Maximus

Steve making it happen in Arendal!!




21/07/2007

SPIRIT OF NORWAY WIN POLE POSITION IN STYLE

Saturday, 21 July, ARENDAL (Norway): Bjorn Gjelsten and Steve Curtis produced a sensational qualifying lap in today’s second session of the EDOX Pole Position to put Spirit of Norway on pole for Sunday’s Norwegian Grand Prix, round 2 of the WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.

The first 50-minute session of the new format EDOX Pole Position, with the five fastest going through to a 25-minute shoot-out to decide the line-up for the front row, produced few surprises with just five seconds separating the top five. Victory 77’s Arif Al Zafeen and Jean-Marc Sanchez grabbed the early advantage, setting the pace with 4mins 47.01secs ahead of Spirit of Norway, 4mins 48.53secs, Qatar 96, 4mins 50.92secs, Victory7, 4mins 52.48secs with Jotun completing the top five in a time of 4mins 52.81secs.

In the shoot-out, Qatar 96’s Sheikh Hassan and Matteo Nicolini were the first out, posting 4mins 57.04secs, but their time was immediately eclipsed, first by Victory 77, to take the provisional pole with 4mins 46.39secs, and then by Victory 7. Jotun’s hopes of grabbing the pole ended when they stopped out on the course with a thrown supercharger belt, and with Victory sitting in first and second spots it was left to Bjorn Gjelsten and Steve Curtis, the defending Pole Position Champions, to respond - and they did - shaving almost 13-seconds of their time from the first session to grab pole position with a time of 4mins 35.95secs. "We found our rhythm at the right time and are happy with that run," said Curtis. "We didn’t really feel the need to push in the first session and put in a steady lap. The second session was crucial. To be on Pole in Arendal is important but we must take advantage of it and get to the first corner out front."

Qatar 95 will lead the line of six boats on the second row, with Spirit of Norway 20 on their immediate outside, after a strong showing by Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Nilsen, going seventh quickest. But for Chris Parsonage and Bard Eker in Negotiator, there was more frustration, failing to start the qualifying session, suffering a second blown turbo in two days and will start tomorrows race with a distinct disadvantage on the outside of the second row.

EDOX POLE POSITION
(second session – 25 minutes)
1. Spirit of Norway 10 – Gjelsten (NOR)/Curtis (GB) – 4m 35.95s
2. Victory 77 – Al Zafeen(UAE)/Sanchez (FR) – 4m 46.39s
3. Victory 7 – Al Suwaidi (UAE)/Hendi (UAE) – 4m 53.93s
4. Qatar 96 – Al Thani (QAT)/Nicolini (ITA) – 4m 57.04s
5. Jotun 90 – Zaborowski (NOR)/Tandberg (NOR) - dns

(first session)
6. Qatar 95 – Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) – 5m 04.15s
7. Spirit of Norway 20 – Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Nilsen (NOR) 5m 09.59s
8. Foresti & Suardi 8 – M Pennesi (ITA)/ Montavoci (ITA) 5m 11.39s
9. VM Foresti & Suardi 2 – D Cirilli/K Olsen (NOR) 5m 42.76s
10.SeveneleveN 18 – Polli (ITA)/Giorgi (ITA) – 6m 04.20s
Negotiator 50 – Eker (NOR)/Parsonage (GB) - dns

EDOX POLE POSITION CHAMPIONSHIP – after round 1 of 7
1. Spirit of Norway 10 – Gjelsten (NOR)/Curtis (GB) – 20pts
2. Victory 77 – Al Zafeen(UAE)/Sanchez (FR) – 15pts
3. Victory 7 – Al Suwaidi (UAE)/Hendi (UAE) – 12pts
4. Qatar 96 – Al Thani (QAT)/Nicolini (ITA) – 9pts
5. Jotun 90 – Zaborowski (NOR)/Tandberg (NOR) 7pts
6. Qatar 95 – Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) – 5pts
7. Spirit of Norway 20 – Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Nilsen (NOR) – 4pts
8. Foresti & Suardi 8 – M Pennesi (ITA)/ Montavoci (ITA) – 3pts
9. VM Foresti & Suardi 2 – D Cirilli/K Olsen (NOR) – 2pts
9. SeveneleveN 18 – Polli (ITA)/Giorgi (ITA) – 1pt
Negotiator 50 – Eker (NOR)/Parsonage (GB)

46tomcat

Thats are boy!!Norway one weekend St Clair the next!!

Maximus

king of the seas!

byrideroffshore

I think we should swap drivers and throttlemen for st.clair..
...Congrats to Steve...Tom your probably teaching him a trick or two.....

All i have to say is hold on to your hats on this race...
its going to be 150 mph 3 wide on the worst end of the course....everyone will be there

Starflite X

Arendal Pole Position pics now posted.

http://www.proprider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214

Maximus

not to mention 5 xtreme boats This is a big one!

shifter

In the race
Vic 77
qatar 96
Vic 7
Curtis lost a water hose pitted and popped a motor. Good job JM Sanchez 2 for 2.
pat W

oldracefan

Besides Miss Geico, Cintron and Bud Select, who are the other 2 extreme boats running?

Maximus

Reliable 46 Skater and Steve Page's 850 superchager 40 Skater. In Extreme/Unlimited it's not just how fast...it's finishing!

Sad to hear another waterhose issue caused this. was he in front?

Starflite X

Yes, for the first 4 laps and Victory wasn't catching them.