Intro:

Defending Class 1 World Powerboat champions Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri guide Victory to memorable win at season-opener in China on Friday.

Script:

The 2013 UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship roared into life at the Chinese holiday resort of Sanya on Friday - the first of seven provisional stops this term.

Defending champions Victory were on pole position for the opening race of the season, ahead of Zabo Isiklar and Victory Australia.

The leading trio would all have the advantage of the inside line into turn one - and it was an edge that Zabo-Isiklar capitalised on as they outgunned the pole-sitters to take the early lead.

Leading by three seconds after the completion of lap 1 Zabo-Isiklar opted to take their mandatory short-lap early, on lap 2 - as did LFFendi10 - with both boats moving ahead of Victory, who then found themselves some 27 seconds behind the lead pair.

However, Victory began to push and regained second on lap four, with the deficit cut to 12 seconds two laps later.

On lap 7 Victory took their short lap to come out well ahead of Zabo-Isiklar and turn the hefty deficit into a 23 seconds advantage.

Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri controlled the pace from the front and crossed the line 40 seconds clear of Zabo Isiklar.

LFFendi10 emerged unscathed from a late battle with the tenacious Victory Australia vessel to seal a hard-earned third place.

Victory take a five-point lead in the Championship after the season opener. Race two gets underway on Saturday.