2009 V8 Superboat World Championships; the clock is ticking...

by Sean Henshelwood on 18 Nov 2009

Phil Dixon will step aside from driving duties to allow V8 Supercar star and reigning Group A world champion Nathan Pretty to tackle the Kiwis head to head in the elite Unlimited class. Sean Henshelwood

Preview: 2009 UIM World Jetsprint Championships - Temora, NSW - November 28-29 2009

We’re now just days away from the opening leg of the 2009 UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) World Jetsprint Championships at Lake Centenary in Temora, with teams all over Australia and New Zealand preparing to head to the ‘friendliest town in NSW’ to settle an age old rivalry; who is the best?

In the Unlimited Superboat class New Zealand are the dominant force, with five time world champion Peter Caughey expected to continue on his winning way. Factor in though reigning International Group A world champion Nathan Pretty, the part-time V8 Supercar pilot [Kelly Racing] stepping up to the elite class of competition this year in the seat normally occupied by Temora promoter and former national champion, Phil Dixon.

Melton’s Ted Sygidus is one of the most explosive Group A drivers in the world, he will be quick at home, and looking to make amends for losing second place in the national championships - 2009 UIM World Jetsprint Championships © Sean Henshelwood

'Look, he’s an exceptional talent, but he’s only human,' Pretty acknowledged. 'There are a lot of good drivers entered in this event alongside Caughey; the reigning Kiwi champion, Caughey’s protege Duncan Wilson and then a whole bunch of incredibly fast Aussies, but it’s Caughey I’m focussed on. He’s the consummate professional; he lives, eats and breathes Superboats - it’s his passion and also his business [Caughey builds and tunes customers Superboats through his business Sprintec, who build many of the leading boats in the world], so he’s where my attention will be.

'Make no mistake, these things aren’t easy to drive, so it will be no cake-walk, anything can happen, but thanks to Phil Dixon who stepped out for this year’s worlds, I’ve got a ride in one of the best boats in the world, so that alone will make life a lot easier.

'I can’t wait,' he grinned, 'bring it on!'

Quite possibly the fastest Superboat driver in the world; Wagga’s Slade Stanley will (notwithstanding mechanical issues) take his second world championship win in Group A - 2009 UIM World Jetsprint Championships © Sean Henshelwood

Whilst no strangers to Jetsprint [Superboat] competition one thing the Kiwis won’t be used to is the heat. 'That could be interesting,' Dixon admitted. 'There have been a string of days now over 40 degrees and we’re struggling in the heat, I can’t imagine how they will go. Fortunately for them it looks like a cool change is coming over Friday night, so the weekend is looking promising.

'We’re ready though, there will be plenty of water on hand to drink, shelters on the side of the hill for people to get out of the sun. On the Saturday too racing will be over early (by 3:00pm) so that the Watersport Expo can get underway, leaving people free to find a nice shady spot under a tree alongside Lake Centenary to watch the myriad of different skiers and boats putting on displays.

'All up we’re very excited about the event. We’ve had interest from all over Australia about the Watersport Expo, with a number of groups actually breaking plans to be here, so we’re really looking forward to it.

'I can’t stress enough how many things will be going on over the two days, in fact starting from Friday night in the main street of Temora it will be all go. There will be something for everyone, from the boats, to the Expo, skydiving, flyovers from Temora Aviation - we’ve got everything. Come along, you’re sure to have a great time.'

’Princess’ 21-year old Brooke Dixon might be named Princess, but the two time 2009 Group A winner is also as sharp as they come and keen to back up her March win on her home track at Temora. - 2009 UIM World Jetsprint Championships © Sean Henshelwood

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Saturday, November 21
Gates open 10:00am
Schedule: Two rounds of practice, followed by round one and round two of qualifying.
Cost: Adults $15
Kids under 14 $5
FAMILY Ticket $35 (family - 2x adults, 3x children (Under 14))

Sunday, November 22
Gates open: 10:00am
Schedule: Round three, four and five of qualifying, followed by top 12 eliminations, top six, eliminations and the top three shootout.
Cost: Adults $20
Kids under 14 $10
FAMILY Ticket $50 (family - 2x adults, 3x children (Under 14))

2-DAY PASS
Cost: Adults $30
Kids under 14 $12
FAMILY Ticket $80 (family - 2x adults, 3x children (Under 14))

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ENTRY LIST

Unlimited Superboat

3 Richard Burt/Clayton Millington NZ Taser X3
10A Nathan Pretty/Ron Dixon AUS (VIC) TRUE BLUE
10B Louise Dixon/Casie Lack AUS (VIC) TRUE BLUE
18 Paul Burgess/Darran Burgess AUS (ACT) Canberra Floorcraft
22A Jamie Welch/Tahryen Mathhews AUS (WA) Liberator
22B Cheryl Welch/Sandi Whalan AUS (WA) Liberator
23S Phonsy Mullan/Byron Basset AUS (VIC) Triple X Racing 2
28A Peter Freckleton/Jake Freckleton AUS (VIC) Hooters
28B Daryl Hutton/Yvonne Maxwell NZ Hooters
32 Dean Finch/Demi Finch AUS (VIC) Loose Cannon
33A Jody Ely/Rachel Ely AUS (VIC) Jackhammer
33B Adam Racerty/Chris Pryse AUS (VIC) Jackhammer
66 Leighton Mineell/Kellie Minnell NZ Hummertime
68 Peter Caughey/Karen Marshall NZ TOTAL Racing
74 Pat Dillon/Steve Edmonds NZ PPG HULK
77 Duncan Wilson/Jaimee-Lee Upton NZ Lethal Injection
93A Tony Giustozzi/Tony Whalan AUS (SA) Excalibur
93B Mick Carroll/Yolanda Low AUS (SA) Excalibur
169 Andrew Page/Megan Campbell AUS (NSW) Kamakazi

International Group A
1NZA Bevin Muir/Kathy Barker NZ Teng Tools Racing
1NZB Baden Gray/Tanya Iremonger NZ Teng Tools Racing
05 Daniel Walton/Ben Coomb AUS (SA) K2 - Kryptonite Racing
08 Slade Stanley/Vanessa Stanley AUS (NSW) Hazardous
11 Brooke Lucas/Jessie Duggan AUS (QLD) Our Toy
12A Brooke Dixon/Leanne Rake AUS (VIC) TRUE BLUE TOO
12B Shaun Dixon/James Snow AUS (VIC) TRUE BLUE TOO
18 Blair Gibbard/Joanna Bayliss NZ Bull at a Gate
23A Ted Sygidus/Kelsie Gill AUS (VIC) Triple X Racing
23B Darek Sygidus/David Gill AUS (VIC) Triple X Racing
27 Greg Mercier/Dorinda Mercier AUS (VIC) Az U Do
30A Reg Smith/Julie Smith NZ HireCo/GlassPro
30B Phil Wheelans/Katie Quantrell NZ The Hire Company
34 Shane Loughnan/Nathen Gristwood AUS (VIC) Vicious
37A Rodney Krause/Chanelle Fryer AUS (NSW) Soak ‘n Fused
37B Kieran Krause/Mark Spence AUS (NSW) Soak ‘n Fused
39 Andrew Guthrie/Janine Ingram NZ ChemZ Racing
39A Kevin Laugesen/Tiffany Parrat AUS (NSW) SpaNET
44 Darryl Squires/John Duggan AUS (QLD) Red Roar
45 Rohan Smith/Owen Dyball AUS (VIC) BTS Racing
54 Phil Dixon/tba AUS (VIC) TRUE BLUE THREE
55 Mick Manini/Athena Dickson AUS (VIC) Cool Bananas
55W Chris Farr/Ryan Donovan AUS (WA) In the Raw
77 Robert Colman/Tahlia Hirth AUS (VIC) Tunn-A-Guts
79 Damian O’Leary/Carly Nappa AUS (SA) Kryptonite Racing
82A Tremayne Jukes/Bradley James AUS (VIC) Conti-Racer
82B Chris Bollins/Aaron Morrisby AUS (QLD) Conti-Racer
95A Mark Garlick/Kerry Garlick AUS (QLD) Grumpy
95B Jake Garlick/Amy Harriman AUS (QLD) Grumpy
321 Greg Harriman/Adam Doyle AUS (QLD) 321 Ignition
777A Chris Kent/Jessica Pearson AUS (WA) Crazy Az
777B Alan Carr/Jo Price AUS (WA) Crazy Az