posted Jul 28th, 2007 - The scores of Round 3 don't show an overwhelming dominance of Airspeed Odyssey any longer. The Arizona team still completed the highest number of points in working time. However, the judges deducted another point, and the 21-pointer was tied by the Golden Knights.

Not only the Golden Knights kept up with Airspeed Odyssey in this round. The new French national 4-way team, France VR 4, scored a 21-pointer in this round, as well. The new A-Team line-up is still only in second place after five rounds in France. The B-Team with Paul "Polo" Grisoni and Erwan Pouliquen has a 3-point lead at the moment.

Mass Defiance from New England fills the gap behind the two top teams in Raeford. The amateur team cannot keep up with Airspeed and the Golden Knights and is too strong for the Golden Knights Gold. However, Mass Defiance has a good race going with the best German 4-way team, Next Generation.

Paraclete XP and Carolina Ice are still tied after three rounds. Carolina Ice has created a 3-point lead in the second and third round of the AA Class competition. M.O.M. is not struggling as much with the exit from the Pac as the other Rookie Class teams and has a clear lead in the 5-team field.

Round 4

Airspeed Odyssey lost two more points due to infringements in Round 4. That adds up to a total of four lost points in four rounds. Airspeed's average would be a whole point higher so far - without the infringements.

However, it is not only Airspeed's unusual situation in the judging room that has made the competition at the Paraclete XP Money Meet 2007 very interesting. The Golden Knights have caught up with Airspeed's pace and performance level and gain confidence round by round.

Both teams completed 27 points within working time. Airspeed lost two points, and the Golden Knights Black team ended up with a 26-pointer after a 1-point deduction.

The Army team's move came at a good time. Jamie Lindsay, windtunnel investor and former head of the US delegation in Croatia, added $500 cash to the jackpot in Raeford. He likes the Skins Game concept, which is also applied at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2007, and assigned the extra money to Round 4. The highest AAA Class score in this round would win the money.

The 26-pointer of the Golden Knights won Round 4 in Raeford. However, the highest score on the leaderboard was actually posted in France. Nice Autrement Basik and Aerokart Seloger.com both scored 27 points officially.

However, the Golden Knights won the money in Raeford and gained more momentum. It was very important for the Army team to win a sole highscore for the first time in this meet. Airspeed's lead is now down to 1-point difference, and it has become a serious horse race after four rounds. Stay tuned.