WRIGHT’S WORLD TITLE CAMPAIGN TAKES HIT
OWEN Wright’s World Surf League title bid has hit a hurdle after he was knocked out of the J-Bay Open by John John Florence.
The pair’s Round 5 clash could prove crucial the outcome of this year’s title race.
Wright was sitting in equal third place heading into J-Bay but will carry a ninth from the South African event in a blow to his title hopes.
The result does not end his hopes but with equal third-placed competitor Jordy Smith set to carry at least a quarter-final finish from this event and Matt Wilkinson (first) and Florence (second) already in the final eight at the time of going to press, Wright will need to make up ground in the back end of the season.
Wright only returned to the circuit in March after more than a year out battling a serious brain injury following a wipeout at the Pipe Masters in Hawaii in December 2015.
But he set the scene for a fairytale season by winning the season-opening Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks and has continued his strong form throughout the season.
Florence finished with a two-wave total of 16.5 out of 20, with Wright sitting on 14.5 and unable to get the 8.24 score he needed to oust the champ in the final stages of their heat.
Wilkinson holds only a slim lead over Florence in the rankings and needs to finish level with him, or better, to stay ahead in the rankings.
The Byron Bay surfer also holds two poor results – a Round 2 exit at Margaret River and Round 3 defeat at Bells Beach – that he needs to be able to discard at the end of the season, so must continue his consistent run in the back half of the year.
Wilkinson and Florence are likely to face a stern test from Smith though, the South African notching a perfect heat in Round 3 with two 10-point waves.
Four-time champion Mick Fanning also looms large and had pushed through to the quarter-finals last night where he faced former world champion, Brazilian Gabriel Medina.