Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • UAE’s Mansoor Al-Mansoori ready for tense finale to powerboat world title race


UAE’s Mansoor Al-Mansoori ready for tense finale to powerboat world title race

Al-Mansoori, holding the UAE flag, has a three-point lead over German Stefan Hagin in the UIM F2 World Championship. Al-Mansoori has 35 points to Hagin’s 32. (Team Abu Dhabi)
Short Url

https://arab.news/8xhtd

Updated 05 September 2022
Arab News
Follow

UAE’s Mansoor Al-Mansoori ready for tense finale to powerboat world title race

  • Team Abu Dhabi star confident of handling pressure in decisive Portuguese doubleheader
Updated 05 September 2022
Arab News

ABU DHABI: Team Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al-Mansoori is ready to handle the pressure as he bids to secure the 2022 UIM F2 World Championship in a tense finale to the powerboat season over the next two weekends in Portugal.

His first F2 Grand Prix victory in Lithuania last month has given the Emirati driver a three-point championship lead over Germany’s Stefan Hagin to take into Sunday’s penultimate round in Ribadouro.

With the final Grand Prix of the campaign to follow a week later 270 kilometers away in Vila Velha de Rodao, Al-Mansoori is determined to follow teammate and three-time world champion Rashed Al-Qemzi to the F2 crown.

He said: “I’m not surprised to be leading because, from the start of the season, I was aiming to put myself in a good position.

“Competing alongside Rashed has given me a lot of extra confidence, and this helped me to take the lead in the championship with my first win in Lithuania.”

Al-Mansoori paid tribute to Italian powerboat racing legend, Guido Cappellini, who has delivered 14 world titles to the UAE capital since taking over as Team Abu Dhabi manager in February 2015.

“We all owe so much to Guido for the success the team has enjoyed since he took charge. He has built a great team spirit and used his experience to take us to the top.

“The most important thing I’ve learnt from him is to focus and keep calm always. Before the last round, his advice about how to deal with the pressure from the boats behind was so important.

“It wasn’t easy to hold my lead for 45 laps. But that was great experience, and now I want another strong finish on Sunday to take me into the last round,” Al-Mansoori added.

Back-to-back victories at the same two Portuguese venues 12 months ago secured a third F2 world championship for Al-Qemzi, who could yet land an overall F2 podium place.

He said: “I want to have a strong finish to the season. There are still 40 points to be won, and I can still finish in a good position in the championship.

“I like the conditions and the atmosphere and always enjoy racing in Portugal, so I have a good feeling going back to there and I want to win again. But I also want to help my teammate as much as I can,” he added.

UIM F2 World Championship leading positions: 1. Mansoor Al-Mansoori (UAE) 35 points; 2. Stefan Hagin (GERMANY) 32; 3. Sami Selio (FINLAND) 22; 4. Tobias Munthe-Kaas (NORWAY) 12; 5. Edgaras Riabko (LITHUANIA) 11; 6. Giacomo Sacchi (MONACO) 9; 7. Rashed Al-Qemzi (UAE) 9; 8. Nikita Lijcs (LATVIA) 6.

Topics: UAE UIM F2 World Championship Team Abu Dhabi 2022 UIM F2 World Championship

Related

Sport
Team Abu Dhabi poised for big charge in F1H20 world title bid in Grand Prix of France powerboat race
Sport
Team Abu Dhabi duo aim for flying start in bid for double world powerboat title

Serena Williams refuses to rule out return to tennis

Updated 2 sec ago
AFP
Follow

Serena Williams refuses to rule out return to tennis

  • The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has not competed since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open
  • She re-entered the tennis anti-doping testing pool in December, setting off the rumor mill
Updated 2 sec ago
AFP
LOS ANGELES: Serena Williams has reignited speculation that she could make a return to tennis, refusing to rule it out when asked and instead replying: “I don’t know. I’m just going to see what happens.”
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, a 44-year-old mother-of-two, has not competed since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open.
But she re-entered the tennis anti-doping testing pool in December, setting off the rumor mill, only to deny that she was making a comeback.
She was questioned about the prospect again on television show “Today” on Wednesday and while not confirming any plans, she also would not rule it out.
“I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now,” Williams said.
Pressed on whether that was a yes or no, she replied: “That’s not a yes or a no. I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens.”
Asked why she had re-entered the drug-testing program, Williams said: “Did I re-enter? I didn’t know if I was out. Listen, I can’t discuss this.”
Williams’ sister Venus played at the ongoing Australian Open in Melbourne aged 45 after being handed a wildcard and was knocked out in the first round.
Venus also competed at tournaments in Auckland and Hobart after returning to tennis in July after almost two years away.
During the Australian Open, former world number one Jim Courier, now a commentator, noted how onerous it was for athletes to be on the anti-doping testing pool.
Once they are, they need to provide information about where and when they are available to give samples.
They need to complete testing for six months before being allowed to return to competition.
“No person that doesn’t have intentions to play professional tennis is going to put themselves in that list, especially someone who has as much experience doing it as Serena Williams,” Courier said.
“Serena denied (in December) she’s coming back, but I think unless she gets injured there is no doubt she’s going to play somewhere at some point.
“Whether that’s the mixed doubles at the US Open, whether that’s doubles with her sister somewhere, whether it’s singles, only she knows.
“But there’s no other way to interpret that.”
The Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a pair and three Olympic gold medals.

Latest updates

Colombia plane crash investigators battle poor weather to reach site
Serena Williams refuses to rule out return to tennis
Pakistan is latest Asian country to step up checks for deadly Nipah virus
Pakistan army chief says future warfare will rely on technology over battlefield maneuvers
No white flag from Djokovic against Sinner as Alcaraz faces Zverev threat

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2026 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.