Apologies for the lengthy delay in getting this written.

V For Vendetta vs. Gabriel V

From Liverpool, England... V For Vendetta!

V For Vendetta is a tough nut to crack with its 10mm thick Titanium plough, 4mm thick Hardox shell, and 6mm thick Hardox wheelguards. The robot is reasonably quick at 14mph and very manoeuvrable thanks to its angled wheels, which are powered by two A28-400 Ampflow motors. Its main weapon is a powerful pneumatic axe running at 725psi.

From Lancaster, England... Gabriel V!

Gabriel V is a triangular wedge shaped robot with two large ears to prevent other robots driving over the top of it. It is armoured in 4mm Hardox with a 5mm aluminium base and 10mm thick tool steel for the nose cone. It is powered by two C40-300 Magmotors to a top speed of 16mph. The main weapon is a front-hinged pneumatic flipper, but Gabriel V can also turn into a thwackbot using its two side spikes.

Roboteers, stand by...

The house robots for this battle will be Mr. Psycho and his pet dog Growler.

3... 2... 1... Activate!

Gabriel V is the first to move off, looking significantly different without its iconic ears, which have been removed for this battle. It's V For Vendetta that lands the first attack, ploughing into the side of Gabriel V before taking a swipe at the yellow robot with its powerful pneumatic axe. The unusual angled shape of Gabriel V appears to simply deflect the blow, though, and Joey drives his robot towards the centre of the arena. Both robots turn to face each other and charge forwards, but V For Vendetta cleverly swerves aside before collision, using its excellent manoeuvrability to plough under the side of Gabriel V again. Lewis tries a different approach this time, and instead of firing the axe, V For Vendetta simply forces Gabriel V across The Battlegrounds and into the CPZ occupied by Mr. Psycho!

The goliath house robot trundles round to meet Gabriel V and unleashes his giant club... which batters against the arena floor. Joey realises that he had a narrow escape there and tries to get Gabriel V out of the CPZ as soon as possible... but V For Vendetta is there to meet it and shoves it right back into Mr. Psycho's territory! This time his accuracy is much better, and Gabriel V is rocked by a huge clubbing blow to the side. V For Vendetta follows this up with a strike of its own axe, but again the angled 4mm Hardox armour provides sufficient protection for the robot from Team Picus. Mr. Psycho looks to land another attack on Gabriel V, but the yellow and black wedge explodes out of the corner, sliding right under V For Vendetta and throws the robot from Liverpool aside with the flipper on its way out of the CPZ.

That was the first time we have seen any sort of offence from Gabriel V in this battle so far - Joey knows his robot is on the back foot and immediately gets Gabriel V back on the attack, just as V For Vendetta self rights. Gabriel V slides the tool steel nose cone under V For Vendetta and pins it against the wall, and after a slight adjustment opens up the flipper! V For Vendetta slams hard against the arena wall but lives to fight another day. It looked as though Gabriel V was trying to throw V For Vendetta over the fence there, but the angles were always against it. That doesn't stop Joey trying again though, as Gabriel V is under again, this time throwing V For Vendetta aside back into Mr. Psycho's CPZ.

The house robot turns, swiping V For Vendetta aside with its giant claw, which allows Lewis to get out of danger straight away. The Team Mechanical Menagerie captain decides to go for a different approach now and heads towards the pit release target. However, Joey has other ideas and attempts to block V For Vendetta off. V For Vendetta isn't going to give up that easily though and begins to shunt Gabriel V across the arena and into the pit release. With the pit beginning to descend and Gabriel V pinned against the wall, V For Vendetta fires its axe, but yet again the attack appears to be ineffective. But perhaps Lewis has something else in mind, as the axe has remained in the fired position here, and V For Vendetta is trying to grapple and turn Gabriel V. Gabriel V is fighting back, trying to gain purchase on the arena floor, but V For Vendetta is in control here and appears to be heading towards the pit... Joey decides to fire the front-hinged flipper on Gabriel V, and this turns out to be a good move, as the flipper forces V For Vendetta's axe grip to retract.

Before Gabriel V can even think about getting away, V For Vendetta ploughs it forwards right on top of the killsaws, which immediately grind into the aluminium base of the robot from Lancaster. Gabriel V seems okay though as it begins to spin on the spot in thwackbot mode, causing V For Vendetta to back off. As Gabriel V gains momentum, V For Vendetta decides to intervene and charges in with the front plough... V For Vendetta is slapped aside by one of the side spikes on Gabriel V, but the defensive spinning has been successfully stopped. Unfortunately for V For Vendetta, it landed right on top of the killsaws, and this time it's the one that gets sliced into. This gives Gabriel V the opportunity to launch an attack, getting in behind V For Vendetta before throwing it head over heels with the flipper. Joey launches his robot in on the attack again, but Gabriel V flies right under V For Vendetta and right onto the edge of the pit!

Gabriel V attacked with such momentum that it just brushed V For Vendetta aside, and without the distinctive ears, Joey and his robot are in real trouble here, as V For Vendetta self rights. Gabriel V just manages to steer itself away from danger as V For Vendetta shunts into it and brings down the axe! The two robots are locked together again, dangerously close to the pit, as a power struggle begins... this time it is Gabriel V that appears to have the advantage, slowly backing V For Vendetta towards the pit, and so Lewis retracts the axe and starts to force Gabriel V back again... but Gabriel V proves to be just too strong and eases V For Vendetta back once more... and into the pit!

Cease!

Gabriel V defeats V For Vendetta and completes our Round 2 line-up!