TEAM NEWS: A GONG TEAM THAT BOUNCES BACK IN TURKEY!
The GONG team bounces back with several heat wins on the second day of the Formula Wing European Championship after a first day marked by an unwelcome surprise.
The Formula Wing European Championship kicked off on Tuesday for our team riders. The first day was made technically challenging for all competitors due to light winds. However, the real challenge for our team came from a severe and unexpected blow: the theft of a large part of their equipment.
Indeed, Charlie Baruzzi and Francesco Cappuzzo discovered upon arriving at the competition site that several board bags stored the night before had vanished. A catastrophic scenario, just as the competition was about to begin. With the help of their GONG teammate Bastien Escofet, they managed to line up at the start under extremely stressful circumstances for the whole team.
Two long-distance races were launched, but this misfortune demonstrated that at this level, being 100% focused and in perfect harmony with your gear is crucial — something our team riders were robbed of. Bastien felt the impact, finishing 18th in the first heat before bouncing back with an impressive 3rd place. Francesco managed a 7th and then a 10th place — hats off given the conditions.
Racing Resumes
On Wednesday, the competition had been paused due to a lack of wind. Yesterday, the wind finally returned, allowing for six consecutive races — a great opportunity for our team riders to climb back up the rankings after a first day made difficult by the theft of their equipment.
As a reminder, the first eight races are used to calculate an average score, with the two worst results being dropped. The top 20 riders then advance to the Gold Fleet, where new races are held. The resulting standings determine the top 9 who qualify for the Medal Series. A “golden ticket” is also available through a long-distance race reserved for non-qualifiers.
At the end of the day, Bastien is 4th overall with an outstanding performance: two victories and two more races finishing in the top 2! Francesco is also climbing the rankings, currently sitting in 7th place, with one win, a top-3 finish, and two top-4s. It's been a tougher competition for Charlie, who is currently 7th among the women, despite a strong 3rd-place finish.
With the competition format still wide open, anything is possible. Follow the rest of the championship on Wing Foil Racing.
Wing foiler: Bastien Escofet, GONG team rider, with a Racer FSP Pro, Pulse Race, and Ypra Race.
Wing Pulse Race Aramid CZ
