VICTORY TEAM STORM INTO FIRST PLACE ON THE AGEAN SEAS

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*TURKISH GRAND PRIX MAY SIGNAL WIND OF CHANGE IN THE HUNT FOR THE TITLE

IZMIR, (TURKEY): Victory Team’s Ali Nasser and Ali Al Qama put a halt to Spirit of Norway’s succession of wins yesterday (7^th September) with the fastest run of 1 minute and 55.24 seconds during Heat 5 of the Turkish Grand Prix Pole Position race.

Teammates Saeed H. Al Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri made it a double blue visit to the podium the 3rd fastest run of 1 minute and 56.45 seconds. Sandwiched in the middle and breaking up the two blue boats came Steve Curtis and Bjorn Gjelsten in Spirit of Norway lying in 2^nd  with a fastest run of 1 minute and 55.45 seconds.

“We are really pleased. Just to break the winning streak of Steve Curtis and Bjorn Gelsten in Spirit of Norway is an accomplishment. This will give us a boost for tomorrow’s line up.” said Ali Nasser, two time World Champion and driver for Victory 7.

Managing Director for Dubai ’s Victory Team, Khalfan Harib said. “We are very optimistic. One of our main problems this season was with the starts and turns.” This morning saw the blue boats out on the waters practicing; a task which obviously paid dividends on the Agean Sea today- especially considering the tricky 90 degree bend coming into the wind on the inside leg of the pole position. “We had a very successful test this morning and the boys are really looking forward to tomorrows race to compensate for our race results recently.”

Yesterday’s win for Victory Team proved that when it comes to the rough, they like to play tough. Rough seas and windy conditions are ideally suited to the big blue boats and the hopes in the Victory camp is that this week’s less then ideal sea conditions last for today’s race. Although the rough may require more concentration and proves extremely tiring for competitors, it also proves more of a level playing field and many prefer it. “When the sea is flat calm, the first one out of the start and with the best set up dictates the entire race.” said Mohammed Al Marri, driver for Victory 1. “The advantage comes at the start with the fastest acceleration, so flat calm can make it hard for the challengers to pull past.”

First out of the pits went Championship leaders, Spirit of Norway. Despite two propeller changes in the hopes of attaining a faster speed, they weren’t quite able to match the blistering pace later set by the two Ali’s in their Lamborghini powered boat.

Another repeat visitor to the pits yesterday, Victory 1 also opted to size up on their propeller choice between runs. “Our time was improving but not enough to beat the Spirit and our teammates. However, we are really pleased that it was a ‘Victory’ result out there today, as that is what really counts. Tomorrow (today) we hope for another blue top spot, but maybe a different number then today.” said a grinning Al-Tayer.

As the conditions changed in the 60-minute time trial, propeller choice was a tough call for the teams. Ali Nasser said. “We were fortunate that we chose the ideal set up for the conditions out there today. Our propeller selection was spot on and Al Qama did a great job out there. Let’s hope for the same tomorrow.”

In the chasing pack, just off the podium in 4^th place was the red boat Jotun who proved that lady luck was still in their corner with a smooth and flawless run of 2 minutes and 1.72 seconds. Happy to be back in the saddle again after in injury enforced time out of 3 month, throttleman Jann Hilstad said. “We seem to have sorted out our early season problems.” The conditions for the big Seatek diesel powered boat proved ideal and the remainder of the season could well see the Norwegians back on the podium again. 

The Australian boat Riviera chose to hold back in today’s pole rather then risk the boat and were content with a 5^th place position after their customary two runs.

Highlanders mistaken thoughts of flat seas may have seen them over propped yesterday, despite a valiant effort by Finish new comer to offshore, Renny Brombin, and their best run saw them come in with 2 minute and 9 second finish and a 6^th place finish.

Italian Mateo Nicolini and German Bernard Bellman in ECS’s hopes for a good result were dashed today due to a lost propeller air intake hose that came loose in the milling area pre-pole. “We have replaced the hose, so we look forward to tomorrows race where we are hoping to break our spell of bad luck.” said Mateo Nicolini. 

Current Pole champions, Britain ’s Steve Curtis and Norways Bjorn Gelsten still hold onto first place in the overall pole position championship points with 95 points. Lying in second place and looking to steal the lead, Ali Nasser and Al Qama in Victory 7 has 71 points. Lying in third, Saeed H. Al-Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri in Victory 1 stay firmly perched with 63 points.

The rest of the pack will be aiming to better their performance during today’s race and the results may well witness some changes in the championship standings due to the change in sea conditions proving more suitable to certain boats.