Victory saddle up for final charge

Dubai: The Dubai Victory Team climb back into the racing saddle this week determined to land their eighth Class 1 World Championship in sixteen years at Mina Seyahi this Saturday.

Both Victory 1 - crewed by Nader Ben Hendi and Mohammad Al Merri - and Victory 7, piloted by Abdullah Al Mehairbi and Jean Marc Sanchez, enjoy title aspirations with Ben Hendi and Al Merri leading the chase some fifteen points ahead of their team-mates in second.

But if there is any internal rivalry between the pairings as they count down to the penultimate race of the year, it wasn't in evidence as they rolled out the new range of Victory Team bicycles that will be available for fans to buy during the two racing weekends in Dubai from tomorrow through to Saturday and from December 11-13.

"We are all fiercely proud to be racing for this team," said Victory 1 throttleman Ben Hendi.

"The most important name is the one on the side of the boat, not the one on the front of our overalls."

Al Merri, who won the title in 2001 and is back in action following an injury earlier in the season to Ben Hendi's original partner and current world champion Arif Al Zafeen, added: "Both Victory boats have a chance of winning the title and we can't ask for any more than that after six races in Europe and the Gulf.

"We've all worked hard to get to this position so it is important we stay focused and concentrate on winning the championship for Dubai and the UAE."

The pair were speaking as the Victory Team announced a special bonus for race fans in the shape of Victory apparel and merchandise that will be available for sale from the merchandise store on the breakwater at Mina Seyahi this weekend. As well as the Victory Team/ Ridley Trailfire, 27-gear mountain bike, the Victory Team collection also features team belts, radio controlled boats, racing jackets and gilets as well as polo and team shirts.

But while the accent at the launch was on fun, the serious business has begun with the Victory crews eyeing a remarkable record - Saturday's race will be the team's 128th Class 1 event where they will be chasing an astonishing 64th first place finish.

"It's amazing to think that a win by either boat on Saturday will give us a record of exactly one win for every two races," said reigning Class 1 throttleman World Champion Sanchez.

"I can't think of another racing team in the world with a strike rate like that."

And although Abdullah Al Mehairbi, the Victory rookie for 2008, has yet to claim his first Class 1 chequered flag, he is well aware of the winning mentality of the men in blue.

"This year has been a learning experience for me and I have benefited from the experience of the other pilots," he said.

"For me to win my first C1 race on home waters would be a dream come true."