One-man Venture fleet wins two consecutive races

Race Report
Posted on April 1, 111 EST by Ceta Kaaen

After a so-so beginning to the season, race 2 and 3 showed that previous interceptor champion Takashi Kurosawa is getting back to his old form, as he took home confident victories in both races. On the downside, Kurosawa was also the only one representing Venture on both occasions.

Race 2 started out of the Zemalu system in the Derelik region, and just as in race 1, Scuderia Dragonstar fielded the most impressive field of racers, counting no less than 5 racers, with household names Kayleigh Jamieson, Quintrala, Nakatre Read and demon flir joined by rookie Arcmako. With 4 racers, Dvice Racing represented the second largest team this evening, lead by veterans Kazuo Ishiguro and Cai Lun. Rutger Centemus and Manofearth represented the rookie-half of the team. Unusually, Venture Racing Team had only one racer present this evening, with Takashi Kurosawa being the lone representative of the team that once shattered the records for the amount of racers from one team in a race – records that stand firmly to this day.

In race 1, Kurosawa was certainly in the top of his class, but was still quite a ways from his usual form. In the weeks that have passed since that race, both fans, commentators and adversaries have speculated if the recent limitations applied to propulsion systems in New Eden as well as his season-long unexplained absense have taken away any advantage Kurosawa may have had, and if indeed we have seen the best of the two-time interceptor champion. If race 2 is anything to judge by, it appears that the veteran still has something in store for us, for he led the race in dominant fashion from start to finish, docking at the finish line at the Caldari Business Tribunal Law School in Akes almost two minutes ahead of the nearest competitor.

Finishing in second place was Kazuo Ishiguro, a veteran who has recently been making a name for himself in the interceptor class and continued that tradition tonight with a convincing performance. Quintrala and Kayleigh Jamieson had to settle for 3rd and 4th in the interceptor class, respectively, with Ms. Jamieson having severe pod interface issues during the final few jumps of the race.

What Scuderia Dragonstar may have lacked in the interceptor-class this evening, they certainly possessed in the frigate-class, in which they took home the top four positions. All of Dvice Racing’s three frigate racers were unfortunate enough to completely miss a waypoint in Thakala, resulting in all except Kazuo Ishiguro from that team being disqualified.

Moving on to race 3, this race started out in the Devoid region, and a cunningly devised track with a track split as well as double and triple waypoints including fake canisters, proved an exciting challenge for the racers this evening. Takashi Kurosawa of Venture Racing Team, once again the sole representative of that team, continued his convincing display of skill from race 2, as he once again led the race more or less from start to finish, finishing three minutes ahead of the nearest competitors. Those were Quintrala, Kayleigh Jamieson and Searaph of Scuderia Dragonstar, all three of whom finished within a time span of 22 seconds. Rounding out the interceptor-class were Bloodpetal and Kira Storm of the newly-formed Solar Babies team.

In the frigate-class, Scuderia Dragonstar continues to dominate, with the team once again capturing the entire podium. It is getting harder and harder to imagine anyone being able to threaten Scuderia Dragonstar in this class. Dvice Racing’s frigate team made good on their mistakes of race 2, finishing race 3 without missing any of the waypoints. In the face of the dominant Scuderia Dragonstar team, they had to settle for 4th, 5th and 6th place respectively, though.

Rookies Eran Mintor and Julius Rigel unfortunaty missed a waypoint each, resulting in disqualification. The missed waypoints were at the triple waypoint asteroid belt in Arzad, which included a fake canister, and it is safe to assume that the confusion that ensued at this location were the cause of their misfortune.

The next event in the League is an exhibition race this Sunday, with the location as yet undisclosed. The next regular event, race 4, is scheduled to take place on April 19.

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