10th April 2010, Dubai. Xcat Middle East Championships. Final lap ends in drama for Nicolini Offshore as Extreme Marine; driven by Rashid Al Marri confidently wins heat 2 of the UIM Xcat Middle East Powerboat Championships at Dubai International Marine Club with Fazza 3 and Abu Dhabi Racing team 1 second and third.
Today’s race started with an early lead for Extreme Marine who then dominated the race with speeds in excess on 100 mph. ‘We want to be number 1 in every race,’ said a happy Rashid Al Marri on receiving his trophy. Victory’s Fazza 3, driven by Nadir Bin Hendi and Arif Al Zafeen couldn’t match the speed of the winning boat although at times they narrowed the gap and it was the same story for Abu Dhabi Racing Team 1 who had high hopes of a win after Ahmed Al Hamli’s success in the Wooden Powerboat race yesterday.
Fazza 33 had technical trouble on the first lap and had to retire leaving Arif and Nadir to fly the Victory flag. ‘We haven’t had much time to work on the boats,’ said Arif. ‘We didn’t think we would be able to race today until half an hour before the race started, so we are really pleased to have done do well.’ Lux Media Offshore, driven by American Mike Seebold and French Michel Karsenti who came second in the last heat had a fight on their hands after sitting in sixth place on the first lap. They managed to pass Pro Marine and Nicolini Offshore in the fourth lap to take fourth place overall.
The USA match of Grant Bruggemann and Gary Ballough in Pro Marine did well to keep Mohammed Al Rais and Mohammad Al Nassers Qatar Team at bay as the Qataris got closer to the Americans on each lap and finished with less than a boat length between them in fifth and sixth place.
But drama over shadowed the finish, which was called in the last lap by the now common raising of the red flag to stop the race. A touch between the Italian Nicolini Offshore and the French - Italian Decomania in cornering caused the Italian boat turn over. Pilots Matteo and Luca Nicolini emerged unscathed from the up side down boat from the compulsory second hatch to the waiting rescue team. Safety and rescue have always been paramount to the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) and Dubai International Marine Club, but safety has come under severe scrutiny recently due to the tragic Class 1 accident last year. The result of the accident meant changes, mainly to the cockpit area to make it stronger to protect the pilots. Indeed over the last couple of races where two boats have over turned the pilots have commented how they didn’t even get wet as they emerged from the secure cockpit area. The course has also come under scrutiny and the organizers have worked hard to design a course, which slows the boats down. ‘The course design has been controversial and some teams are unhappy with it,’ said Rory Power, Race Director (WPPA). ‘Teams want to control their own speed, which is all very well but as organizers we are adamant that safety comes first. As organizers we also have to find ways to control negativity that may accompany what may seem to some as over zealous safety decisions and not over react. The combination of strengthening the cockpit, a modified course and the red flag to stop the race are the key elements of the new rules which have already proved very effective,’ he added.
Provisional Results:
1st. 11 Extreme Marine, Rashid Al Marri & Salem Fadel Al Hamli
2nd. 3 Fazza, Nadir Bin Hendi & Arif Al Zafeen
3rd. 4 Abu Dhabi Racing Team 1, Ahmed Ali Al Hamli & Rashid Jaber Al Hamli
4th 96 Lux Media Offshore, Mike Seebold & Michel Karsenti
5th. 94 Qatar Team, Mohammed Al Rais & Mohammad Al Nasser
** photos were provided by Dubai International Marine Club ***
Today’s race started with an early lead for Extreme Marine who then dominated the race with speeds in excess on 100 mph. ‘We want to be number 1 in every race,’ said a happy Rashid Al Marri on receiving his trophy. Victory’s Fazza 3, driven by Nadir Bin Hendi and Arif Al Zafeen couldn’t match the speed of the winning boat although at times they narrowed the gap and it was the same story for Abu Dhabi Racing Team 1 who had high hopes of a win after Ahmed Al Hamli’s success in the Wooden Powerboat race yesterday.
Fazza 33 had technical trouble on the first lap and had to retire leaving Arif and Nadir to fly the Victory flag. ‘We haven’t had much time to work on the boats,’ said Arif. ‘We didn’t think we would be able to race today until half an hour before the race started, so we are really pleased to have done do well.’ Lux Media Offshore, driven by American Mike Seebold and French Michel Karsenti who came second in the last heat had a fight on their hands after sitting in sixth place on the first lap. They managed to pass Pro Marine and Nicolini Offshore in the fourth lap to take fourth place overall.
The USA match of Grant Bruggemann and Gary Ballough in Pro Marine did well to keep Mohammed Al Rais and Mohammad Al Nassers Qatar Team at bay as the Qataris got closer to the Americans on each lap and finished with less than a boat length between them in fifth and sixth place.
But drama over shadowed the finish, which was called in the last lap by the now common raising of the red flag to stop the race. A touch between the Italian Nicolini Offshore and the French - Italian Decomania in cornering caused the Italian boat turn over. Pilots Matteo and Luca Nicolini emerged unscathed from the up side down boat from the compulsory second hatch to the waiting rescue team. Safety and rescue have always been paramount to the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) and Dubai International Marine Club, but safety has come under severe scrutiny recently due to the tragic Class 1 accident last year. The result of the accident meant changes, mainly to the cockpit area to make it stronger to protect the pilots. Indeed over the last couple of races where two boats have over turned the pilots have commented how they didn’t even get wet as they emerged from the secure cockpit area. The course has also come under scrutiny and the organizers have worked hard to design a course, which slows the boats down. ‘The course design has been controversial and some teams are unhappy with it,’ said Rory Power, Race Director (WPPA). ‘Teams want to control their own speed, which is all very well but as organizers we are adamant that safety comes first. As organizers we also have to find ways to control negativity that may accompany what may seem to some as over zealous safety decisions and not over react. The combination of strengthening the cockpit, a modified course and the red flag to stop the race are the key elements of the new rules which have already proved very effective,’ he added.
Provisional Results:
1st. 11 Extreme Marine, Rashid Al Marri & Salem Fadel Al Hamli
2nd. 3 Fazza, Nadir Bin Hendi & Arif Al Zafeen
3rd. 4 Abu Dhabi Racing Team 1, Ahmed Ali Al Hamli & Rashid Jaber Al Hamli
4th 96 Lux Media Offshore, Mike Seebold & Michel Karsenti
5th. 94 Qatar Team, Mohammed Al Rais & Mohammad Al Nasser
** photos were provided by Dubai International Marine Club ***
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