Intergalactic Summit

The NE-RA is pleased to announce our latest sponsor, Alikan Telikosi. Representing himself, Mr. Telikosi generously contributed over two hundred million ISK toward the second season, putting the season pot to over 2.36 billion ISK! Many thanks to him, and wish to welcome him to our family of sponsors.

Frigates:
1 NeonFolf [VRT] - Daredevil (0:30:31)
2 Norrin Ellis [VRT] - Comet (0:30:42)
3 Metrius [VRT] - Slasher (0:42:02*)
4 Jalenar Frost - Comet (0:42:18)
5 ♠Kenny S [EPP] - Imicus (1:37:09**********)
6 ♠Bastian Valoron [EPP] - Atron (1:45:28**********) [▲]
DNF ♠Alikan Telikosi - Firetail
DNF Quintrala [SDS] - Executioner [▲☼]

The Frigate class was lively on Saturday with eight racers competing and a healthy mixture of rookies and veterans. NeonFolf made a surprise return to compete for Venture Racing Team once more, with the help of Norrin Ellis and fresh recruit Metrius, who had just been signed onto their team minutes before the start. Eustron Power Play, one of the League's new teams to register this season, brought two members to compete. Despite the formidable trials of the first event, Bastian Valoron and Kenny S managed to finish with an honorable mention in fifth and sixth place. "EPP team considers its first race a success, despite the modest rankings results." commented EPP's team leader, Mr. Valoron, adding, "We see that building a strong foundation for effective high-speed teamwork is one of our most important goals." With rumors of their team signing racing veteran Elsebeth Rhiannon to their roster, many are watching this team's progress with great interest.

Two individuals flew solo during this event, rookie Alikan Telikosi and Jalenar Frost. Mr. Telikosi was forced to bow out of the event at the beginning due to unforeseen technical problems, while Ms. Frost managed a quiet but successful return to racing. "I think it was an excellent experience and was surprised at how much every little bit helps." Jalenar continued, "There's a lot more going on here than just 'I can go fast in a straight line!" Congratulations to her fourth place finish.

Quintrala, former frigate racing champion, current Scuderia Dragonstar manager, and spritely redhead, arrived fashionably late to the starting line and much to the surprise of the veteran pilots who had assumed she would never race again. In her triumphant return, 'the Queen' flew in the same vessel that earned her title many years ago, an Executioner-class frigate known as A Wing and a Prayer. With such a nostalgic scene, even the billions watching from their seats would not have anticipated the tragedy to follow; Amamake not only claimed the vintage vessel but the stunned pilot herself. In a rather poignant remark, Miss Warp commented on the scene afterward, "My clone I can restore, but I am going to miss the Wing."

Heavy Frigates:
1 Saikoyu [VRT] - Ishkur (0:49:27) [▲]

Despite the modest turnout, and much to the surprise of everyone else, Saikoyu was the lone pilot in the Heavy Frigate class. Unopposed, except by the hazards of space, Saikoyu felt the impact of Amamake like many other racers Saturday night, losing her Ishkur assault frigate to projectile fire. Fortunately, she managed to escape in her pod and return with a replacement vessel, finishing just under fifty minutes. Gaining an early foothold in this class, the season 1.0 champion and racing veteran will be a challenge for anyone hoping to oust her reign from the heavy frigate, and has been the backbone of Venture Racing Team for quite some time now. With the recent addition of Stealth Bombers and Electronic Attack Frigates to this class, racing analysts are already wondering what new challenges await for this season.

SCORES

>>>> INTERCEPTORS (SOLO)
25 [25.00]• Takashi Kurosawa [VRT]
20 [20.00]• demon flir [SDS]
16 [16.00]• Kayleigh Jamieson [SDS]
13 [13.00]• Darina Rea [DRT]
11 [11.00]• Lyn Farel [EXT]

>>>> INTERCEPTORS (TEAM)
25• Venture Racing Team [VRT]
20• Scuderia Dragonstar [SDS]
16• Dirtside [DRT]
13• Team Extropy [EXT]

>>>> FRIGATES (SOLO)
25 [25.00]• NeonFolf [VRT]
20 [20.00]• Norrin Ellis [VRT]
16 [16.00]• Metrius [VRT]
13 [13.00]• Jalenar Frost
11 [11.00]• Kenny S [EPP]
09 [09.00]• Bastian Valoron [EPP]

>>>> FRIGATES (TEAM)
25• Venture Racing Team [VRT]
20• Eustron Power Play [EPP]

>>>> HEAVY FRIGATES (SOLO)
25 [25.00]• Saikoyu [VRT]

>>>> HEAVY FRIGATES (TEAM)
25• Venture Racing Team [VRT]
◘------◘

Stay tuned for the next event announcement as we head out to Verge Vendor for the second event of the season!

The NE-RA has scheduled the second race of the season:

Date: Saturday, November 12th
Time: 15:00 EVE Standard Time
Starting Region: Verge Vendor

Racers should arrive in the channel NE*RA one hour in advance for the location of the starting position. During this time, fees will be collected and information will be gathered from the participants. If you would like to receive reminder mails of upcoming events, simply join our mailing list: NE-RA.

Verge Vendor Race Results

SPONSORED BY: Hareka Salvage and Breaking ♦ Team Dirtside - Rawr! ♦ Yulai Federation"NRDS - The Way Forward" ♦ Season 1.0 Sponsors ♦ demon flir ♦ Meili Leng Shuijing - We Are The Future ♦ Alikan Telikosi - "Once Experienced, Forever Regretted" ♦ New Life Project - "Be Reborn" ♦ Bastian Valoron ♦ Searaph

The second event of the season took place last Saturday in the Verge Vendor region, located in the Gallente Federation. We had seventeen racers lined up at the starting position, with a healthy mixture in each class, including our first Electronic Attack Frigate in the Heavy Frigate class. We saw the return of racing veteran Elsebeth Rhiannon to the track under the rookie team Eustron Power Play, much to the surprise of the veterans who had not expected her to return. Although she stated she wouldn't be able to make most of the events we know the fans are excited to see her back, and so am I.

Despite the high turnout there were no casualties to report for this event, and for the most part the race itself was quiet. However, not as much could be said in public and private communications channels, as accusations of inappropriate conduct were levied against Venture Racing Team for having prior knowledge of the track layout and saved the coordinates of the containers to warp directly to them during the event. This revelation, while not officially punishable by the League, had required us to take steps to ensure this activity was not repeated and has henceforth been banned from use. In addition, as a result of pre-race scouting, waypoint containers will need to be accessed sequentially to avoid extended penalties.

The Track
START: Luse VII - Moon 4 - Garoun Investment Bank
1. Costolle VI - Ice Field 1
2. Costolle VI - Ice Field 1
3. Costolle VI - Ice Field 1
4. Costolle VI - Ice Field 1
5. Murethand - Mesybier Stargate
6. Ladistier - Star
7. Ladistier - Star
8. Parts II - Moon 1
9. Parts II - Moon 1
10. Parts II - Moon 1
11. Parts II - Moon 1
12. Palmon II - Planetary Customs Offices
13. Decon VII - Asteroid Belt 3
14. Decon VII - Asteroid Belt 3
15. Decon VII - Asteroid Belt 3
END: Claysson X - Caldari Business Tribunal Accounting


Individual waypoint times can be found here.
A rough map of the track can be found here.

[u]LEGEND[u]
♠ denotes the racer as a rookie.
[▲] indicates the loss of ship.
[☼] indicates the loss of capsule.
* denotes the user received a 5 minute penalty for not marking a waypoint. [/i]
◘------◘

1 Demon Flir [SDS] - Malediction (0:40:26)
2 Norrin Ellis [VRT] - Ares (0:40:33)
3 Kayleigh Jamieson [SDS] - Ares (0:41:25)
4 Darina Rea [DRT] - Raptor (0:41:47)
5 Lyn Farel [EXT] - Crusader (0:47:06)
6 Takashi Kurosawa [VRT] - Malediction (0:48:54)
7 Elsebeth Rhiannon [EPP] - Stiletto (0:51:22)

The interceptor class was full this event with representatives from every team competing for glory and victory. While Venture Racing team leader Takashi Kurosawa maintained an early lead, technical difficulties left him in the rear of the pack. This led Venture manager Norrin Ellis against Scuderia Dragonstar's Demon Flir on a nose-to-nose battle for first place. "After taking command of the fleet, it was all I could do to avoid panicking," replied Ellis, "as I much prefer a support role rather than the team relying on me for points." Mr. Flir slipped ahead during the long stretch to the finish line, with just seven seconds to spare. Scuderia's team leader Kayleigh Jamieson made a comfortable third place finish a minute later.

"I hate traffic control." Darina Rea, fourth place finisher, was also mired with difficulties by gate operators who left her stranded at a stargate for an extended period of time. "I was traffick controlled right between demon and Norrin. That is to say, demon passed, I got stuck, norrin passed, I was still stuck, everyone else passed and then I was allowed to go through. So a minute later I was all the way behind." Better luck to Dirtside next race.

Frigates:
1 NeonFolf [VRT] - Daredevil (0:41:49)
2 Quintrala [SDS] - Daredevil (0:47:04)
3 Alikan Telikosi [DRT]♠ - Firetail (0:50:53)
4 Jalenar Frost - Comet (0:51:01)
5 Metrius [VRT] - Slasher (0:52:21)
6 Bastian Valoron [EPP]♠ - Imicus (1:01:00)

Finishing nearly six minutes ahead of the nearest competitor, NeonFolf secured an easy first place finish for himself and his team. Quintrala, newly returned with a fresh body and full of vigor, slipped into second place despite several navigational mistakes and similar difficulties with gate authorities in Melmaniel. Miss Warp, who seem rather relieved replied, "I am very grateful that after all this ordeal I am finishing in second place."

Rookie racer Alikan Telikosi, a new recruit for Dirtside, seemed equally surprised with his placement. "The last few jumps to the finish was a true race with one of my frigate class competitors. For the last two jumps me and Jalenar were dead even." Ms. Frost finished just eight seconds after Alikan in her Comet, repeating her past run for fourth place. Metrius arrived nearly a minute later, with Bastian Valoron taking the rear position.

[ctd.]

First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate Demon and Searaph on their well-earned victories. It is true that we engineered an advantage in hopes of marginalizing skill and experience disparities by engaging in pre-race reconnaissance of the track. I salute the superior skill and experience that won the race.

Scouting the track has caused such an uproar that the league has chosen to implement new rules that essentially negate the primary benefits gained from doing so. In light of the accusations of cheating, however, I must make very clear the fact that we explicitly asked the league's permission prior to doing this and felt that we were well within the letter of the rules and spirit of the sport. From our perspective, this was simply another innovation--a very tedious undertaking to gain an edge that we believed other teams had done in the past on a more limited scale.

People are angry. Mud has been slung, at us as well as by us, and for that we apologize. Obviously, the friendly rivalries between racers will be decidedly less friendly for a while, and that certainly has never been my intention. As the architect of the plan, I can say with certainty that our goal was to provide an advantage that could keep our less-experienced pilots competitive in a system dominated by veterans. I have a responsibility to my team, our sponsors, and our fans to do everything in my power, within the rules, to gain an edge. For that, I will not apologize.

Venture Racing has a long tradition of setting high standards for ourselves, even imposing limitations on the team that are more restrictive than the league's rules. We penalize those who fall short, and we take our commitment to sportsmanship very seriously. Above all, we don't cheat.

Congratulations again to Demon, Searaph, and the entire SDS team. We know you must have worked incredibly hard to overcome our latest efforts. Rest assured, we'll be going back to the drawing board to keep you on your toes.

---

My complete public account of the second race can be read here.

The NE-RA has scheduled the third race of the season:

Date: Saturday, November 26th
Time: 15:00 EVE Standard Time
Starting Region: The Forge

Racers should arrive in the channel NE*RA one hour in advance for the location of the starting position. During this time, fees will be collected and information will be gathered from the participants. If you would like to receive reminder mails of upcoming events, simply join our mailing list: NE-RA.

It has come to my attention that the Racing League as run by Ms. Rho has drawn to a close. If new organisers take it up, I'll then judge whether I wish to sponsor or not in any way. But I had counted on supporting new teams in this league and that's still what I'll do, despite the premature end.

There weren't enough races to allow teams to satisfy the pre-requisites, so I've decided to do without the pre-requisites. The captains of both Eustron Power Play and Team Extropy will find a 5mil ISK transfer each from Dirtside as part of the new team incentive program.

Thank you for having joined - even if briefly - in the world of league racing.

-- Trisha Veyron
(Dirtside CEO)