Tactical move by Victory Team ensures fight to the wire

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With one week to go, the final countdown began in the Qatar yesterday (Friday, 11^th of October) with the Qatar Grand Prix and the penultimate heat in the UIM Class One World Offshore Championship. The 14-lap course on flat seas in the sheltered Doha bay witnessed one of the most riveting final fights between competitors.

Proving to be the biggest upset in the predictor’s last minute forecasts for the championship standings, the Australian Team Riviera proved that all good things come to those who wait.

Off to a roaring start, Bill Barry-Cotter throttled the big Detroit diesel boat to their first top spot on the podium, whilst Peter McGrath drove the team to greater glory in his 3rd race of the season in the cockpit. “We had a great run out there today and a great set of props for the conditions.”

For the Victory Team camp, it was another double blue podium visit with Ali Nasser and Ali Al Qama in Victory 7 clinching the 2^nd place that keeps the hopes alive for the Dubai team’s championship title dreams. Finishing in third, Saeed H. Al-Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri in Victory 1 acted as defenders to the crown; if not for them selves, then for the good of the team. 

Leaders in the championship standings by 16 points, Spirit of Norway finished off yesterdays grand prix in 4^th place. With 20 points still up for grabs, the 2002 title is still to be claimed, although Norway’s Bjorn Gjelsten and Britain’s Steve Curtis are holding favor mathematically. 

In breathtaking heart stopping fashion, the final lap of the 99.4 nautical mile course saw Riviera in an almost catastrophic spin out that saw them stop and drop behind the chasing pack. Amazingly, the big boat was able to throttle on again and get back into their first place running- just moments before the chequered flag. Another position change in the final moments also had Ali Nasser and Ali Al Qama powering past teammates in Victory 1 in a tactical war to accumulate points. Despite an impressive 2^nd place through out the race, Saeed H. Al-Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri’s true sense of the word ‘Team’ shone strongly yesterday when they gifted their 2^nd place to Nasser and Al Qama. “We had a great start. There was a sprint to the first turn that saw us able to outrun Spirit of Norway.” said Al-Tayer. “Bill and Peter were really fast out there today, so we decided to try and apply pressure on them. Although they did make a mistake that saw them spin out, their speed was so fast and they made up for lost ground again and passed us.” Talking of their tactics, Al-Tayer commented. “Our objective was to keep an eye on Spirit of Norway for our teammates in Victory 7. In the last lap we gladly did what we had to do.” In response to this team move, throttleman for Victory 7, Ali Al Qama said. “All I can say to my team mates is thank you.”

In the rest of the pack, Jann Hillestad and Andreas Ugland in their red boat Ugland Jotun placed 5^th in both the Championship and in yesterday’s race.

One place behind in 6^th for yesterdays Grand Prix saw the yellow boat Damas caught in a lonely limbo for most of the race. Kristian Tzanov and Giovanni Carpitella will be aiming to keep ahead of 7^th place finisher’s -but 8^th in the championship- Highlander for next week’s race. Binuatica and Highlander proved to be holding a private two boat battle mid race that finally saw Highlander emerge the victor’s leaving an 8^th place finish to Binautica where they now stand in 9^th in the overall results.

First to retire into the pits suffering from a blown turbo and piston failure were the ill-fated ECS who were unable to complete a lap before problems set in. Following in their fashion were Roscioli who were also forced to a 4^th round retirement with engine problems.

The normally reliable GFN Gibellato with Gianni Giorgi and Giampaolo Montavoci were unable to make yesterdays line up. This costly non-start has seen them drop from 6^th to 7^th in the championship standings.

In the Middle East Championship, the top runners prove to be Victory 7 in 1^st place with Riviera and Spirit of Norway holding in 2^nd. In 4^th place is red boat Jotun followed by Highlander with Victory 1 in equal place with Damas in 6^th. Equal 8^th goes to GFN Gibellato and Binuatica . 10^th place is held by Roscioli Hotels followed by ECS and in last place is the retired boat Reverie.

Next weeks race will have competitors in a desperate fight to the bitter end that will no doubt witness the blue liveried boats refuse to lie down and surrender their title to Spirit of Norway.

For others, the final countdown will be held in terms of minutes as they look to the Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix to be held at the Dubai International Marine Club on the 17-18^th of October as their last chance to climb the points and finish with the best place possible.