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Sail-World.com : 2009 - Victory Team’s Grand Slam Championship winning year
2009 - Victory Team’s Grand Slam Championship winning year
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'Victory Team - Alongside the ingredients of carbon Kevlar, resin and honey comb that go into a race boat, there is also a healthy sprinkling of determination, dedication and hard work - the all important formula for a successful racing season. ’Made in Dubai’ from mould to final rigging, Victory Team boats are true blue thanks to the synchronized efforts of all members of the team. Mohammad Al Mehairi and Jean-Marc Sanchez will always be remembered.'
Dubai Victory Team
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For the first time since joining the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship in 1993, 2009 saw the Victory Team achieve the Grand Slam of all four titles in the same year, winning the World, European, Middle East and Edox Pole Position Championships.
But their year was shrouded in sadness and ended in tragedy with the loss of the lives of pilots, Mohammad Al Mehairi and Jean-Marc Sanchez in a high-speed racing accident on Friday, 11 December, in the Dubai Grand Prix.
Where words fail, the most appropriate tribute to Mohammad and Jean-Marc and accolades to the Victory Team are to simply document their success in 2009 and their unprecedented achievements in Class 1.
Winning all races in 2009, seven to Fazza’s Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi and two to Victory 1’s Mohammad Al Mehairi and Jean-Marc Sanchez, the title race swung one way then another, with Fazza and Victory 1 swapping places at the top of the Championship standings race-by-race.
The team entered a third boat mid-season, with former Champion, Mohammed Al Marri returning to action to partner Abdullah Al Mehairbi and Marwan Al Ayali – taking podium finishes with both.
With two wins and two second-places, the first silverware and title of 2009, went to Mohammad and Jean-Marc, lifting the European Championship in Stresa at the Italian Grand Prix.
But it was Fazza’s imperious form throughout 2009, seven wins from nine starts plus dominating in qualifying with four fastest times from six, that saw Arif and Nadir crowned World, Middle East and Edox Pole Position Champions.
For Victory Team it was their first Grand Slam year, giving the Dubai-based team a remarkable ninth Class 1 World Championship, a sixth European, a fourth Middle East and a seventh Pole Position Championship.
2009 Class 1 World, Middle East, Edox Pole Position Champions
Arif Al Zafeen (UAE) / Nadir Bin Hendi (UAE)
2009 Class 1 European Champions
Mohammad Al Mehairi (UAE) / Jean-Marc Sanchez (FRA)
Victory Team Statistics
World Champions: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1995, 1994, 1993
European Champions: 2009, 2007, 2004, 2001, 2000, 1999
Middle East Champions: 2009, 2008, 2005, 2002
Pole Position Champions: 2009, 2008, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1994, 1993
Grand Prix wins: 73
Pole Position wins: 45
Podium finishes: 121
www.class-1.com
by Class 1 News
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http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=65142
11:14 AM Tue 5 Jan 2010 GMT
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