Last up for this free practice is Matt Hall. He trailed Dolderer by 0.5s in yesterday's training session but we know Hall is all about consistent flying. Will it be a competitive time or another DNF?
He's clean so far and through the chicanes but the first split time show that Hall's MXS-R isn't matching Lamb's MXS-R pace.. he goes from 0.65s off the pace to 0.141s slower, but picks up a little more speed in the latter part of the track to reel it back to just a half second.
It's a first clean run and a time... and another chance to perfect those racing lines as he swings back in for a second run.
Hall seems to be a little edgy... he's lost even more pace out there in the track and fumbles at Gate 6 to pick up +2s for incorrect level flying. The pace is looking better in the second half of the track but that penalty will stick and he finishes with 57.856. His first run will put him in second place behind Lamb and that brings this free practice to a close.Top 3 results:1. Lamb - 56.4162. Hall - 56.4423. Dolderer - 57.308
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The Master Mentoring Program has launched to help progress the Challenger pilots.
win.gs/1RBnbrX
#airrace http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdLntyJW8AASSDE.jpg
Challenger Cup Free Practice 2 Start List:
1. Berger (GER)2. Barros (BRA)3. Czepiela (POL)4. Ryfa (SWE)5. Coleman (USA)6. Murphy (GBR)
Challengers looking more confident out there in FP2 today... Berger currently leading the timesheets with Brazil's Barros in second, but runs are fairly clean and times improving on FP1. Both Barros and Berger picked up +1s in their second runs for insufficient smoke.
Czepiela and Ryfa have completed theie FP2 sessions but have been unable to shift Berger off the top of the timesheets with 1:05.990. Challenger Cup newcomer Coleman is looking comfortable in the racetrack and has taken third place overall. Could he be the newest threat to the title this year?
Coleman the surprise of the day so far... he leaps up the timesheets as fastest Challenger pilot in this session with 1:05.481 including +1s.
Podlunsek back in the track today for FP2... it's not looking too pretty as he's putting his new raceplane through its paces. He opts for a Safety Climb Out (SCO) in his first run and then gathers no less than 4 +2s penalties for incorrect level flying and sinking too low in the Gate. It's all experience in the track, it's all about getting flying time under his belt right now for the Slovenian pilot.
Kopfstein still finding his lines in the track in Run 1 of FP2, he picks up +10s in penalties but manages to post a time! It's a cleaner outing in Run 2, as he flies too high through Gate 7 and incorrect level at Gate 12, but it's another time on the board and he's looking more settled.
Kopfstein 1:04.297
Le Vot exhibiting a bit more calm, a clean first run should help him find the confidence to pick up the pace for Run 2.Still looking off the pace and Le Vot fails to post a time for Run 2 as he picks up a DNF for over-G.Le Vot 1:00.701
Looking good for Velarde despite a slower start... the split times go green but it's another DNF for over-G in the second half of the racetrack. It seems to be catching so many pilots out today and they need to get it out of their systems before Qualifying tomorrow.
Velarde posts a good competitive time - 58.119 but he's got to find at least 2s before Qualifying to be able to sit near the top of the rankings here in Abu Dhabi.
Chambliss still looking as though he has some work to do, as he picks up two incorrect level flying penalties in the track... even without the penalties he needs to find more speed.
Chambliss 1:03.898
New Challenger Cup pilot, @thekevincoleman , posts fastest time in Free Practice 2. #airrace
win.gs/1UhzyOK http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdMADYoW4AE7n_C.jpg
Goulian currently in the track and looking to make the most of those new raceplane modifications... still some time to refine the racing lines as he picks up +3s in his first run, but it's a cleaner and smoother ride for Run 2. He moves up into second place behind Velarde.Goulian 58.732
Ivanoff fast out of the Start Gate but he loses 0.5s - no one is able to quite match Velarde so far. It's a clean run for Ivanoff who failed to post a time in FP1.
He's storming into the track again for Run 2 but its an over-G penalty and his first run time will have to count.Ivanoff 58.711
McLeod's DNF in FP1 means he failed to post a time but he's back into the track for FP2 and flying hard... maybe too hard as he picks up +2 in both Runs. Without the penalties he's lacking the pace to take on the top times from FP1 but he's definitely capable of more.
McLeod 1:01.700
Last up for today's FP2 is Hall... he seems to be a little cautious right now and posts 58.261 for his first run. It's clean but it's only placed him in third behind Arch and Velarde, who seems to have really stepped it up in today's flying session.
Hall posted 56.442 in FP1 so he'll have that in mind as he attempts to find the cleanest, smoothest line.
Another cautious performance from Hall in Run 2 and he's not found the pace this afternoon...58. 321 in Run 2. It's relatively competitive but we know he can do much, much more.
Hall 58.261
Masters Free Practice 2 Top 3 results:
1. Arch (AUT) - 57.624
2. Velarde (ESP) - 58.119
3. Hall (AUS) - 58.261
Last 2 questions coming up! How's your score looking? Q19: Blast off! Identify this epic #airrace location #2016GO ! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdMRs3aWIAAqJ-y.jpg
Q20: 2015 was a season of winglets and wingtips. Which #airrace pilot's raceplane does this now belong to? #2016GO ! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdMtKWkWAAQQYoD.jpg