Roggiero wins Sharjah GP

Italy's Massimo Roggiero staved off a determined challenge from Saudi Atabia's Laith Pharaon to win the Grand Prix of Sharjah - the penultimate round of the UIM Formula 1 Powerboating Championship - at the Khalid Lagoon, yesterday.

Watched by a capacity holiday crowd, Roggiero managed to ward off the experienced Pharaon till the end to stand on top of the podium to collect 10 points.

Tagged on for a major part of the race by the Saudi Arabian driver, Roggiero powered his boat to precision to end with a time of 41:33.12 minutes.

"It wasn't really easy today as Laith kept pushing me hard in an attempt to see if I would make some mistakes. But as the race progressed, the boat was responding better and that helped so much," the Sharjah champion said.

Roggiero's task was made easier when his Zepter teammate and current champion, Guido Cappellini was disqualified after he took a wrong turn. But Roggiero had to then contend with Pharaon, who came pushing him till the end.

"Massimo was really good today. He did well especially when I kept pushing him into making mistakes. But he did not commit any mistakes. It feels great to be on the podium," complimented Pharaon, who finished the race with a time of 41:35.10 minutes.

Coming in third was Frenchman Philippe Dessert-enne of the Charente Maritime team with a time of 41:35.76 minutes.

Dessertenne, who was close on the heels of Roggiero at the start of the race, never got a chance to move into the second place once the battle between the Italian and the Saudi Arabian heated up.

"There was no way I could get past Laith and challenge Massimo for the position," Dessertenne admitted.

In fourth place was Scott Gillman in his Emirates Marina Mall boat with a time of 42:10.47 minutes.

Yesterday's results have thrown the competition for second place in the championship wide open with all four drivers - Roggiero, Pharaon, Dessertenne and Gillman- now within striking distance of the second spot when the racers assemble in Abu Dhabi next weekend for the final round.

The championship title has already been pocketed by Guido Cappellini after his victory in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year.

"It cannot get more exciting than this," said Nicolo de San Germano, the UIM F1 race promoter.

"Everyone will be expectantly waiting for the results in Abu Dhabi to see who will be second best in the championship this year," San Germano added.

The Sharjah round of the UIM Formula 1 World Powerboat Championship is being hosted by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority in an attempt to promote the emirate as a tourist destination.

Meanwhile, the final results and championship standings were left unannounced till late last night due to a protest lodged by Fabio Comparato against third-placed Dessertenne.

Results:

Provisional results of the Grand Prix of Sharjah:
1. Massimo Roggiero (41:33.12); 2. Laith Pharaon (41:35.10); 3. Philippe Dessertenne (41:35.76); 4. Scott Gillman (42:10.47); 5. Gert Ladefoged; 6. Duarte Benavente; 7. Majeed Al Mansouri; 8. Vincenzo Polli; 9. Andy Elliott; 10. Thani Al Qamzy; 11. Michael Weckstrom; 12. S Kourtsenovsky; 13. Franco Leidi; 14. Kirk Tsaccounts; 15. Jay Price; 16. Philippe Chiappe.