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[2nd place]

I don't know why, but I have a hunch this is a really good time to check on the battles that are still going on in the final round!

N.B.: Points reported as of the beginning of ZCT293.

2nd place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
MiDiaN	96 + 9.5 = 105.5	10	2 + 2 = 4	98 + 11.5 = 109.5
Duplode	95 + 7.5 = 102.5	9	3 + 2 = 5	98 + 9.5 = 107.5

A Duplode victory in ZCT293 would leave the gap between him and MiDiaN at either 2 or 1 point, depending on whether MiDiaN ends in second or not, plus any PTB changes in ZCT293. In such a scenario, Duplode would have the advantage in a tiebreaker (two race victories versus one). Still, he would have to bridge this remaining gap through PTB. Looking at the current PTB charts, this battle could be a done deal in a matter of hours...

5th place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
HerrNove	65 + 4.5 = 69.5	5	7 + 2 = 9	72 + 6.5 = 78.5
Alan Rotoi	64 + 4 = 68	3	9 + 2 = 11	73 + 6 = 79

While KyLiE, with 80.5 points at the end of ZCT292, has the fourth place guaranteed, the contest for fifth remains wide open. On the one hand, HerrNove has managed to shore up his challenge over the last couple of races; on the other hand, a gap of a single position could make his 1.5 point advantage over Alan vanish, as the Argentinian pipsqueak has two extra available points. It is also worth noting that should the two of them end up with the same amount of real points, Alan, with one win and two second places up to now, would win the tiebreaker. All that's needed for this battle to really light up is HerrNove to hit the track on ZCT293!

8th to 10th place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Frieshansen	43 + 0.5 = 43.5	1	11 + 2 = 13	54 + 2.5 = 56.5
Zapper	37 + 0.5 = 37.5	2	10 + 2 = 12	47 + 2.5 = 49.5
Overdrijf	33.5	0.7	11.3 + 2 = 13.3	44.8 + 2 = 46.8
Mark Nailwood	32	2	10 + 2 = 12	42 + 2 = 44

All pipsqueaks in this block can still reach the 8th place, but it's a narrow path: Mark Nailwood needs a perfect 14-point race and no additional points for Frieshansen; as for Zapper and Overdrijf, assuming equal PTB on ZCT293 a win by either of them would still need Frieshansen to end no higher than 8th or 11th respectively. In any case, the gaps between 9th and 11th range are smaller than those to Frieshansen just above in 8th. In particular, again assuming equal PTB, a gap of three positions could suffice for Mark Nailwood to climb to 10th, or for Overdrijf to reach 9th. On a busy scoreboard, anything can happen!

Am League, 3rd place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Cas	75	6	6	81
Shoegazing Leo	75	6	6	81

This is not a copy-paste error: the circumstances conspired to bring Cas and Leo to the last round perfectly tied, on a direct fight for the final Am podium spot!

[Current]

Greetings, pipsqueaks! It's that time of the year again: ZakStunts round nine has just finished, which means that, as the picture of discards gets clearer, we have a nice opportunity to look at what lies in store for the battling competitors. So let's do that! 

Meanings of the columns: Current is the sum of points at the end of ZCT290. Discards are the three worst results so far, which may still be discarded. Available is how many additional points a pipsqueak would get with three perfect races at the end of the season, with the discards having been subtracted. Maximum is the maximum possible points, current plus available. The sums in the Current, Available and Maximum columns show the "base points" and PTB components that make up the respective totals.

1st and 2nd places

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Argammon	105 + 7.5 = 112.5	10 + 11 + 12 = 33	3 + 6 = 9	108 + 13.5 = 121.5
MiDiaN	88 + 7.5 = 95.5	4 + 10 + 10 = 24	12 + 6 = 18	100 + 13.5 = 113.5
Duplode	90 + 5.5 = 95.5	8 + 9 + 9 = 26	10 + 6 = 16	100 + 11.5 = 111.5

The fight for the title is still open, but only just. While Duplode can no longer overtake Argammon, MiDiaN remains in contention at the beginning of round ten, largely thanks to having the joint highest PTB tally (7.5). To capture the trophy, he will need not only to win the final three races with Argammon reaching no higher than third place in any of them and no more than 0.5 PTB total, but also to earn the elusive prize of PTB +2 three out of three times. (5 PTB across the final rounds won't be enough, as even if Argammon got no further points, his seven wins guarantee he'd win a tiebreaker at 112.5 points.) Time to keep an eye on those PTB margins...

The overall second place, in contrast, is completely open, with MiDiaN and Duplode tied on total points! MiDiaN, it should be noted, has a significant advantage due to two extra available points. Additionally, KyLiE has mathematical chances of reaching a podium place by overtaking either (or both) of them; the path towards that is about as difficult as MiDiaN's path towards the title.

4th and 5th places

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
KyLiE	72 + 3 = 75	6 + 7 + 7 = 20	16 + 6 = 22	88 + 9 = 97
HerrNove	52.9 + 4 = 56.9	0.9 + 3 + 5 = 8.9	27.1 + 6 = 33.1	80 + 10 = 90
Alan Rotoi	53.6 + 3 = 56.6	0.65 + 0.95 + 2 = 3.6	32.4 + 6 = 38.4	86 + 9 = 95

Just below the podium positions, we have a very interesting three-way contest. While at the moment Alan Rotoi has the lowest total points among this trio, he also has by far the most available points, which makes even a charge towards 4th place, currently in KyLiE's hands, quite plausible. HerrNove, in contrast, might need gaps larger than one position to Alan in the final races if he's to retain the 5th place... unless, that is, in case he builds a sizeable gap in PTB points, something he's been quite adept lately!

7th place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Spoonboy	47 + 1.5 = 48.5	2 + 3 + 5 = 10	26 + 6 = 32	71 + 7.5 = 77.5
Frieshansen	39.8 + 0.5 = 40.3	0.9 + 0.9 + 1 = 2.8	33.2 + 6 = 38.2	73 + 6.5 = 79.5

We might still see a reenactment of 2024's closest end-of-season duel. While Spoonboy has gotten the upper hand over the last few rounds, Frieshansen has an ample margin of available points to close down the gap and fight for 7th place overall.

9th place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Mortimer McMire	31.95 + 0.5 = 32.45	0.95 + 1 + 2 = 3.95	32.05 + 6 = 38.05	64 + 6.5 = 70.5
Zapper	30	1 + 1 + 3 = 5	31 + 6 = 37	61 + 6 = 67

While Mortimer has done steady work over the last several races to consolidate his provisional 9th place, it's still all to play for. A 3-0 head-to-head in favour of Zapper over the final races could bring the gap to half a point. In such a scenario, the PTB +0.5 Zapper is in the cusp of reaching could prove crucial...

Am League, 1st place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
HerrNove	104	10 + 11 + 11 = 32	4	108
Mortimer McMire	94	9 + 10 + 10 = 29	7	101

Congratulations to HerrNove for having mathematically assured the 2025 Am League title! The scenario is remarkably similar to Argammon versus MiDiaN on the overall scoreboard, except that in this case there's no PTB to allow Mortimer a final charge against the odds.

Am League, 3rd place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Cas	75	6 + 7 + 7 = 20	16	91
Shoegazing Leo	65	5 + 6 + 7 = 19	17	82

Cas is close to reaching the Am League 3rd place that escaped him at the very last moment of the previous season. A 3rd place and two 4th places will suffice to keep him ahead of Leo.

I will kick-start the proceedings by announcing that Cork's Crew is retaining our title-winning lineup: Duplode, Mortimer McMire, Overdrijf and Spoonboy, plus Bonzai Joe and Zak McKracken. Let the games begin!

[Current]

The deadline of the ninth race in September is an important moment in a ZakStunts season. Since the three worst results of each pipsqueak are discarded, it is only with three rounds remaining that a definite picture of what each competitor needs to reach their goals becomes possible. That being so, let's use that opportunity see how the various battles across the season scoreboards are playing out!

Meanings of the columns: Current is the sum of points at the end of ZCT278. Discards are the three worst results so far, which may still be discarded. Available is how many additional points a pipsqueak would get with three perfect races at the end of the season, with the discards having been subtracted. Maximum is the maximum possible points, current plus available. The sums in the Current, Available and Maximum columns show the "base points" and LTB components that make up the respective totals.

1st place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Duplode	101 + 6 = 107	8 + 10 + 11 = 29	7 + 6 = 13	114 + 6 = 120
Alan Rotoi	97 + 5 = 102	9 + 9 + 11 = 29	7 + 6 = 13	109 + 6 = 115

The ZakStunts title will return to South America in 2024, in the hands of either Alan Rotoi or Duplode. The Brazilian is currently 5 points ahead of his Argentinian rival. That is a considerable advantage at this stage of the season, specially considering the two of them are tied when it comes to available points (seven points plus LTB). The three-point swing in ZCT278 suddenly looks very significant! Still, the title race is far from over. In particular, Alan can catch Duplode without depending on others' results by attaining three victories and a two-point LTB advantage in the final races.

3rd place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Frieshansen	71 + 3 = 73	6 + 6 + 6 = 18	18 + 6 = 24	91 + 6 = 97
Spoonboy	70	4 + 7 + 7 = 18	18 + 6 = 24	88 + 6 = 94
Zapper	68 + 1 = 69	6 + 7 + 7 = 20	16 + 6 = 22	85 + 6 = 91
Mark Nailwood	68	4 + 6 + 6 = 16	20 + 6 = 26	88 + 6 = 94

We're in for a spectacular four-way battle for the final podium place in the 2024 season! Frieshansen has a decent head start by being three points ahead of his closest rival. Spoonboy and Mark Nailwood are in a virtual tie, with the former two points ahead but the latter having two extra available points in hand, while Zapper is in a slightly more difficult position due to having two fewer available points than Frieshansen or Spoonboy. In any case, it's all to play for, and one race result (or a single LTB point!) might change everything.

7th place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Erik Barros	44 + 1 = 45	1 + 2 + 3 = 6	30 + 6 = 36	75 + 6 = 81
dreadnaut	43	1 + 3 + 3 = 7	29 + 6 = 35	72 + 6 = 78

In another close battle, we have two Doubleplusspeed teammates vying for the overall seventh place. At the moment, Erik is two points ahead of dreadnaut on the season scoreboard and has one more available point over the final races. Nonetheless, the margins feel narrow, and a strong result from either of them could prove decisive.

9th place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Overdrijf	31 + 1 = 32	0 + 0 + 1 = 1	35 + 6 = 41	67 + 6 = 73
Ryoma	32	2 + 2 + 3 = 7	29 + 6 = 35	61 + 6 = 67

Overdrijf and Ryoma are currently tied at 9th place on the season scoreboard. On the one hand, the Cork's Crew driver has six more points in play than his French opponent, which could provide him an important advantage over the final rounds. On the other hand, Ryoma is carrying good momentum over the last several races. It will likely take another round for the direction this battle will take to become clearer.

Am League, 1st place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Ryoma	92	9 + 9 + 9 = 27	9	101
Mortimer McMire	73	0 + 7 + 7 = 14	22	95

Ryoma is in a very strong position in the fight for the Amateur League title, with a win and a third place over the final three races being enough to secure his overall victory. The only other pipsqueak with a chance in this battle is the steadily improving Mortimer McMire. Having joined the competition in the second round, Mortimer has a large amount of available points that keeps him in contention for the title. His path towards that, however, is a narrow one which depends on combinations of results across the final races.

Am League, 3rd place

Räcer	Current	Discards	Available	Maximum
Spoonboy	81	N/A (graduated)	0	81
Cas	74	6 + 7 + 7 = 20	16	90
Shoegazing Leo	72	7 + 7 + 8 = 22	14	86

Cas is the favourite for the final Am League podium place, being expected to reach the points total of already graduated Spoonboy. Shoegazing Leo can still do likewise; however, being two points behind the Rolling Stunts driver in both current and available points, he needs a strong run of results in the final races. A second place and two third places, for instance, would suffice for him to draw with Spoonboy.