Cup Challenge

By virtue of a tiebreaker, BMW Oracle Racing was back in sole possession of the lead Friday in Louis Vuitton Cup sail racing to determine the challenger for the America’s Cup.

* Highlights: BMW Oracle’s USA-98 beat Luna Rossa, the Italian boat that had been tied for the lead with the Americans. Each team has 29 points, but USA-98 now has beaten Luna Rossa twice and holds the tiebreaker. The 19-second victory was the U.S. team’s third consecutive come-from-behind win.

* Lowlights: Another Italian team, Mascalzone Latino, committed its third rules violation by altering its rigging during a race against Desafio Espanol. Mascalzone Latino was fined $13,560 and must re-sail the race.

* What’s next: BMW Oracle will race eighth-place Areva Challenge of France today.

* Quote of the day: “Success breeds confidence and so do come-from-behind wins. We would like to get an easy match sometime.”

-- Peter Isler, navigator of BMW Oracle racing.

STANDINGS

*--* Boat Pts 1t. BMW Oracle Racing 29 1t. Luna Rossa Challenge 29 3. Emirates Team New Zealand 28 4. Desafio Espanol 2007 23 5. Victory Challenge 22 6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia 18 7. Team Shosholoza 16

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