Wednesday, Dec 11, 2013

Dubai: World champions Fazza are eyeing nothing short of an outright win to cap a topsy-turvy season at the final round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series, which is to be held at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) this weekend.

Organised and promoted by the Dubai-based World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA), the seventh and final round of the series is headed for a three-way battle with Fazza being chased down the straight by Mouawad and Skydive Dubai after six rounds of the series.

Fazza, with Mohammad Al Merri and Arif Al Zafein on board, are at the top of the standings with 1,501 points despite bad starts in Arona, Italy and Ningbo, China that cut their lead drastically.

The Swiss-American pair of Omar Danial and Gary Ballough aboard Mouawad are in second place with 1,290 points. An outright win for the Mouawad duo on Saturday, coupled with the slightest element of bad luck for Fazza, can land the former their first-ever world crown.

In third place are Sultan Al Daheri and Jay Price of Skydive Dubai, with 1,206 points. Winners of the Chinese Grand Prix last month, Skydive Dubai know that the 400 points on offer for first place can take them past their opponents.

Al Zafein knows as much. “It’s up to us now. This is a huge challenge and I feel we are ready to take on any of the boats,” he told Gulf News.

“Mouawad is strong and so is Skydive Dubai, so we know who our challengers are going to be. Our first target is to finish in the top three without taking any chances,” the Fazza throttleman said.

“This is our home race and we want to win here. We will not do anything crazy, but we want to win this race and defend our world title.”

The first official practice will take place at 2.30 pm on Thursday with a second practice at 9 am on Friday. This will be followed by the race for Emaar Pole Position at 10.15 am followed by the exciting one-on-one Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run from 3 pm the same day.

There will be another official practice at 11.30 am on Saturday and the main Dubai Grand Prix will get under way at 2.30pm on Saturday. Entry to the event is free for the general public.

By Alaric Gomes Senior Reporter

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