Qatar 95 surprise winner of Dubai Grand Prix

by Class 1 media on 14 Dec 2008
A phenomenal season finale saw Abdullah Al-Sulaiti and Matteo Nicolini in Qatar 95, come from fourth place on the start grid to stun newly crowned World Champions Mohammed Al Marri and Nadir Bin Hendi, in the Emirates & Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix to take their first win of the season.

Qatar 95, who had been fast all weekend, flew out of the blocks and was able to catch and overtake both Victory boats in a show of power and speed, within the first lap and a half of the race. 'It was important that we ended the season with something to show for all our efforts,' said Al-Sulaiti. 'We expected it to be rough and the conditions really suited us and the boat.'
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Victory 1, who led from the flag, had to watch as both Qatar boats and then Jotun passed them, but had the reliability to finish second and complete a highly successful year, ending the season as World, Middle East and Edox Pole Position Champions, and they will remain the team to beat in 2009.

Abdullah Al Mehairbi and Jean-Marc Sanchez in Victory 7, started well but had to settle for third place as they once again finished on the podium.

For the third successive race in a row Qatar 96 were forced to retire from a leading position. A damaged propeller on lap four ended their hopes of ending the season with a win, rounding off another frustrating race to cap a highly disappointing year for Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis.

There was also huge frustration for Jotun’s Jorn Tanberg and Inge Brigt Aarbakke, who, after moving from fifth place into second spot to mount a challenge on the race leaders, saw any hopes of a race win disappear after losing a propeller.

A good weekend for Roscioli Hotels Roma, was topped off with a top four finish as the pairing of Sergio Mora Carrasco and Giovanni Carpitella improved on their fifth place grid placing to take a season best fourth place.

Foresti & Suardi enjoyed a race-long fight with Negotiator, and held them off to take fifth place and finish the season with their highest-ever points tally, with the new pairing of Ahmed Al Suwaidi and Nicola Giorgi coming home in seventh ahead of Spirit of Spain.

The young Maritimo crew saw their race end in a dramatic fashion after a big spin in the latter stages of the race, and although the boat was badly damaged, the crew came away with just a few bruises.

Emirates & Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix - race results
1. Qatar 95 - A Al-Sulaiti (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) – 01.01.02,79
2. Victory 1 - M Al Marri (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) + 00.08,56
3. Victory 7 - A Al Mehairbi (UAE) / JM Sanchez (FR) + 00.51,49
4. Roscioli Hotels Roma 88 - S Carrasco (ESP) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 01.57,56
5. Foresti & Suardi 8 - K Selmer (NOR) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 02.31,60
6. Negotiator 50 - C Parsonage (GB) / W Moore (US) + 02.51,11
7. Giorgioffshore 18 – A Al Suwaidi (UAE) / N Giorgi (ITA) – 03.35,77
8. Spirit of Spain 60 M A Ahmed (ESP) / Christian Rivolta (ITA) + 2 laps
9. Jotun 90 - IB Aarbakke (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) + 3 laps
Maritimo 11 - T Barry-Cotter (AUS) / PV Nilsen (NOR) – dnf
Qatar 96 - H Al-Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (GB) – dnf

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - after round 8 of 8
1. Victory 1 – 144pts 2. Victory 7 – 121pts 3. Qatar 95 – 105pts 4. Qatar 96 – 75pts 5. Jotun 90 – 70pts 6. Foresti & Suardi 8 – 66pts 7. Giorgioffshore 18 – 32pts 8. Roscioli Hotels Roma 88 – 28pts 9. Negotiator 50 – 25pts 10. Spirit of Spain – 60 7pts 10. Qatar 9 – 4pts
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