-No, Mr. Jenkins, I am certain with my decision, and honestly think it was the best for the team as well- Ayr was leaning on his gravflyer at the parking lot
-I know, you won't change but I had to give it a try. So how is it going, have you finished the final details?, is it what you have expected?- Mr. Jenkins asked, he cared for Ayr, they had been through a lot together.
-Honestly, it is more work that I had ever imagined, but I am loving every minute of it. Thank you again Mr. Jenkins, I know you did a lot in convincing the committee for my application. I hoped, I haven't placed you on a though spot with the management-
-That is enough Ayr, there is no need to thank me, you did all the job. I only helped the undecided, to make up their minds. Frederich helped as well, the team owed you, I only hope we won't regret helping you-
-It will be hard for me, competing against you-
-Yeah right, like I would believe that. Do not forget to come to Molly's birthday-
-Don't worry, I would never missed it. Talk to you soon Mr. Jenkins-
-Drive fast Ayr, oh, and Chief Lasaine wishes for your engines to burn mid race, I almost forgot about that-
-Hahahaha, tell him, he should adjust the breaks for your new pilot, and that would be my latest contribution for the team, take care Mr. Jenkins- Ayr ended the call.
He took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. He had somehow managed to get a spot as a new team, for this season. The news would be made known on the inscription deadline. It had been one of the conditions he had agreed. He could not find sponsors before the announcement it was one of the conditions as well, he had applied as a financially capable team. Ever since the start of his career he had thought about building his own team. Now, he had a team, he just needed to make it the best.
He took his pcom, and send a message. "Where are you, I already arrived at the workshop?".
A quick beep sounded a few seconds later as a reply, "Almost there, I kinda lost myself with all those wheat fields".
Ayr laughed at the message, "I am on the parking lot".
Ayr had only 2 months before the season started, he have had to wait for the team authorization by the MAC Pro Circuit Committee, before he could start recruiting for certain positions. The MPC had 16 teams, each with 3 pilots, at the end of each season, the last 2 teams went to the MPC Ascending League, in turn, the winner of the league, had a spot for the MPC Masters League as the 15 team for next season.
The last team, had to applied directly to the committee. The committee reviewed the applications and after some deliberation decided who the new team would be. Ayr had applied for a team position this way, and had been granted the authorization. He had to complete the team as fast as he could. He had always thought of creating a team, and after a few seasons, he had known who he wanted as a coach.
When the season 67 started, team Gauss Relay, was once again ready for greatness, they had almost made and historic result last season. Vander had recuperated and was on his top form, Lance was looking like a hungry beast, the championship escaping from him in the end. Ayr the rookie, had won the fans with his heart felt apology and honest approach, he made mistakes like everyone else, but he learnt from them. The team was ready.
For many, season 67 was one of the best in MAC history. On the 12 track of the season, each track have had a different winner, 6 teams were competing for the top spots but many could still get inside those places, more surprisingly however, not one driver had established a lead. The second half of that season was a pure adrenaline, usually by the half of the seasons, teams had a clear position on what places they could achieved, and concentrate on those, that season everyone could snatch a highers a place.
Before the start on track 19, Gauss Relay had and incredible position, Lance was placed 2nd on the board, Vander was on 4th and Ayr had managed to reach 6th. This was the best team in the history of Gauss Relay.
The 19 race started, by the 3rd lap Vander was behind Lance, they were chasing the 1st position. On lap 10, Ayr managed to reach 5th place. Vander and Lance were really close to the 1st place, however the 4th was closing to them. The team decided that Vander would try to slow the 4th so that Lance could take on the first.
On the 12 lap, Lance was behind the 1st and was trying to force an overtake. Vander had managed to slow the 4th, and Ayr was getting closer to them. The track was on Eta Ro, a cold planet, which form time to time, messed with the MAC engines. Pilots had to be careful about the temperature, the safest trick was to make quick bursts so that the engines would generate extra heat, but you usually lost speed.
On the 17 lap, Ayr was tailing the 4th and Lance was still chasing the 1st. Vander felt his MAC was too cold, he reported he would make a fast burst, the coach ordered him to wait, Ayr might be able to overtake the 4th, and then cover for him, Ayr was certain that on the next lap he would get the chance. The coach noted Lance MAC temperature and was a bit more cold that Vander, he was already tailing the 1st, but he could have a malfunction, Vander had given him enough space and he could make the quick burst to rise the engine temperature, he would fall a bit behind, but the 1st would have the need to do the same shortly, and he could probably overtake him there.
Lance refused, on the middle part of the track, there was a jump over a waterfall. Lance was a incredible pilot on those long jumps with no gravity, he was certain he could overtake the 1st, and maintain the lead. The coach argued with him but Lance paid no heed.
When the jump came, Lance was paralleled to the 1st place, he positioned his MAC on a angle that would make his MAC touch the ground faster, and take the 1st spot. He had reach first, but when he accelerated, his thrusters failed. The 1st landed next to him and left him behind, his MAC was losing power, and he was now trying to reignite the engines so that they reach a higher temperature, and regain his speed, but the engines were not responding.
Ayr had just overtaken the 4th and was now behind Vander, he would try to slow the 4th so that Vander could protect his engine temperature, they were almost at the jump, Lance was advancing slowly as he was still trying to regain his speed, but was losing his advantages by the second.
Vander used the jump, to overcharge his engine, and not loose any speed, he had reestablished the temperature, as he landed and accelerated. Ayr was trying his best to slow down the 5th, but it was difficult. Right at that moment, the team had the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place, Lance was gonna get passed by Vander in the next seconds, his engine still not responding at maximum speed. The coach made a decision, Ayr would not waste time trying to stop the 5th, he would try to reach Vander. If Lance managed to reactive his MAC, before Ayr passed him, then Ayr would once again, delay the 5th, if not, Lance would instead delay the 5th.
Lance was mad at the decision, but he had gotten himself in that position, he was trying his best to reach top speed but his MAC was still not responding, a few seconds later, Ayr passed him. The 5th was closing in, and he might have been able to delay him, but he was too proud. He once more make a few more burst to re heat the engine, at the cost of him dropping to the 5th, until finally managing to settle the temperature, the 6st however was now tailing him.
Vander was closing on the 1st, with Ayr a few seconds behind him. The 1st place would probably need to adjust his temperature as well soon. They were now on the 23 lap of 24. The 1st would probably use the same thing Vander did, and wait for the jump to reheat his engine. Vander was tailing him, and Ayr was on their tail as well. Lance had dropped to the 5th and was struggling with not being overtaken.
The jump was close by, Vander and Ayr were almost parallel, and on the 1st tail. After the jump came a turn, Ayr suggested Vander should try to land as close to the turn as possible, and that Ayr would take the middle, they would probably pass the 1st on the Jump as he would reheat his engine, if they could cover the turn, the 1st would have to take the farthest part of the turn.
The jump came, and as supposed the 1st lost some speed, Vander quickly taking his position and taking the place closest to the turn, Ayr however landed just a fraction of a second earlier that the now 2nd place, and quickly covered behind Vander, taking the 2nd position for himself.
They ended the race on a 1st and 2nd, Lance however finished 6th. The team positions changed, with Vander taking 2nd place on the board and Lance falling to 5th, Ayr reached 4th. After the race the coach changed to race plan. Vander would be the focus of the team, Lance would be his second, even tough he was a place behind Ayr, he was the star pilot, and Ayr would keep covering them.
Tracks 21 and 22; Vander ended them in 2nd, and 3rd, Lance took 1st and 4th and Ayr finished 4th and 5th. Vander was now tied on the 1st place, Lance was 3rd and Ayr 4th on the board. The next track however was the Beta Prime Farmlands Classic. Ayr had won that track for 2 consecutive years. The team would focus on Vander, and on that track Ayr would be the second, Lance covering for them. If they could take the first 3 places, the championship would be practically in their hands. Lance was not happy with the team decision.
The season 67 Beta Prime Farmlands Classic had the fastest race time of the track history. As the race started, Vander took the 1st position, Ayr was 3rd and Lance 4th. The first sixths positions had quickly separated form the rest. The Gauss Relay team looked dominant, however Lance was not doing his part, onstead he was tailing Ayr, and looking for a chance to overtake him.
Vander was having troubles on keeping himself from his chaser. The coach was mad, and screaming at Lance, if he delayed the 5th, Ayr could help Vander, but Lance paid no heed. He was dead set on surpassing the rookie. The track was second on the number of turns, and had a continuous set of 6 turn before a straight at the end of it. Ayr had proved to be incredible at those turns, which had been the reason he had won the race twice.
Lance was certain he could overtake Ayr before those turns and prevent him for overtaking him, last year, on the track, Ayr had passed him by the middle of the race, he had not been able to secure a better place and finished 5th. This time however he was doing a better time.
The 5th was tailing him and Ayr, they were about to pass a turn, and a straight before the last set of turns. Ayr slowed a little, and Lance passed him, as well as the 5th. They were almost parallel just as they entered the series of turns.
Lance took the first turn with no problems, but as he reached the second, he felt he was too fast, he was being dominated by the turn, the same happened to the 4th place, as he entered the 3rd turn, he had to break. Ayr passed them both, in a second taking the turns like a monster, Lance could not reach him again.
On lap 22, Ayr and Vander were on 2nd and 3rd, they were tailing the 1st, who had managed to pass Vander. As they approached the last series of turns, they all entered at top speed, but only Ayr was able to keep abou the same speed and quickly passed them. He ended the race 1st, and with the fastest recorded time on the track to date. Vander finished 2nd, taking the spot on the last turn. Lance finished 5th again.
They entered the last track of the season with Vander as 1st place on the board, and Ayr on 3rd, Lance had fallen to 5th. At the end of the 67 season, Vander Meir, lifted the championship. Ayr had finished 3rd, and Lance 6th, that was the best result in the history of team Gauss Relay.