Dubai: After six races and a compelling season of racing, the 2006 UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship will be decided with the final two rounds in Dubai later this week.
The Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) will host the penultimate round of the competition - the Mina Seyahi Grand Prix - on November 25. The final round of the competition - the Dubai Grand Prix - will be held on December 2.
It is not for the first time that the sport's two most successful teams - Victory Team and defending champions Spirit of
Victory 77's Mohammad Al Merri and Jean Marc Sanchez are trailing Spirit of Norway by 14 points after six races in the 2006 season.
Spirit of Norway, who lifted this year's European title at the Slovenian Grand Prix in Portorose last September, head to Dubai as championship leaders and favourites for the crown.
Given this scenario, Victory 77 knows that everything now depends on pure mathematics - they have to finish ahead of Spirit of Norway in both races and reclaim the world title for the first time since 2001. And then with 40 points on offer during the races, the home team has to also be wary of other teams such as Jotun and Qatar 95, who still have an outside chance for the crown.
Both Jotun and Qatar 95 have taken one win each this season, and a huge disaster to either of the top two boats may go in favour of the Norwegian and Qatari boats.
Also tipped for a strong finish is Foresti & Suardi-Roscioli Hotels who will be looking to add to their Pole Position win in Spain and two podiums during the season. Running parallel to the race of the world title is the fight for the Middle East Championship. This is a far more open affair with 15.5 points separating the top six boats.
