Qualifying

"Twenty minutes or so to go before the qualifying runs start, Bob, let's start thinking about some predictions. The wind's settled a bit while we've been on air, would you say that favours the bigger dragons?"

"If it stays down. Lucia's looked pretty strong in practice anyway, and Lyonne Ertku, too. For me the question is whether Gerald Ipemas' form is genuine."

"Yes, he's been sporadic in practice but sometimes extremely fast, which I suppose summarises his year so far. I think Temisia will be wanting him to prove himself a bit, and this could be a good opportunity for him. As for the silver dragons, well, we've hardly mentioned Feran Andoal so far this weekend, and Arden Markwe's shaded him more than once. Is it Arden's turn to benefit from Royal Hermeia's turnaround?"

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"That will depend on the weather tomorrow, but it could be, he's won races before, and I think he's hungry to do so again."

"And what about our other championship contenders, Nikita Coro and Phoebe Tenryuu? They could both do with making a strong impression this weekend on their recovery."

"They could, but I doubt they will. They both look off the pace, and even if Phoebe does well today she's going to start ten places back from where she qualifies. I'd rather see them both take it easy and make sure their dragons are really ready to return to comfortable flying. With Feran off the pace they can afford it."

"That's not an attitude that comes easily to most riders, though, is it?"

"Not at all, Sam."