Jimmy Shane Wins Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha

Doha, January 12 (QNA) - U-5 Graham Trucking's Jimmy Shane snatched a dramatic victory in the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha Bay on Saturday afternoon to conclude the 2012 season of racing in the Air National Guard H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Championship. Six of the fastest power boats on the planet lined up at the start and Shane became the fourth different winner of the Oryx Cup in as many years after leading from start-to-finish to hold off a fierce challenge from runner-up and newly-crowned National High Points champion Steve David in U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto. Jon Zimmerman finished a distant third in U-9 Jones Racing, Brian Perkins was fourth at the helm of U-88 Snoqualmie Casino and Tom Thompson struggled at the back of the field with engine issues and made the finish in fifth place with U-11 Miss Peters & May. J. Michael Kelly (U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing) was disqualified on the start lap for failure to follow race officials instructions. "It's been a great first season in this championship for me and to cap it with a win in the Oryx Cup is superb," said an ecstatic Shane. "I must congratulate Jimmy on a great drive today," said David sportingly. "It was not meant to be, but there is always next time." Under the presidency of HE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabot Al-Thani, the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) hosted a 25-minute Marathon Aqua Bike Race two hours before the main Oryx Cup UIM World Championship event. Twenty-four Qatari, Kuwaiti and Emirati racers took part in the 10-lap race on a tricky, wind-affected 2.5-mile course around the island in Doha Bay and there were 14 finishers. Thamer Ahmad Abu Faisal held off a strong challenge from fellow Qataris Waleed Mahmoud Al-Sharshani and Rashid Rashid Al-Mohanadi to seal victory and the first cash prize of 20,000 Qatari riyals. Ahmad Rashid Al-Dauas and Mohsen Al-Hajri completed the top five, albeit one lap behind. (QNA)