posted Apr 24th, 2010 - Round 8 at the World Challenge 2010 did not change much of the rankings on the top of the leaderboard. It was still a meaningful round, as the situation did not tighten up any longer as it had happened in the previous rounds. The distance between 4th and 1st place changed from three to six points, and Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge added another two points to the lead over Perris Fury. It seemed like France began to run away from the field after the new sole highscore for Round 8.

The French team benefitted from two point deductions each for NMP-PCH Hayabusa and XL. Hayabusa completed 28 points in time, as well, and would have maintained the same distance to France. XL fell three more points behind France and did not seem to be much in contention for the first place any longer. All top contenders needed help from the French team - which came in the next round...

World Challenge 2010 - Round 8 of the Top 11 in Final Ranking Order

Only one Top 11 team created motion on the leaderboard in Round 8. Paraclete XP4 had initiated an energetic comeback on the second day of the meet after the disappointing Round 2. The NSL News had introduced the new lineup with the story on 24 February 2010 and expected the tunnel experts to be in the run for the money at the World Challenge 2010.

Round 2 threw XP4 way too far behind for a realistic chance to end up somewhere on the top of the leaderboard. XP4 lost almost 30 points to Perris Fury (37 - 66) in just one round. However, The total of points for only the second half of the meet show that the three former Airspeed world champions (Kirk Verner, John Eagle, Andy Honigbaum) with Paraclete owner Tim D'Annunzio's son John could have been in the mix on the top.

XP4 was ahead of Perris Fury in 6th place (135 - 131) and only five points behind Arizona Airspeed (140) with the scores of Rounds 6 - 10. Airspeed would have ended up tied with France in 2nd place, XL won the second day (142).

Paraclete XP4 at the World Challenge 2010

XP4 moved up round by round, from the 12th place after Round 5 to 9th after Round 8. XP4 would eventually still catch Satori and finish in 8th place after ten rounds. XP4 also won seven of the ten rounds over Aerokart Deep Blue and tied two rounds with the French female national team, the next one up on the leaderboard. However, Deep Blue had won Round 2 by 22 points over XP4 and carried eight of those 22 points over the finish line.

The NSL News would still not be surprised if XP4 played a serious role at this year's USPA Nationals. The scores at the World Challenge 2010 were showing the potential of the new lineup, where John Eagle has moved from Point to Tail.

Round 8 was also the round where XP4 finally moved ahead of the other XP team, SDC Rhythm XP. Kirk Verner has been coaching Rhythm to the point where the young lineup has become a serious threat for the coach. Rhythm was the 4th US team of the Top 11. France had three teams in the same group.