In a relentless battle on the waters off the Fujairah International Marine Sports Club in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Fazza, which races under the umbrella of Dubai’s Victory Team, finished ahead of Mouawad in the final heat of the 2012 Union Internationale (UIM) X-Cat World Powerboat Series this weekend.
Fazza teammates Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri won the 2012 X-Cat Series world championship in Fujairah.
Fazza’s third victory of the season at the Fujairah Grand Prix gave teammates Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri the 2012 world championship as well as the first X-Cat Series title for the Victory Team, which claimed 11 UIM Class 1 world championships.
American racer Gary Ballough teamed with Omar Danial of Switzerland in Mouawad to take second for the third time this season and finish in second place overall with 1,350 points (Fazza collected 1,617 points), while a fourth-place finish behind Extreme Marine was enough to hand the Qatar Team third place overall with 1,089 points.
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, gave away the trophies to the winners in the presence of Saeed Hareb, president of the UAE Marine Sports Federation, Mohammed Hareb, race director, Ahmed Ibrahim, managing director of the Fujairah International Marine Sports Club and X-Cat Series championship officer Sid Bensalah.
After starting in last because of a rule infringement on use of fuel, the Fazza team stayed focused and systematic while battling windy conditions on the Indian Ocean. Cheered on by a huge holiday crowd, Fazza managed to overtake Mouawad on the eighth lap.
“It was a good race for us as we had the opportunity to challenge ourselves and see where we stand,” said Al Zaffain. “This boat has been amazing and with a little bit more work we aim to continue staying at the top.”
Also in the news was an announcement from Bensalah, who is also general secretary of the World Professional Powerboating Association, that the next X-Cat Series season will expand globally with the first three rounds being held outside the UAE and the finale in the Emirates. Click here to read the story in Sport360°.
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