Dubai: In a moving and tearful ceremony, the world of powerboat racing paid its respects to Victory Team pilots Mohammad Al Mehairi and Jean Marc Sanchez at the Dubai International Marine Club on Saturday.
The Victory 1 pilots lost their lives in a tragic racing accident on Friday during the final round of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship. And as a tribute to the European Champions, every boat in the Class 1 fleet took to the water for a parade lap bearing the number one on their hulls.
The fleet, complete with mechanics, back up crews, officials and media filed slowly to the accident location where Sanchez’s widow Sarah threw a wreath into the waves before the other teams also paid their respects by tossing flowers and racing caps from the decks of their boats.
“We are still in shock. Not only have we lost two of the best pilots in the world, we have lost our friends and bothers,” said Fazza throttleman Nadir Bin Hindi. “Mohammed and Jean Marc loved to race and we enjoyed competing with them all over the world. It is heartbreaking for all of us and our thoughts are with both of their families.
Echoing those sentiments was Maritimo driver Tom Barry Cotter. “It was a very beautiful and touching ceremony,” said the young Australian. “We have lost two good friends and two good competitors.”
Since the tragic news, the Victory Team has been inundated with messages of condolence from fans across the globe as well as from racing legend Steve Curtis, former Victory Team throttleman Randy Scism and British team owner Chris Parsonage.
“On behalf of everyone at the Victory Team, we would like to thank all our friends around the world for their messages at this difficult time,” said Victory Team General Manager Gianfranco Venturelli. “Mohammed and Jean Marc were very close to all of us and Victory Team will do everything possible to help the families.”
