THE MONSOON CUP
The fierce racing at the Portimao Portugal Match Cup reflects a fascinating 2011 Tour. Photo: Chris Davies - WMRT
It’s a desperate situation when you consider the early season ambitions. In sixth place on 74 points, Damien Iehl told us before Match Race France; “The objective is simple – it’s just the title.” Johnie Berntsson, now in seventh on 73.2 points, was only a little less punchy; “We have won Tour events but now we want the World Championship.” Back in eighth on 71.2 points - and for some pundits the pre-season favourite - Jesper Radich reckoned; “My goal is to win it.”
And then we come to last year’s nearly man – Mathieu Richard – who came so close to the title in 2010 (not for the first time), before losing it to Ben Ainslie on the final weekend of the season. Now Richard is languishing in ninth with 69.6 pts and had to rely on a wildcard invite to compete in Malaysia. But at
the start of the year he wanted, “... to win the Championship.” He’s surely failed in that task, but the fact that he could still recover to a podium position says a lot for how tight this year’s Tour has been.
If there’s one man who is guaranteed disappointment it’s Tour rookie, Phil Robertson. Sitting on just 56 pts and off the back of the pack by almost 14 points, Robertson has had a tough opening year. And he too had set his targets high. “Making the top six is a realistic goal, but recently we’ve upped it to top three...” Robertson still scored a third in Germany and has the talent and the motivation to make a splash at the final event of the season. After all, the jostling for next season’s precious Tour Cards is about to start the process all over again...
PIERRE ORPHANIDIS “I can’t help but feel disappointed by the performance of my two fellow French Tour Card holders,
Mathieu Richard and Damien Iehl - in particular Richard. He hasn’t won any Tour events this year and three sevenths, one fifth and a third is certainly not the performance needed to be crowned Match Racing World Champion. I don’t think the Tour podium will be different from the current top three, and if I had to pick this year’s champion I’d bet on Mirsky.”
DOBBS DAVIS “I think Bruni has so far over-delivered; to be in the runner- up spot in only his second Tour season is as meteoric a climb
as the Young Guns did a few years ago. Under-delivering for me has been Mathieu Richard, with only one podium finish. I think the final top three will be: Williams, Richard, and Bruni - but not necessarily in that order!”
ANDY GREEN “I think Torvar Mirsky has had a particularly strong end to the season. He has a very good chance of taking the World
All nine Tour Card Holders line up for the 2011 season. Photo: Chris Davies - WMRT
MATCH RACING 360° | NOVEMBER 2011
Championship. Obviously Mathieu Richard hasn’t had enough podium finishes this season, after he was challenging for the world title last year. The top three at the end of the year? That’ll be Mirsky, Williams, Bruni - in no particular order!”
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