[BOAT] Nathan Pretty - 2008 UIM World Champ

(Archived)


Nathan Pretty claimed the official title of UIM World Jetsprint Champion today after defeating the best Chemz International Group A drivers in the world for the second week in succession.

Australia’s Nathan Pretty crowned World Champion..
2008 UIM World Championships
Rnd#2, Featherston, North Island, New Zealand
January 11, 2009

Nathan Pretty claimed the official title of UIM World Jetsprint Champion today after defeating the best Chemz International Group A drivers in the world for the second week in succession. Campaigning Brooke Dixon’s True Blue Too, the part-time V8 Supercar star added to his ‘unofficial’ 2007 world title and his 2007 Australian championship trophies with a dominant win in trying damp conditions at Featherston in New Zealand.

Like 5-time world champion Peter Caughey in Superboats, Pretty led from the outset and was never headed, his only potential opposition coming from Australian rival Ted Sygidus who took the fight up to Pretty, but was unable to defeat him in the final round shootout. The result was just reward for the Triple X team after a miserable opening round at Meremere, the result elevating Sygidus to fifth in the points chase.

The final round of the Hire Company Jetsprint World Championship was held at the Tauherenikau Race Course near Featherston on the North Island of New Zealand.

Two World Championships were on offer, and despite Pretty’s win in International Group A, it was Kiwi sensation Peter Caughey of Christchurch who had the big local crowd on their feet as he captured the prestigious Suzuki Superboat World Championship by winning both rounds.

The final round action was free of any significant incidents, unlike round one which saw several big roll over crashes, mostly by the local teams pushing to match the pace of the top international drivers.

Despite the dominant win, Caughey had to fight hard to take what is now his 5th World Championship with Richard Burt of Manawatu constantly niggling at his lead. Caughey took round one by just over half a second from Burt, but was more dominant at round two, with the tighter track layout suiting the multiple world title holder. Round two action saw an incredible result for Wanganui’s Leighton Minnell, who pushed Burt out of the two boat final in what is only his second season in Jetsprinting and only his fourth event in his new Caughey supplied 1000+ horsepower Superboat.

First of the Australians in the Suzuki Superboat World Championship was Australian champion Phil Dixon who claimed fourth at Featherston, and fourth in the title chase. Dixon was closely shadowed by long-time foe Tony Giustozzi and Giustozzi’s impressive team-mate Mick Carroll who shared driving duties in Excalibur.

Pretty dominated the Chemz Group A Class winning the World Championship in convincing style. He faced a fierce challenge from Gisborne’s Peter Briant at round one, but Briant could not get on Pretty’s pace in the final round and finished sixth. Outgoing Chemz Group A World Champion Slade Stanley (Australia) finished third behind Peter Briant at round one, and took fourth at Featherston, again campaigning Greg Mercier’s Az-U-Do, giving him enough points for second in this World Championship.

Kiwi Rex Briant stepped up to take third on the final day after Ted Sygidus pipped him for second. When the championship points were tallied, Pretty was the clear winner, with Stanley second and Peter Briant gaining third ahead of fellow Kiwi Bevan Muir. Rex Briant (NZ) and Sydigus shared fifth in the Chemz Group A World Championships, with Australia’s Brooke Dixon eighth overall.

Forty-six teams fought tooth and nail for this Hire Company Jetsprint World Championship, and any many cases winners and losers were decided by just a few hundredths of a second.

The next Jetsprint World Championships will be contested in Australia, with the opening round at Temora (NSW) on November 20-21, and round two at Melton (VIC) a week later, both events are expected to be held under lights in a world first for the UIM world titles.

One things is for certain though – continuity reigns in world jetsprinting at present with Australia the dominant force in International Group A, and the Kiwis holding the mantel as the country to beat in Superboats. Can anyone stop Peter Caughey though.. We’ll find out in just 11 months time..!

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Superboats
Rnd#2, Featherston NZ – January 10-11

1. Peter Caughey (New Zealand) – best 45.520
2. Leighton Minnell (New Zealand) – best 47.180
3. Richard Burt (New Zealand) – best 46.936
4. Phil Dixon (Australia) – best 49.233
5. Mick Carroll (Australia) – best 49.293
6. Tony Giustozzi (Australia) – best 49.730
7. Ray Ferguson (New Zealand) – best 49.359
7. Graeme Mincham (New Zealand) – best 50.540
9. Louise Dixon (Australia) – best 52.159
10. Duncan Wilson (New Zealand) – best 49.686
11. Pat Dillon (New Zealand) – best 51.233
12. Peter Freckleton (Australia) – best 52.453
13. Paul Burgess (Australia) – best 55.558

Superboats
2008 UIM World Championship positions

1. Peter Caughey (New Zealand – 80 points)
2. Richard Burt (New Zealand – 77)
3. Leighton Minnell (New Zealand - 76)
4. Phil Dixon (Australia – 73)
5. Tony Giustozzi (Australia – 69)
5. Duncan Wilson (New Zealand – 69)
7. Pat Dillon (New Zealand – 65)
8. Mick Carroll (Australia – 64)
9. Graeme Mincham (New Zealand – 63)
9. Louise Dixon (Australia – 63)
11. Peter Freckleton (Australia – 61)
12. Ray Ferguson (New Zealand – 60)
13. Paul Burgess (Australia – 58)
14. Phonsy Mullan (Australia – 33)
15. Daniel Tall (New Zealand – 27)

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International Group A
Rnd#2, Featherston NZ – January 10-11

1. Nathan Pretty (Australia) – best 50.307
2. Ted Sygidus (Australia) – best 51.128
3. Rex Briant (New Zealand) – best 51.185
4. Slade Stanley (Australia) – best 51.307
5. Bevan Muir (New Zealand) – best 51.510
6. Peter Briant (New Zealand) – best 51.947
7. Brooke Dixon (Australia) – best 51.979
8. Reg Smith (New Zealand) – best 52.078
9. Greg Mercier (Australia) – best 52.608
10. Dean Allen (New Zealand) – best 52.700
11. Baden Gray (New Zealand) – best 52.820
12. Tremayne Jukes (Australia) – best 52.860
13. Simon Campbell (New Zealand) – best 53.290
14. Brooke Lucas (Australia) – best 53.660
15. Garry Smith (New Zealand) – best 52.890
16. Blake Briant (New Zealand) – best 53.450
17. Phonsy Mullan (Australia) – best 50.940
18. Shane Wood (New Zealand) – best 54.110
19. Robert Stubbs (New Zealand) – best 54.120
20. Andrew Guthrie (New Zealand) – best 54.410
21. Richard Murray (New Zealand) – best 55.200
22. Darek Sygidus (Australia) – best 55.230
23. Phil Wheelans (New Zealand) – best 55.370
24. Alan Carr (Australia) – best 55.430
25. Chris Kent (Australia) – best 56.050
26. Don Wood (New Zealand) – best 56.360
27. Campbell Jones (New Zealand) – best 56.080
28. Mick Manini (Australia) – best 56.540
29. Greg Harriman (Australia) – best 56.960
30. Blair Gibbard (New Zealand) – best 60.466
31. Mark Shirtliff (New Zealand) – best 60.925

International Group A
2008 UIM World Championship positions

1. Nathan Pretty (Australia 80 points)
2. Slade Stanley (Australia - 75)
3. Peter Briant (New Zealand - 74)
4. Bevan Muir (New Zealand - 73)
5. Ted Sygidus (Australia - 69)
5. Rex Briant (New Zealand - 69)
7. Reg Smith (New Zealand - 68)
8. Brooke Dixon (Australia - 67)
9. Simon Campbell (New Zealand - 62)
10. Shane Wood (New Zealand - 59)
10. Greg Mercier (Australia - 59)
12. Garry Smith (New Zealand - 58)
12. Baden Gray (New Zealand - 58)
12. Deane Allen (New Zealand - 59)
15. Tremayne Jukes (Australia - 53)
16. Robert Stubbs (New Zealand - 51)
17. Andrew Guthrie (New Zealand - 48)
17. Blake Briant (New Zealand - 48)
19. Brooke Lucas (Australia - 47)
20. Richard Murray (New Zealand - 42)
21. Phil Wheelans (New Zealand - 37)
22. Campbell Jones (New Zealand - 35)
23. Don Wood (New Zealand - 33)
24. Alan Carr (Australia - 32)
24. Chris Kent (Australia - 32)
26. Darek Sygidus (Australia - 30)
26. Mick Manini (Australia - 30)
28. Greg Harriman (Australia - 26)
29. Blair Gibbard (New Zealand - 24)
29. Phonsy Mullan (Australia – 24)
31. Mark Shirtliff (New Zealand – 22)




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