DNN1

"Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Akmensjuosta Mountains, deep in Eastern Ura. This is Karhuntassu, the second-highest mountain in this stunning range and home of the second-highest race on the Imperial League calendar. This is DNN Sport 1 for the fourteenth race of the 1454 Imperial League season, I'm Sam Tinbru, and with me, as always, is former IL Team Principal Bob Anmo. Bob, spectacular scenery, isn't it?"

"It's always stunning here, Sam, and the weather seems to be holding fine, unlike last year."

"Yes, last year was a nightmare, with a storm coalescing in this valley as we introduced the show – we could almost watch it form in real time."

"Not what you need on a race day."

"No, it looked amazing, but it played havoc with the race. Today should be much more straightforward."

"Well, that's going to depend on the action in the race itself, it's very finely poised."

"It is indeed. Lucia Aelschu has seized the championship lead from Feran Andoal. She was thirty points behind six races ago, Bob, her lead might only be three points but that's an incredible turnaround."

"Never count Lucia Aelschu out, Sam, I've said it many times."

"What happened?"

"Well, there's no doubt that all the changes on the management side at Royal Hermeia lit a fire under the team – Arden Markwe didn't touch the podium the first eight races, but he's had two wins and two other podiums from the last five. We shouldn't count him out as a championship challenger, either, he's only five points behind."

"What about Feran Andoal? He took five out of every six available points in the first six races, but he's averaged less than three per race since then."

"He collapsed, quite frankly. I think he's had a bit of an attitude problem. When the rookies emerged as genuine challengers, I don't think he was psychologically ready for that."

"He's certainly been very critical of Nikita Coro and Phoebe Tenryuu, even more critical than you."

"Well, they're rookies, they've both made some errors. But I agree some of what Feran's said has been unnecessary. He needs to get back inside himself and concentrate on his own flying. He's more than good enough to win this on his own merits, if he's playing mind games he's losing."

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"Haha, that's a nice way of putting it. Let's talk about those rookies for a minute, though. We've got Nikita Coro at Lautern – and Lyonne Ertku, too, let's not forget him, they ride big dragons that are favoured by mountain courses like this, and they've qualified first and second. Niki had an impressive start to the season, six podiums from six races, one win, but ze's struggled since Incandesia took that horrible ankle injury. Lyonne's not been as impressive, but forty-eight points is a very creditable haul for a rookie."

"Very creditable. I think they've proven Lautern chose wisely in bringing them in together. I was doubtful at first but you can't argue with what they've brought to the grid. I don't know if Niki can get back on terms with the championship leaders but you'd have to say if ze hadn't effectively missed three races ze'd be right in there."

"And what about Phoebe Tenryuu? Almost literally a dark horse but she made an explosive debut."

"Could there be a more dramatic entry into the sport? What a storyline – her racing career almost died in the junior series, she somehow cobbles together an entry with literally two of her childhood friends, and here she is on three wins, fourth in the championship, and there isn't a rider in the field she hasn't gone wing-to-wing with and come off best."

"Can she really contend the championship? There are still all sorts of questions about the team's situation, and on top of that, there's a bit of a narrative developing online that, for all her talent, she can't win when her rivals are on-form."

"I don't know about that, Sam."

"Really? She took a podium at Quatre Tours, but only because Coro and Aelschu tangled on the last lap. Then Lucia almost killed Feran at Aletsch Gorge and gave Selen the win. She got lucky with the weather in Calabria, and then in Achaea there was Incandesia's injury, Olympia was only just back from his injury, and Feran was off the pace."

"If you wanted to, you could read any rider's career like that, Sam, and if you go on the internet I'm sure you'll find many people doing so."

"Well, ok, look at the races where there wasn't the same level of drama. In Anatolia she had no answer for Lucia's pace, and again last time out at Zubrija. We certainly don't expect her to do so much today, Soot's small and struggles with mountain courses because of the ascents."

"Did we swap microphones or something? Usually I'm the one criticising and you're defending."

"I'm just reporting what people are saying, Bob. You really think she can contend?"

"I think so. Let's work it out for a second. She's seven points behind Lucia right now, let's say she goes away from here, what, ten, twelve points behind? There's still forty points on the table. Next race is Sayan Pass, it's another mountain course but it's not as steep as this place so Soot won't be hurting quite so much. Then it's Guicheng and we know how good Soot is in cities. Ma'anshi Reservoir is a lot like Aletsch Gorge, she won there, and we know from past experience that the Winter Palace is an even match for everyone."

"So you think she can win the championship?"

"I'm not saying it's likely, mind, just that it's well on the cards."

"When was the last time we had a champion who wasn't flying for Temisia, Royal Hermeia or Lautern?"

"1442, Ivrada Sonpi, riding for Phaestia."

"You had that one ready to go."

"We need Phaestia back, Sam, it hurts to see them sixth in the teams championship."