posted Apr 21st, 2010 - Round 7 at the World Challenge 2010 may have been the other round that had a serious impact at the top of the leaderboard, at least for Arizona Airspeed.

The 4-way world champions had just started the second day with a highscore in Round 6 and the energy that indicated that things may change in the second half of the meet. Round 7 brought this new hope for the Airspeed fans to a halt, if not to an end.

There was no sensational 66-pointer or a complete meltdown or anything like that in Round 7. It was just the fact that the other top contenders were completely unimpressed with Airspeed's attempt to create some momentum on Sunday morning. It surely did not help much that Airspeed lost two points due to penalties in Round 7. However, a 28-pointer would only have tied XL's and Hayabusa's scores, and Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge even went a point higher. The top field was too strong, and the distance was too long. It became clear that Airspeed needed a very unlikely miracle to win for the 4th time in Bedford.

Round 7 also changed the situation for the other US top contender, Perris Fury. One penalty brought the score down to 26, and Chris Farina was dealing with his helmet that he almost lost during the working time. Eventually, the French national 4-way team took the lead for the first time. They would never give it back from then on.

The difference between 1st and 4th place was still exactly the same as it was after Round 6. Only three points separated France and Hayabusa/XL. However, there was a new leader, and all of a sudden there were two points between 1st and 2nd place.

What else happened at different parts of the leaderboard in Round 7? There were several other different and very exciting battles, which will get more attention by the NSL News later on. One of those was going on right in the middle of the leaderboard.

World Challenge 2010 - Round 7 of the Top 11 in Final Ranking Order

A total of 19 teams would make it into the Semifinals after the first cut. All teams completed the 10-round competition. However, the judges only continued to evaluate and post scores for the Top 19 after Round 8, according to the IPC rules for the major events.

Four teams from three different countries were involved in the battle for the 19th position on the leaderboard: Ex3ma (Italy), Norgies 40 (Norway), Monaco Aerial (France) and Oxygene Armor (France).

Those four teams would eventually be separated by four points after Round 8, but they had already settled in the final positions after Round 7. The distance between 18th and 21st place was only three points at that time, and Round 8 would be the last chance for the two French teams to make a move. However, nothing changed, not even after adding the scores for Round 9 and 10.

Ex3ma from Italy at the World Challenge 2010

Ex3ma, the Italian winner of this 4-some, is a combination of former Ex3mo 8-way experts (Marco Arrigo, Fabio Lorenzetti, Placido Udine) and a newcomer in the sport, Manuela Quarella, guided by player coach Marco Arrigo.

Marco Arrigo, Fabio Lorenzetti and Placido Udine were members of the Italian 8-way team that won bronze medals at the World Meet 2008 in France. Marco Arrigo had also guided Ex3mo as a player coach. Ex3mo discontinued, and the team members appeared again in different 4-way lineups.

Marco Arrigo was flying with a cast on his right arm, as the NSL News showed earlier during the live coverage from Bodyflight Bedford. He had just gone through a serious surgery and was in the recovery process. It did not keep him from flying in the tunnel. It was interesting to watch him take grips with his right hand and fly pieces. Ex3ma finished in 18th place with a 20.5 average and made the cut into the Semifinals together with Norgies 40.