"You alright there, Bob?"

"Just something in my eye."

"There'll be more than a few like that around the stands, I'm betting. Let's take it as a good omen for the season, shall we?"

"Hmph."

"Anyway, good afternoon, viewers, if you're just joining us here on DNN1, this is the ICDA Premier League of Dragon Racing, the Imperial League for short, it's the first race of the season and we're live, commercial-free and uninterrupted for the next two and a half hours. I'm Sam Tinbru, and with me is Bob Anmo. Bob, final thoughts before the race. Is anyone going to challenge Feran Andoal for dominance today?"

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"Many will try, I don't know if any will come close."

"It's been a bugbear at the Imperial Stadium for years that this course favours bigger dragons. Andoal's Corredeira's definitely not on the big side. Have they finally put in enough twisty bits here to even out the balance?"

"Corredeira's a remarkable dragon, you shouldn't take him as a marker for the rest of the field."

"Well, ok, then, what about Phoebe Tenryuu on Soot? He was the smallest drake in the field at weigh-in two weeks ago, and that's been enough to put her fifth on the grid."

"Let's see how they do in the race, Sam, before we make any hasty judgements."

"Right. And speaking of which, it's almost time for the start. The riders are mounted up and the dragons are taking their starter perches on the stadium roof. It's time for the season to begin."