Weembi High Rollers with former HayaBusa tail Roy Janssen by one single point. Then they added one point at the team's first meet of the 2018 season to leave the previous record average finally behind.

NMP PCH HayaBusa		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	K,5,4	12,8,M	19,2,17	P,C,F,16	D,B,9,N	22,21,13	3,14,11	G,L,E,Q,10	6,20,H	A,O,18,1	Total	Avg
1	Wind Games 2018	31	26	27	46	54	23	24	38	31	32	332	33.2
Roster: Andy Grauwels (Outside Center), David Grauwels (Inside Center), Jeroen Nollet (Tail), Dennis Praet (Point)
NMP PCH HayaBusa		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	D,B,6,22	12,E,17	20,G,C,10	N,M,15,H	Q,19,K,4	8,21,L	P,9,J,7	O,11,1	13,A,16	3,18,5	Total	Avg
1	World Challenge 2017	33	29	29	46	34	28	47	28	28	29	331	33.1
Roster: Andy Grauwels (Outside Center), David Grauwels (Inside Center), Jeroen Nollet (Tail), Dennis Praet (Point)
NMP PCH HayaBusa		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	10,9,3	4,Q,F,22	B,E,11,19	8,15,A	16,H,20	D,K,L,C,18	P,21,J,14	O,17,N,5	12,M,G,6	13,2,7	Total	Avg
1	Aerokart Indoor 2012	31	33	33	30	30	39	32	45	32	26	331	33.1
Roster: Andy Grauwels (Outside Center), David Grauwels (Inside Center), Roy Janssen (Tail), Dennis Praet (Point)

HayaBusa still digested seven penalties on the way to the 33.2 average, while the closest contender, Arizona Airspeed, lost only four points. Both teams have obviously potential for even higher averages, and the Belgians are also slightly ahead with the room for instant improvement.

The two teams with the highest indoor averages behind NMP PCH HayaBusa, France Aerokart of 2012 and Weembi High Rollers, have a lot in common. Both teams had Julien Degen, Mathieu and Guillaume Bernier in their lineups. Manu Sarrazin completed the French national team of 2012, and Roy Janssen was the 4th member of the High Rollers.

In fact, the three teams that posted the highest indoor scores in history consisted of a total of only nine 4-way competitors, including two pairs of brothers: David and Andy Grauwels, Mathieu and Guillaume Bernier, Dennis Praet, Jeroen Nollet, Manu Sarrazin, Julien Degen and Roy Janssen.

Arizona Airspeed, currently HayaBusa's strongest opponent, still has to beat the 32-average benchmark before getting anywhere close to the Belgian world champions on the 33+ level.

It's a very challenging situation for the U.S. champion. Each meet that NMP PCH HayaBusa attends gives the team more experience and comfort on the top speed level, while the challenger has to increase the pace to get closer.

Picking up the speed always increases the risk of infringements and penalties before a team gets familiar and comfortable on the new level. It is also more difficult to increase pace and performance level if the teams are on the world's top level.

HayaBusa surely has another advantage, as the current lineup is in its fourth year, while Airspeed's lineup with new member Ari Perelman and new slots for the other team members started last year.

Time is on the Belgian side, as well, as the FAI World Meet 2018 is only eight months away. However, Airspeed's new lineup is moving forward with an impressive progression and new historic Airspeed record numbers, as well.

Neither the teams nor the audience have to be afraid of missing this duel after Australia 2018. Both teams have plans until 2020...